One Great Looking Car from Volvo

One of the characteristics car buyer tends to look for in a car is its aesthetic value - the car has to look good both inside and out. A convertible has such characteristics and it commands attention wherever it goes. That is why the convertible is one of the most beautiful car designs ever.

But owning a convertible poses trouble to the owner for the security of the car is in jeopardy if the car employs a non-metal roof. Aside from that danger, the car is also susceptible to the elements - water can enter the vehicle if the top is not in its proper place due to faulty or not strong enough engineering of the mechanism and the roof itself.

But car companies are making advances in the design off their convertible and one of these car manufacturers is Volvo. The Sweden-based Ford Motor Company owned outfit has designed their Volvo C70 with a metal roof that solves both problems posed on convertible owners of the past. While they may be using metal for their roof they have come up with a way to keep the production cost at a minimum so that the car will not be out of reach of the majority of consumers. Volvo has produced a car that looks like a coupe from the outside and feels like one on the inside with the top down.

The design of the car enables the driver to tuck the top safely in the car's trunk in less than 30 seconds. Lowering of the top is a sight to see thanks to the perfectly engineered mechanism that allows the top to be tucked in to the trunk smoothly. Not only is the mechanism for lowering the top the clever thing that the design offers. Since the top takes up almost half of the space in the trunk of the car, putting something on the trunk may pose a problem or a bit of difficulty for some convertible with metal roof. But the Volvo C70 has solved that with a mechanism that allows the user to slightly raise the top to permit loading of luggage under it before the top is lowered again.

The exterior design is not the only good thing about this convertible for the Volvo C70 boasts of adequate legroom on its front seats. But the backseats are just like what you would expect from any four-upward-seater vehicle, they are best left to children or extra space for that extra luggage that would not fit in the trunk. The aesthetic value of the convertible is high and so is its performance level, it is equipped with an able engine and a wide array of parts that helps the engine perform at its peak. And it is just like the Volvo water pump that keeps water flowing through the cooling system to maintain the engine's normal operating temperature.

Since this four-seater convertible is a Volvo, you can expect the latest and the best safety systems to be integrated into the car. All in all, the Volvo C70 combines in great quantity high engine performance level, luxurious and comfortable interior, stunning looks and a host of safety features.

About the Author

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. She is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

Outsourcing And Domestic Demand: The Case For Real Estate Capital Growth

It is an undisputed fact that market economies, in Capitalism, are moved by the supply and demand for goods and services. Specifically as it relates to the Real Estate sector, the basis for the real estate market is the demand by households, businesses, governments and institutions for space and shelter to conduct activities. And moreover, since according to the National Association of Realtors the aggregate size of residential real estate markets in the United States measured by sales volume accounted for almost USD 57 billions in 2005 alone, the impact of households' demand for residential real estate products is huge.

When people acquire income they tend to invest it, and the more people that acquire income the more people that tend to invest it. Therefore, there is a correlation between capital and employment in real estate or, if you will, between income and labour. An increase in levels of consumption sets forth an increase in prices caused by a corresponding increase in demand, in itself generated by a commensurate increase in the income-employment factor.

It follows, therefore, that growth is derived by the equilibrium of capital and investment with labour and employment. And since, furthermore, production is in direct function of consumers spending which increases as unemployment falls, it follows that capital accumulation increases as employment rises and capital accumulation decreases as employment falls. Which fact, therefore, brings up to light the importance of the conditions of domestic job markets for real estate. All the more so at a time when - due to an ever more efficient process of economic globalization - we are witnessing a constant migration of jobs from North America to emerging economies abroad.

Globalization and outsourcing were, in fact, the focus of the annual symposium held by the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City. The topic being floored and examined by the top minds of the economic world was how the rise of China, India and other countries is reshaping employment and wages within the North American economy.

It is commonly believed that wages of workers in rich countries are being depressed by the shift of jobs to low-wage countries, but the debate undertaken at the symposium has offered a much rosier view, with economists arguing that off-shoring can actually increase the wages of domestic workers. The general feeling was that outsourcing boosts firms' productivity and profits, thereby enabling them to expand and, consequently, to take on more workers at home to perform jobs that cannot be easily moved abroad. In essence a line is being drawn between low-paying, unskilled jobs that can be transferred to emerging economies like those of China, India and, to a lesser extent, Russia vis-?-vis higher-paying, skilled jobs that remain in North America.

Clearly, whereas low-paying, unskilled jobs have a minimal to zero effect on the consumption of domestic real estate products, the scenario changes drastically with higher-paying jobs.

Outsourcing and jobs migration is a topic that has just as many political connotations as it has economic reverberations, particularly in an election year such as this. Critics of outsourcing are quick to point out that between 1997 through 2004 the streamlining of companies through off-shoring was not enough to create sufficient higher-paying jobs at home to offset the outflow of low-paying jobs abroad. And that evidence does exist, furthermore, to the extent that in America, the Euro Zone and Japan total wages have actually fallen, in real terms, to their lowest shares of national income whereas the share of corporate profits has surged. An obvious indication that many ?leaner' firms have opted for retaining their earnings as opposed to re-investing them in the domestic work pool.

Specifically because of this, Prof. Ben Bernanke, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve System, has argued at the symposium that the scale and pace of globalization is unprecedented and that the overall gains will be huge. But he has also warned that there is a risk of social and political opposition as some workers lose their jobs. The Chairman has urged policymakers, therefore, to ensure that the benefits of global integration are sufficiently widely shared through the echelons of the economy, so as to maintain support for free trade and enhance the democratization of wealth.

Real Estate stands to gain the most by a more evenly shared distribution of wealth in North America, both from the standpoint of increased demand and of increased inventory production and supply, for when people feel rich they spend - a psychological effect known in Economics as The Wealth Effect. Despite the near-term moderation in the number of existing home sales, the housing market can all but continue to benefit from expected positive long-term economic fundamentals including expansion of gross domestic product generated by job creation and investments, coupled by a monetary policy of continued moderate interest rates.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at www.realestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles on Real Estate Economics and Finance. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Death Becomes Her

I had the funniest moment today. I called up a client only to hear the words, Abby is no longer with us. Pause. He then proceeded to say, She hasnt passed away, shes just not with our company anymore. I didnt want you to think she was dead. I was in a work mode, so I was a little slow on the uptake. However, he made me think how often we dont clarify ourselves so that what we say can be taken in the right or wrong way. Misunderstandings were best played out in the immortal, Threes Company. That crazy Jack Tripper. But, I digress.

Take an email for example. It has no tone, or personality. In our quest for quick, responsive communication, email has become almost rude. We ignore em, dont address people properly, open them and promptly forget them, place high importance priorities (!) on emails that arent urgent, misspell, lack the proper grammar or punctuation (spell check isnt foolproof) and capitalize letters which are equivalent to SHOUTING! We know of Road Rage, but theres also the wrath of the email thats slowly terrorizing the countryside. No one has been killed so far on account of an email, but remember this caution and advice if you email colleagues and clients. Dont take for granted picking up the phone or speaking face to face to clarify issues and make deals. Cause maybe youll hear the same thing being said about you, So-and-so is no longer with us. Maybe we wont think its terribly funny when our ex-company is saying the same thing about us.

Respectfully In Memoriam of John Ritter-1948-2003

Tamara Jong is the Marketing Coordinator for Venturelabour.com and handles the career column, and online content management for www.canjobs.com-Your source for jobs in Canada

O. S. ARI - Some Anecdodes of Him -he was famous also for his wit and wisdomeoa uk

ANECDOTES OF THE LATE O. S. ARI

...Aris voice, full of wit, filled the room...
(Mustafa Dogrusoz in Kibris -5 February 1999)

...He always wore a smile...
(Harid Fedai in 'Halkin Sesi' -27 December 1992)

(In his newspaper columns [mostly between 1968-1992 in Cypriot Halkin Sesi -also Birlik etc. often by a little story or joke did the hailed teacher-thinker-poet the late Orhan Seyfi Ari [1918- 1992 made or highlighted his points ~so also in his lectures, debates, discussions, teaching his school pupils. These simply put anecdotes are hoped briefly and miscellaneously to familiarise with his wit and a few of the less involved of the very many views he was also popular for)

DIPLOMATIC COMMUNIQES, he thought, were rather like broadcasting live on the radio a match between two boxers called Abdi and Bandinelli, and announcing the winner as Abdinelli

NEVER TOO LATE to change ones mind or to make a start was not of more use to one, sometimes, or to a nation, than it would be to the driver of a car rolling down a cliff to then decide to drive carefully

IRRELEVANCY was a natural and common refuge of man ~You have gone bald! he joked with a friend who he had not seen for a long time his friend looked at him, then responded, Ha..! As if your sons got more hair than I..!

THE TROUBLES OF THE WORLD had much to do with this, that some with breathing difficulties had become deep sea divers

IGNORANT WE ALL ARE of many things, he thought some of us, even of our ignorance

PERSEVERANCE it was an example of, the little delicate plant that shots and grows through the concrete of the pavement

WHINING O-oh!.. his friend explained, I missed my train.. oh, I was twenty minutes late.. I am so sorry He replied: Dont be you would have missed it also if you were only twenty seconds late..!

EVOLUTION.. we were apes Now..?! Were we not, now, man!?..

JUSTIFICATIONS of some reminded him of someone in his early teens to whom he had given leaflets, booklets, on how harmful smoking was some months later the teenager came to him waving a newspaper which mentioned that an elderly person was a smoker

RELATIONSHIPS had much to do with knowing that one could not stand before a mirror and make faces and expect to see a smiling image...

STRENGTH did not necessarily suffice ~I am a wrestler! threatened one the other laughed: But.. I am a runner...

GOD Perhaps does not exist; he said but, Sir, what if He does..!?

POPULARITY it helped to wear a smile the vinegar merchant who smiled had more customers than the honey merchant who did not

Author's research unfortunately could not include all of the articles of the late thinker -his anecdotes above are not from those articles themselves

Consultant 2004Bernard Romanycia

Santana rocks.

Independant.

The Prodigal Prince Fred, (Tasmanian Fred, Royal Spoiled Brat)Troy Nilsson

The Prodigal Prince Fred,
(Tasmanian Fred, Royal Spoiled Brat)

THE SETTING Luke 15:11 There was a man who had two sons.

Far away, long before children had beds, There lived a Tasmanian 'Devil' named Fred Prince Frederick the Fifth, Son of Frederick the Fourth Who ruled the Tasmanian Kingdom, of course.

King Frederick was noble and goodly and nice The Tasmanians loved him- from mooses to mice They also loved King Freddy's nicely son Ned But oh how they hated that nasty Prince Fred.

Prince Freddy was snooty and cocky and smuggly He hung with his gang, The Tasmanian Thugglies They loved to break furniture, quarrel, and fight And steal kiddies' candies on Halloween night.

They'd cruise through the countryside hooting and howling Kicking the kangaroos, shooting and scowling Scaring the children asleep in their beds And thumping the night owls on top of their heads; they'd

throw rocks through windows and break into stores They'd put piles of doo-doo by people's front doors And laugh at the look in the nice people's eyes When they stepped out and stepped in Fred's poo-poo surprise.

And the townspeople said, For these prattles and pranks We'll break out our paddles- PRINCE FRED NEEDS A SPANK!

And oh how they spanked him- they swatted and popped him But Prince Freddy liked the attention it got him - His horrible habits would not go away So he pranked every night and got spanked every day.

Luke 15:12
The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

But what Fred only knew was that he had grown weary Tasmanian teasing was boring and dreary He'd broken or messed up most everything there And he ached for a change- a breath of fresh air.

So he said hey King Daddy-O, gimme my Money I 'm sick and I'm tired of you, Neddy and Mummy I'm gonna go where the grasses are greener The girls are much cuter, the cows are much leaner We'll conquer the world, my Thugglies and me THEY'RE my real family- They love me, you'll see.

King Frederick wiped a big tear from his eye, said, Dear Son Freddy, please don't say goodbye The world is a jungle, cruel and abusing You'll get bamboosled, you'll get a bad bruising.

But Freddy shouted, Quiet, you looney old man Just gimme my money, as fast as you can!

King Frederick thought I don't owe him a thing But I'll follow the counsel of Cousin King Sting Who said Sometimes love is to let people be for If you love someone you must set them free.

King stood up and said, I'll give half of my kingdom Then Fred will see just how much I love him (But Freddy just stood looking bored and half-sick And said good enough, Daddy, -let's make it quite quick!).

Out came the servants with barrels and trunkets Silver by truckloads, Doubloons by the buckets Deeds for the land, for the houses and castles Clothes with gold hats zippers and diamonds on tassles.

And when finally they'd loaded the loot and the booty Prince Fred turned around with a shout super-snooty Good riddance, Good King, and Tasmania too I'll conquer the world, just like I conquered YOU!

THE SQUANDERING
Luke 15:13 Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

So Fred bought a ship and a giant Jalope The Thugglies and some of the girlies came hopping They sailed off to Greece, to Italia and Thebes Germania, San Pedro, the Isle of Saint Dweebes Morocco, Swahili, Israeli, Bombay Calcutta, Cape Cod, Albakerkie and Spain The Thugglies all cheered 2,4,6, and 8 Freddie's the Thugguly we 'preciate We really love you, not just for your money- You're every boy's buddy, and every girl's honey.

They sailed to Cape horn where the Africans dance Got drunk on bamboo juice and wet in their pants (They drove the Jalope all through the Sahara 'til it broke down in the hot desert weatha') They Flew on a flybird to HulaHuLoo And swiggled and swayed like the hulahoo's doo They took a fast train to Bermuda for fishing And snork'ling and swimming and winnihee wishing Then off to Arabia seeking the carpet- The magic one- and when the found it Fred bought it They rode like the wind on a magical flight So close to the stars they could kiss them goodnight And they laughed and they sang and they never once worried ... Til they ran out of gas in Pougkipsee, Missouri Starving and thirsting from singing and lauging They searched out a truck stop for eating and gassing They ordered hamburglers and ice cream and coke- That's when Fred said with a gasp- Friends, I'm broke!

His 'friends' said, Hey, Freddy-O, you must be jokin' Fred said I'm not... and they started to choke him Why have you brought us out here to Missouri?!- they cried and they cried 'til their vision was blurry.

They beat Fred that night 'bout the head and the shoulders Kicked him and pelted him hard with small boulders, Then pooled every cent they'd embezzled from Fred Hopped a bird home and left Fred for dead.

PIGS
Luke 15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

When Fred awoke in the ditch the next tuesday, Angry and dizzy and battered and bruisedy Seeing he needed some doct'ring and nursing He wobbled and bobbled back into Poughkipsee.

'These people will serve me as soon as they see My royal credentials, my choice pedigree I'm Frederick the Fifth, Son of Frederick The Fourth Heir to the crown of Tasmania, of course!'

Tasmania!, they laughed, why it sounds to me Like this boy's been eating the wackety weed! He thinks he's a Prince, but it's clear, he's a fake (disgrace) From the thuggardly look on his uggardly face He's nothing but trouble, repair bills, and grief Poughkipsee has no need for this little thief!

Luke 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
Luke 15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

So Fred limped down the road, saw a farmer named Rooflus (fat, bald, and sweaty and dirty and toothless) Who said, You can feed all my pigglies, you dooflus!

So Fred slept in the barn with the hogs in Missouri Where roachies and rats and reegreechies would scurry So dark and so cold in the yuck and the storm He'd hug to the hogs in the mud to keep warm.

And up with the sunrise Ol' Rooflus came screaming TIME TO SLOP HOGS- STOP YOUR SNORING AND DREAMING And oh- how Fred hated to wake up each day For he dreamed of his soft bed, back home, far away.

Then Rooflus would swat with his sluggardly-stick Fred'd jump for the bucket of schloppettyschlick, full of sloopage and scumdredge and leftover lardy, rotten vomatoes and chunkies of barfy.

Fred got so hungry his tummy would gurgle When he'd spy a bitey of uneaten burgle Floating about in the schloppetyschlick But Rooflus said NO SIR, NOT ONE LITTLE BIT For hogs need to eat, they are useful and tasty But you're good for nothing; you're stoopid and lazy .

And the only thing Fred was the Prince of was pigs (But the pigs ate much better than Fred ever did!)

REPENTANCE
Luke 15:17 When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
Luke 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Luke 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'

And slowly, sneaking as if by surprise an idea began growing behind Freddy's eyes 'til one day he came to his senses and said, If I stay with these hogs pretty soon I'll be DEAD! The servants that work for my Dad eat like Kings And all I can eat is regreechichies and squings And moldy old swatches of schlochettyschlick Left where the piggelet's tongues couldn't lick.

So I'll hike back to Father and beg for a job 'cause I've got experience slopping these hogs! Of course he won't let me back into the house Since I spent all his money out being a louse I'm no longer worthy of being his son But I'm great with the hogs- I can get the job done.

EATING HUMBLE PIE
Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father.

So Fred ran away from Pougkipsee and Rooflus Hitchedhiked a wildebeest down to San Lucas Stowed away in the gut of a whale named Jonah Til the whale barfed him out on the beach of Pomplona! He ran in a rickshaw to Katmandudu Nambibia, Naples and Kalamazoo.

After 7 long years of swimming and running (It takes a long time without daddy-o's funding) Fred saw the land he'd remembered in dreams- The shores of Tasmania- sparkling and clean.

FATHER WELCOMES HIM:
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Now King Frederick feared that young Fred had died But day after day, the King strained his old eyes Peering through periscopes over the hills Praying that Fred would come home to him still.

And that day, the greatest day, what did he see? Floundering Freddy afloat on the sea The King ran like an antelope, threw out a raft Pulled Freddy onto the beach with a laugh.

Luke 15:21 The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

Freddy coughed up all the seaweed and water said, please don't kill me, but hear me out, Father I've sinned, I'm a joke, I'm a heel of a schmuck I'm mother's worst nightmare- bait for bad luck, so Just let me live in the shack with the peasants Slopping the hogs, or dressing the pheasants I'm no longer worthy to be called your son But I've learned to slop hogs- I can get the job done!

Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
Luke 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

King said,
Son, we've no hogs, we're Tasmanian Jews But you're home alive- That's the greatest of news! So bring him my robe, put my ring on his hand Let's throw a party all over the land Strike up the band let the hoopla abound For Prince Fred was lost; HOORAY, he's been found!

OLDER SON GETS MAD:
Luke 15:25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
Luke 15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. Luke 15:27 `Your brother has come,' he replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
Luke 15:28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
Luke 15:29 But he answered his father, `Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Luke 15:30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

But Fred's brother Ned wasn't dancing with glee Ned sat there, lips pouting all pitifully Saying, Hey daddy-o - I'm as nice as can be- But when did you throw a big party for ME? I worked and I slaved and busted my buttocks While that little twirp spent your loot like a dumb-ox.

FATHER GIVES MORAL
Luke 15:31 `My son,' the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
Luke 15:32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'

But Ned, said the King, You're already with me What's mine is all yours, far as eagle eyes see So come on! Let's party, let's rock & get down 'cause Fred, left for dead, is alive and in town!

And this, goobs and gurls, is the way God loves you Whatever you say, sin, bamboozzle or do, When you come running home with your arms open wide God says, Come on in, love! There's a party inside!

Copyright 1989 Troy Nilsson You may reprint this story in whole or in part if you: 1) Notify Troy Nilsson of the use, 2) Prominently include credit Troy Nilsson of NilssonMedia.org with the used material.

See http://www.troynilsson.com

Modern Baby Essentials Finding the Perfect Gift For Stylish Parents

Find tips on buying those super stylish parents-to-be in your life, the perfect gift.? From fancy strollers to the latest in modern high chairs-you're sure to find an idea for a great gift that both parents and baby will adore.

Choosing just the right gift for new parents can be tricky. Do you get something practical or something fun? Well-why not get the stylish new parents on your list something that's both fun and practical?

• Baby Carriers: There are many options available in the way of stylish baby carriers. The EuroTote by Lillebaby, an off the shoulder-style baby carrier features a removable top and interchangeable covers, allowing for easy regulation of the child's temperature. The Active Baby Carrier from Baby Bjorn is worn across the chest and features plenty of head and neck support for baby, as well as lumbar support for Mom or Dad. Gender neutral colors as well as a sleek and sporty design are perfect for both parents.
  
• Strollers: Today's selection of modern strollers has a number of bells and whistles allowing for the ultimate in customized comfort for baby. Check out the award-winning Xplory Stroller from Stokke, the only stroller that elevates your child closer to you! If it's impressive list of safety features and available accessories aren't enough, celebrity Moms-Angelina Jolie & Courtney Cox-Arquette have been seen wheeling around their precious little ones in this stylish stroller. The Buzz Three Wheel Stroller from Quinny features a futuristic design which, combined with an impressive list of safety features make this all-terrain stroller a must have for actress Rachel Weisz.
  
• High Chairs: Modern high chairs are all the rage and the Svan High Chair is a perfect example. This modern high chair grows with the child, allowing you to remove pieces until it becomes a chair right at the table. It's sleek design fits into any home from contemporary to classical style and its compact size makes it also ideal for smaller eating spaces. For the ultimate in modern high chairs, check out the Fresco High Chair by Bloom. Featuring include multiple grow-with-child modes and two stylish upholstery options, this 3-in-1 (resting, feeding, and play) chair is perfect for any home.
  
• Modern Nursery Furniture: Why not help decorate the nursery with some modern nursery furniture? Modern cribs, modern changing tables, modern dressers-there are many options to choose from. Modern nursery furniture is sure to make a style statement in any home. With brands like Oeuf, Stokke, Bugaboo and more, you're sure to find the perfect gift. You can even find coordinating modern crib bedding, area rugs, wall decoration and more. Shopping for new parents has never been this much fun!
  
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Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Jamie Sward has a BA in Journalism from Indiana University. As an expert in Modern Decor and Nursery Furniture, he is dedicated to sharing his expertise with customers on All Modern Baby, a website dedicated to modern nursery furniture, decor and other top-of-the-line products designed to be both functional and stylish.

What Housing Bubble?

When I was in school at the University of Vermont, I was an economics major. I thought it would be a good idea to do some non required reading, and I came across the book Boomernomics: The Future of Your Money in the Upcomming Generational Warfare. This was right around '99 when Social Security was the hot topic. The book absolutely facinated me. Of course I knew who the Baby Boomers were, but I had never really paid the subject that much consideration.

The birthratechart ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Birthratechart.png ) really helps get some insight to what we're dealing with. You can clearly see the spike in births starting in 1945 and continuing through until the mid 60's that produced about 76 million Americans. The decline through the 70's, then the echo boom starting in the late 70's early 80's as the boomers started having children of their own.

Right now, the oldest Baby Boomers are just barely in their 60's. Now lets really think about this one. This means that means that a huge chunk of the population is currently in their highest income producing ages as their mortgages are close to (if not already) paid off, their kids are no longer dependents, and most likely are also cashing in on their inheritances from their recently departed parents.

Now at the same time, we have the begining of the echo boom that is just entering into the housing market. Someone who was born in the beginning of the echo boom would just be entering their mid/late 20's. Assuming that everyone buys a home after they graduate college, right now we're roughly only halfway through the 72 million echo boomers purchasing of new homes. Now, since I believe average age of a first time home buyer to be a few years above 21, we still have a large portion of the population that has yet to buy their first home. Now on top of all that, don't forget that these birthrates do not include any immigrant population increases, which has also been greatly increasing in the last few decades.

So what can we expect based on this info?

Real Estate Agents - Good news! Once the boomers start to retire, odds are they are going to be moving somewhere else. Expect to see some more volume.

Suburbs - Not such great news. With the baby bust entering into family mode, there might not be enough sheer numbers taking over the vacancy of the departing boomers.

Cities - Goodish news. Look forward to the Echo Boomers continuing to move towards a more Urban environment as they begin their careers.

The year 2018 - Dear god this could be a bad one. It's either diaper time or the expiration date for boomers. As they begin to stop being able to care for themselves, or simply expire. Flat out, this will not be a good time for housing prices.

Jon Ernest is the Principle Broker of Spotlight Realty. A small, independently owned, full service residential real estate agency in Brookline, Massachusetts.

http://www.SpotlightRE.com
Condos for sale
Brookline Apartments

The Power Workout

Not enough hours in the day? Feeling the crunch when it comes to finding time for just your own needs? If exercise is important to you, you might do well to consider the following:



Scenario: I really want to get in shape, but I work all day and attend multimedia classes until 8:30. How do I find the time to exercise, and what are a few good exercises for beginners like me? Solution: Finding time to exercise is certainly a challenge. Even the most motivated among us suffer setbacks during our business' busy season or when a new project is on the horizon. The key to fitting fitness into your busy day is to recognize that finding time isn't the issue--it's making time.



You may be surprised to hear that you can enjoy the benefits of a regular exercise program in as little as three hours per week.



The following routine shows you how:



Monday: Half-hour of jogging, biking (on hills) or other intense aerobic exercise you enjoy

Tuesday: Half-hour of strength training (squats, sit-ups and push-ups for beginners; weight training with machines or dumbbells for the more experienced)

Wednesday: Rest day

Thursday: Repeat Monday

Friday: Repeat Tuesday

Saturday: One hour of exercise--any type of exercise. Go rollerblading with a friend, take the family to the hills for a hike or swim laps at the pool.

Sunday: Rest day



Make your workouts more time-efficient by exercising harder. For example, you can walk two miles in a half-hour, or you can run four miles in a half-hour. You can spend an hour in step aerobics class, or you can spend 20 minutes rowing at the highest resistance level on the rowing machine. When you perform strength-training exercises, use a challenging resistance and move quickly through your exercises to get an aerobic benefit.



If you want to commit to getting fit, exercise must become a part of your life--a habit as regular as brushing your teeth. Try these ideas to help you stay on track:



*Make a log of everything you do for a week, and identify the time slots where you can fit in exercise. Did you spend a Saturday afternoon watching the Back to the Future trilogy for the fifth time? Could you manage to get up a half-hour earlier on the weekdays? Just skip an hour of television time and go to bed earlier.



*Make exercise convenient. Find a place to work out that's close to your home or office. If you're disciplined and have the space, work out at home.



*Develop relationships with supportive people. Join an exercise class or go to the gym with friends. If you skip a class, your friends will hold you accountable.



*Exercise at the right time. The ight time is when you're most likely to do it. If you know your day often ends late or meetings come up suddenly, it's best to schedule your workout for first thing in the morning when nothing can interfere. If you're a night owl, fit your workout in before dinner. If you can only manage a 10-minute walk on your lunch hour--do it. Some exercise is better than none.



Benefits Of Exercise



Need more motivation to get fit? Consider the following benefits of exercise:

*Exercise increases your stamina and strength.

*Exercise improves your heart and lung efficiency.

*Exercise gives your body greater resistance to disease, stress, anxiety and fatigue.

*Exercise gives you more energy and enhances your capacity for work and leisure activities.

*Exercise releases hormones that stimulate the brain, helping to clear your mind, see things from a new perspective, and come up with fresh ideas.



So make an appointment with yourself to get some exercise. Your body--and your business--will thank you for it.

Car seat safety tips

Do you know that according to a report 80% of kids are not properly seated in the car seat and thus many children get unnecessarily injured in car accidents. Still many of us do not bother about using safe car seats for our children. So let us follow some basic tips so that we can avoid our babies from getting involved in an accident.

The biggest mistake that you parents often commit, is not to bother whether the seat is right for your child's age and whether he is facing the right direction.

a) Always remember infants should be in a rear facing infant only seat or convertible seat until they are 1 year old and weigh twenty pounds. Kids whose weight remains less than 20 pounds even after 1 year should also continue to face backwards.

b) When a child is above 1 year in age and weighs more than 20 pounds then he/she can be seated in a forward facing car seat, until they are 40 pounds of weight. Children over forty pounds should be placed into a belt positioning booster seat and they should usually stay in it until they are at least 8 years old.

c) Parents always remember not to use the car's regular seat belts for your child until they fit correctly when your child is about 80 pounds and is 4ft 9 inches tall. Your child should not use regular seat belts until the shoulder strap fits across his shoulder and not his neck, and the lap belt fits across his hips and not his stomach.

d) You should not allow your child to sit in the front seat until he/she is more than 12 years of age

e) Remember! Do not use seat, which has its harness straps too loose or in the wrong position, always lock the seat belt properly with a locking clip, secure the seat belt correctly and do not place an infant seat in the way of an air bag.

f) Always make sure that the harness chest clip of the infant seat is positioned at your child's armpit level, the harness straps are straight, the rear-facing straps are positioned at or a bit below your child's shoulders, the seat is reclined at about a 45 degree angle and never ever place an infant in a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat of a car.

g) When you are using a rear facing convertible seat, see carefully whether the harness straps are positioned at or a bit below your child's shoulders, the harness chest clip is at the armpit level, the harness straps are straight and the seat is reclined at a 45-degree angle

h) While using a forward facing convertible seat, watch out that the harness straps are positioned at or slightly above your child's shoulder, the straps are straight and the harness chest clip's position is around your child's mid-chest or armpit area.

i) You can only use a forward facing combination seat if the harness straps are positioned at, or slightly above, your child's shoulders and you must stop using a shield booster when your child is 40 pounds.

j) If you want to use a belt-positioning booster seat, first make sure that you are using the lap/shoulder belt combination with a belt-positioning booster. Never use just a lap belt. Secondly, the shoulder belt must rest across the chest and thirdly the lap-belt should remain across the lap or upper thigh area and not across the stomach

Finally, do not use a car seat that: a) was involved in a crash, b) more that 10 years old, c) does not have a label with its date of manufacturing, d) does not have instructions, e) has a crack in its frame or has some part missing.
Always follow these instructions to ensure your baby's safety in the car.

BABY FOOTPRINTS

Everyone loves sweet baby feet, and baby footprints are a classic symbol of a newborn. The first year of a child's life is a time of remarkable growth and development.

Now you can preserve a piece of your baby's first year forever with easy-to-use kit, which captures a perfect impression of your child's tiny foot.

Anyone can make cute cards with a cherished reminder of baby's adorable feet and hands.

Parents and grandparents will think this is the best baby shower gift.

For thank you notes or baby announcements after baby has arrived, use his/her real footprint or handprint.

Copyright ? 2006 Lena Hilltorp

Baby Footprint. Money-Saving Information About Baby Footprint. Look At Everything We Have To Offer
http://www.baby-footprint.net/

About the Author

Lena Hilltorp is a freelance publisher based in Sweden. She publishes articles and reports and provides Baby footprints resources on www.baby-footprint.net

Who Survived the Seventies?

It?s interesting to see what happened to the people I used to gossip about in the late Seventies. The late Zanzibar, a private membership bar in Covent Garden was always filled with famous people. In one evening alone, the following people were having a drink there, and most of them have since died or are living in obscurity. Francis Bacon, the painter and his friend Thea Porter, the dress designer who created the rich hippy look are both dead. Bobby Moore, the footballer and captain of the England football team when they won the 1966 World Cup, ?dribbled out of Zanzibar with two blondes, one of whom tried to steal the visitor?s sign-in book? has since died of cancer.

Tina Chow, the beautiful, then wife of Michael Chow the restaurateur who wafted around in Fortuny gowns later died of AIDS after trying to cure herself with crystals. Patrick Litchfield, the royal photographer, then happily married to Lady Victoria Waymouth, recently died after having a stroke. Angelica Houston used to live with Jack Nicholson, but is now married to a sculptor called Robert Graham and lives in Venice in LA. ?Sex-bomb? Sylvia Krystel, rumoured to be having a fling with actor Ian McShane at the time played the title character in the soft-core film Emmanuelle ? one of the most successful French films ever produced. She recently had cancer and lives a simple life of obscurity in Amsterdam. Phil Lynott was Thin Lizzy?s vocalist and songwriter, but died from heart failure and pneumonia after suffering a heroin overdose in 1986, aged 36. Nigel Dempster used to be a famous print journalist. In the late Seventies, he was the gossip columnist for the Daily Mail. After thirty years in the job, he was retired against his will in 2003 and suffers from Parkinson?s disease. David Hockney had just bought a book out called David Hockney by David Hockney. His boyfriend Peter Schlesinger had just left him for Eric Boman, the photographer. Now, David Hockney is still David Hockney and his recent Portraits exhibition was held at the National Portrait Gallery in the UK, in Boston and in LA. He is officially single.

Celia Birtwell opened her textiles shop in London, and is now a successful fashion designer and textile designer. Her recent collection sold out in 'Top Shop' after ten minutes. Larry Adler, the harmonica player, who insisted on telling dreadful jokes, died in 1987 aged 87. Peter Langan, who co-owned Langan?s Brasserie with Michael Caine in the late Seventies, loved drinking so much that his Harley Street doctor gave him injections enabling him to continue drinking. He died aged 48 in 1988. Germaine Greer used to be a glamour puss but recently appeared as herself in Ricky Gervais? 'Extras.' The fashion designers Ossie Clark and Bill Gibb are both dead. Ossie was murdered by his lover, and Bill Gibb expired from cancer. But, the saddest story of the lot was of Timothy Swallow, a gossip columnist who worked for Nigel Dempster. In the Seventies, he committed suicide in Australia when he was there on holiday. He obviously couldn?t handle the pressure.

Frances Lynn, copyright: 2006

Frances Lynn is a professional writer and journalist. Her two novels, Frantic and Crushed are published by Eiworth Publishing at http://yourbookstore.eiworth.se/ Her personal website is http://www.franceslynn.org

Sleeping Pads For Lightweight Backpacking

Ultralight backpackers want to give up weight, not comfort. Sleeping pads are pretty much a necessity for backpacking comfort, but who wants to carry those monstrous old inflatables down the trail? Try some of these lightweight options instead.

You can make four-ounce sleeping pads - then sometimes carry two of them. Start with the plain blue closed-cell foam pads available from any backpacking supplier. These are made larger than necessary, usually 24 by 72 inches. You can just cut them down to a four-ounce size.

It's important that it reaches from your shoulders to your hips, so cut it to that length. Cut the width a little at a time, testing for comfort as you go. You want the pad as small as you can make it, while still big enough to insulate your torso from the ground. Your head can be on a pillow of spare clothes, and your legs on your empty pack to insulate them.

Sleeping Pads For Ultralight Fanatics

If you want it really light, cut pieces out of the pad. Half-inch holes in the pad don't seem to make it less comfortable. Cut out a hundred little pieces of foam, and you get to save an ounce and join the ranks of the fanatical ultralight backpackers.

To be comfortable with a thin pad, or none at all, try sleeping where the ground is soft. You can also pile up leaves or dry grass to sleep on. Please do this only where it won't harm the enviroment, and scatter the leaves in the morning so they won't kill the vegetation they're on. With fifteen minutes of work each night collecting materials, you can leave the sleeping pad home and be more comfortable. A thick pile of dried grass - now that's a nice camping mattress.

More Comfortable Sleeping Pads

Do you need more cushioning? Inflatable sleeping pads are no longer out of the question for lightweight backpacking. REI's Big Agnes Air Core Pad is a 3/4 length pad that weighs just 16 ounces and is an incredible 2 1/2 thick! I haven't tried this one yet, so if you've slept with Big Agnes, let me know how she is.

There are also several self-inflating sleeping pads that are reasonably light. My old Thermarest is actually only 21 ounces, but both Thermarest and others now have self-inflating sleeping pads that are under a pound. Now that's lightweight backpacking comfort!



About the author:
Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos and stories can be found at The Ultralight Backpacking Site: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Custom Car Seat Covers

This article provides detailed information on Custom Car Seat Covers.

Some manufacturers provide custom tailoring of car seat covers for particular vehicles. Customized car seat covers provide a snug fit with no sagging ends and therefore make the car seat look more visually appealing.

Custom car seat covers are a viable solution for hard-to-fit seats like 40/20/40 seats, 70/30 seats, 60/40 seats, as well as difficult-to-fit seats in jeeps, trucks, tractors and SUVs. The company first sends some representatives to take accurate measurements of the car seats and then builds up an estimate. This service is most often free of charge.

A wide variety of materials may be used for making custom car seat covers. The person ordering the car seat covers gets to choose from among cotton, vinyl, neoprene, sheepskin, denim, velour cloth, tweed cloth and several other materials. Specific colors and patterns can also be chosen. Materials can be chosen according to the climatic factors and the amount of wear and tear the car seats may be subjected to. The client may have to pay for the material in advance. At other times, the company quotes a lump sum charge, with the cost of the material included.

While customizing a car seat cover, the customer can seek any combination. The cover can be tailored as aesthetically as designed, creating a sense of fashion consciousness within the car. Different kinds of fasteners like Velcro, zippers, buttons or strings can be decided upon to enhance the look and durability of the cover.

Custom car seat covers are obviously more expensive than standard car seat covers available in the stores. While standard car seat covers may be available at $30 to $70 per cover, customized car seat covers are sold at anywhere upwards of $60 per cover. Car seat cover providers also provide other accessories such as car covers and floor mats. Floor mats are provided complementary by some companies with a custom order of car seat covers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Infant Car Seat Covers provides detailed information on Car Seat Covers, Infant Car Seat Covers, Custom Car Seat Covers, Dog Car Seat Covers and more. Infant Car Seat Covers is affiliated with Dog Car Seats.

The diversity offered by promotional bags

There?are a plethora of different styles to choose from when selecting promotional bags for your campaign.

With such a diverse selection of promotional bags available ? from business bags, laptop bags and backpacks to sports bags, travel bags, tote bags and cooler bags ? the choice can be a bit overwhelming and it may prove difficult to know which bag is the right one to meet your needs.

Promotional bags are extremely popular with companies looking to reward loyal customers and employees or to make an impact on potential customers at events such as exhibitions, trade shows, conferences, fundraising or sporting events.

There is a bag for every purpose. Promotional bags range from basic single compartment budget bags to more sophisticated multi-pocketed laptop backpacks, and everything in between.

Inexpensive tote and drawstring bags are great for everyday use and are particularly popular for use as promotional giveaways at events, whilst conference and document bags are perfect for handing out to delegates at conferences and seminars. All offer instant visibility and brand recognition with a high perceived value relative to their low unit cost.

Sports bags and travel bags are available in a wide variety of styles and price points. They lend themselves perfectly for use in internal promotional incentives, when a more stylish gift is called for.

Executive quality leather business and laptop bags offer a superior finish and greater longevity. These premium bags are therefore mainly reserved for use as high class corporate gifts.

The diversity offered by promotional bags means they are an ideal marketing tool, whether used as promotional giveaways, corporate gifts, for sales promotions or incentives.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


praveen samra

Make Money with Real Estate Government Home Seized

Do you want to learn how to make money with real estate? Have you always thought that you had to have a ton of money to start buying and selling real estate? Are you struggling to make an income and want a better way?

I am here to show you how to use government home seized real estate listings to make a ton of cash. Yes, you will need some start up capital or a little bit of credit, but you don?t need much of either. You see, in most cases, the government has become desperate to unload the homes they have seized.

This is a GREAT thing for you. This means that the price is going to be very low and they will be much more lenient on credit and down payment. I have even seen circumstances where homes go for under $2,500 with less than $100 down. That is insane.

Now the above example does not happen too often, but there are many homes for sale at 10% or less of their value. All you have to do is obtain one of these properties and you are set.

Once you get one of them, you can refinance the mortgage on this property and get cash out to buy another property. You can also sell this property to earn cash for your next deal. It just depends on how quickly you want to grow your business and how hot the property is on the market.

Once you get past your first deal you will be hooked. You will want to buy properties all the time and sell them just as often. There is millions to be made in real estate and all you have to do is start now and you can be on your way to claiming your portion.

Are you ready to buy government home seized properties? Do you want to make money form seized property sales? Go to the following website to get more information about seized property.

http://www.ready-repair-my-credit.com/seized.htm

How Debra's Renovations Were all Nearly Done for Free

Unit investment strategy to get your renovations done for free!

I want to share with you a very creative way a friend of mine is using to get all her renovations done on a new investment property for little or no cost. What Debra is doing is very creative and will only need to be monitored by her with everyone else doing all the work and paying for the costs.

Debra has bought a block of units in a capital city that are in need of major renovations. In all there are ten units. Debra has secured the units on a long settlement with the vendor happy to allow her to start renovating them immediately. What she has planned to do is call this project the Pot of Gold event.

She has approached local charities to see if they would be interested in taking over the renovation of one unit each. They will co ordinate and do all the work. Meanwhile Debra has approached local television stations to see if they would be interested in televising the whole project from start to finish. The television will be used to promote the sponsors who donate the materials to be used in each unit and also to promote open days where the public is invited in to view the progress.

When people visit the unit site they are asked to donate a gold coin as an admission charge. This gold coin donation goes into the pot of gold. It is planned to have five open days. Each open day will be the focus of a particular stage of the renovation. The open days will be for the whole week end, to give people a chance to get there if they work on the saturday. So in a a capital city you can imagine there will be a lot of people attending. The pot of gold will be worth a lot of money by the time the project is finished.

The charity that is judged to have done the best make over on their unit will win the pot of gold. The public will be asked to judge who is the winner. They will be able to view the progress of the units renovation at the open days and also on the television. All round every one will be a winner. The charities will have the chance to win the money, the material suppliers will get valuable TV and press exposure, the TV station will get better ratings, Debra will get her renovations done for little or no money and Debra plans to use the units for a safe house for recently divorced women who have an income, but need a safe place to settle in and get back on their feet. The rents on the units will be a a reduced rate under the local median average. This will be Debra's way of helping out people in need.

At time of writing this article Debra had eight charities interested and a TV station ready to come on board. Debra also plans to approach the local minister of housing to apply for a reduced rate on the governmant stamp duty. I think the chances of this happening will be good as Debra plans to outline how she will be helping to house women who are going through a difficult time and what Debra is doing here is assist the government with short term housing. Any assistance from the government will be looked upon favourably by every one. All in all this will be a win/win situation for everyone.

Debra will be able to renovate the units while the investment property is settling, then there will be women waiting to rent the units because of the TV exposure. The amount of interest this will create will have real estate agents calling Debra and wanting her to do the same on other real estate investment properties they have on their books. Debra will be real estate investing for profit and using little of her own money. I feel this strategy leverages your time and resources. It is a quick way to achieve capital growth.

To your investing success Leo Love

PS If your family or friends are interested please pass this on to them

www.therealestateinvester.com

http://www.therealestateinvester.com

I am an experienced and passionate investor. I buy typical mum and dad type houses that give me cash flow and capital growth. My website offers helpful tips and ideas for any type of investor to help you with your wealth creation. Using my site will help to prevent you falling into the traps the inexperienced investors do.

Safety 1st

Safety 1st is of the most reliable brands on the market. Some Safety 1st products include car seats, strollers, baby monitors, gates, bouncers, and much more. Safety 1st products make the transition from a baby to a toddler easier. Listed below are some products you might be interested in that make life a little easier.

The Safety 1st Tandem Stroller is a double stroller with stadium seating so that both children can see out the front. It has a reclining front seat, cup holders, rear brakes, a large basket, and a canopy with storage pockets. Best of all, the Safety 1st Tandem Stroller has a compact fold and a carrying handle and can easily be taken from place to place.

A great Safety 1st car seat is the Intera Convertible Car Seat. This seat is the only one that can be used as an infant seat, toddler seat, high-back booster, or a backless booster. It can hold any child between five and one-hundred pounds and is LATCH equipped. The seat also reclines in three positions, has a five point harness, and a removable cup holder. The Safety 1st car seat is perfect for any growing baby, and all parents who want maximum use out of their money.

Another one of the many, innovative Safety 1st baby products is the Color View Video Monitor. This set has a crib mountable camera, portable monitor, and two .5 inch high resolution screens. Other features are a brightness control, auto night sensor, AC adapter, and a picture off/audio only switch. This modern-day baby monitor is excellent for technology-savvy and panicky new parents.

So whether you’re selecting baby or toddler products, Safety 1st is a leading, dependable choice which makes a variety of merchandise to help raise and protect children.

About the Author

LynnMarie is On-Line Editor for Babyage.com which is one of the top online retailers of Infant and Juvenile Products including an extensive line of Strollers for infants and children.

How To Play Backgammon Moving Your Backgammon Chips

Casinos History Of Gambling In Brief

16 Essential Safety Tips For Your Baby

It has been shown statistically that the majority of accidents to newborns and infants are totally preventable. What it takes is for every new parent to be aware of the risk factors for newborns, and taking active steps to prevent it. You need to arm yourself with valuable knowledge in the care of your baby.

Here are 16 basic safety precautions which every new parent must know:

1. Do not put baby to bed with a bottle. Babies can choke or acquire ear infections, tooth decay and other dental troubles from having something in their mouths overnight.

2. For neck support, and because a newborn cannot sit up, roll a towel or get a support pillow that goes around the newborn's head. You'll use this in the car seat, stroller and wind-up swing. As newborns cannot sit up yet, many umbrella strollers - the easy folding, simple-looking, portable one-seat strollers do not give newborns the support they need, or are not sufficiently padded. Hence the support pillow.

3. Ensure your stroller has seat belts and crotch straps and that you use them. Strollers should have a wide base to prevent tipping and brakes that work.

4. Do not have aspirin around for children. It's been linked with Reye's Syndrome, which can be fatal. Never give a newborn something the pediatrician has not recommended, anyway.

5. Do not use (or minimize) baby powder or talcum on a newborn because it can be inhaled into the baby's lungs.

6. Never tie a pacifier or any other objects on a string around a baby's neck. Don't use homemade pacifiers. Check pacifiers and nipples frequently to ensure the nipple-part can't be sucked off and swallowed, and see that it has no holes or tears. The guard or shield around the nipple of the pacifier should be larger than the baby's mouth and should have ventilation holes so the baby could breathe if it did get in there, anyhow.

7. Keep toys on strings, drapery cords, laundry bags or other objects with strings off the baby cot and away from newborns to prevent strangulation. Mobiles on cribs should be securely fastened and not have long strings. Remove them before the child can reach them.

8. The slats of the crib should be no wider than 2 3/8 inches apart. Be sure to check, especially if using an antique, hand-me-down or secondhand crib. Mattresses should fit tightly up against the sides and there should be no corner posts.

9. Install a smoke detector in the baby's room or nursery.

10. If you have a playpen or portable crib with mesh sides, never use it with a side left down. Newborns could roll into the mesh pocket and suffocate. Better yet, don't use mesh-sided playpens.

11. Never, not even once, take your baby in the car without him or her being strapped in the car seat, and the car seat properly belted in the car according to manufacturer's directions. And never use a carrier device or sling-type seat as a car seat, unless it is specifically designed for this purpose. A low impact crash may not hurt an adult, but can prove fatal to an unsecured newborn.

12. Baby changing tops should have safety straps and/or railings to prevent the baby from falling off.

13. Do not use honey in any food or on the pacifier for babies not yet a year old. It can cause infant botulism.

14. Remove unnecessary objects from the crib, bassinet or playpen when baby sleeps to prevent suffocation. That means no pillows, stuffed animals or floppy toys. Don't cover the crib mattress in anything like a plastic garbage bag, dry cleaning bag or light plastic sheet. These can block a newborn's breathing in the event that the baby end up with its face down.

15. Crib or play gyms should be used only until the child is old enough to pull up and push up on hands and knees. Remove the gym when the baby is sleeping. You may wish to use this only on the floor, with baby lying on a soft blanket.

16. Keep small toys away from small babies. Toys go automatically into mouths and choking can, and does, result. Be especially careful of older toys with parts that can be pulled off, like teddy bear eyes, or parts that can break into small pieces.
About the Author

ChampBaby is a premier online baby guide, with expert articles on baby gifts, baby shower, breast feeding, and baby names suggestions. Visit http://www.champbaby.com to claim a free copy of Baby's First Year, a precious ebook for all new parents.

No Child Left Behind

Originally the term learning disability was used to describe school children who were not achieving up to their grade level and who exhibit disruptive behavior. Most often this is not due to a lack of innate intelligence, rather the problem can be traced to the lack of proper integration or balance in the brain function itself and in its coordination with physical body functions.

Actually all of us, children and adults alike, have some degree of learning disabilities/behaviors.

Signs of poor neurological organization include:

? Reversals in reading and letter writing

? Unusual reading or writing postures

? Understanding instructions as opposite to what was intended

? Difficulty in doing cross motor activities

? Hyperactivity, lack of attention span, etc

I have presented many show and tell sessions in schools to demonstrate to the teachers how the children?s learning problems can be corrected.

How many times have I heard kids saying, ?I don?t feel good when I read. Many times I have heard adults say, ?I hate reading, I keep falling asleep. All this too can be easily corrected.

Your solution is here!!

We have a left-brain and a right-brain. Both sides of the brain have to work together. What happens with children with learning difficulties is that both sides of the brain are not communicating with each other and also with the muscles.

We have to get all our brain control circuits working together. This is like getting all the cylinders in an auto engine firing in the proper order, so the engine will run smoothly and powerfully.

The upper part of our brain is divided into two halves right down the middle like a walnut. A bridge called the corpus callosum connects the two halves.

Like a drawbridge, if the bridge is stuck open, cars are not able to cross. We can close the bridge but if we don?t lock it, it may open again.

Like a drawbridge, the two halves of our brain cannot communicate with each other when the bridge connecting the two halves are stuck open. We have to close it and lock it.

Reading may be very difficult for some children. When we read we start on the left side of the page, which activates the right brain. We have to cross the mid-line. So we start out by turning off the right brain when we start to read. By the time we get to the right side of the page we turn off the left-brain.

We talked about the bridge called the corpus callosum that connects the two halves. The energy connecting the two halves has been interrupted.

To do our best school work and to best control our movements in sports and other physical activities, we have to close this draw-bridge and let the right and left sides of our brain communicate with each other.

The left side of our brain controls all the muscles on our right side of our body, where we do language and math tasks. We do our logical thinking here and figure things out by bits and pieces.

The right side of the brain controls all the muscles on our left side of our body. This is where we see the pictures and hear music. We have our imagination and intuition here, and can see the entire picture and understand ideas.

So we want to get all parts of our brain communicating and working together for improving performance and building self-esteem.

ADHD

What we have discovered is that muscles that are not working together and communicating with the brain could be one of the major factors in dealing with ADHD.

The body is a great compensator.

The body is so busy compensating for muscles not working together and communicating with the brain that students have to keep moving to get into a comfortable position to sit in. There seems to he a tug of war with the muscles.

Another factor is neck stress. Through our research, when students look up at the teacher or look down at their desk or look around the room other muscles may go weak.

The muscles are so busy playing tug-of-war with each other that children are not able to sit still. At this point a child may be labeled ADHD.

Neck stress is a problem in athletics, like basketball etc.

The bottom line is to correct the muscle imbalances to communicate with the brain with simple exercises.

Testimomial

Dear Dr. Elizabeth

Thank you for sharing your Children?s Self-Help Techniques with me at the massage convention for my 12 year old son who was having trouble with school since the beginning.

We had his yearly RSP testing and evaluation. The teachers were as shocked as we were to see that he scored 5 years ahead of last years scale in math and reading. He finally made his own grade level.

His attitude is great (most of the time). He is also losing weight and much more interested and active in other projects then he was before. (Has to do with self-esteem right!)

Thank you Julie

Visit http://www.Lovinglife.org for tips and tools for stress management and pain management. Visit my blog at http://www.lovinglifehealth.org Elizabeth Barhydt is a Muscle-Brain Therapist.

Ipod And Mp3 Backpacks For The Tech savvy Individual

Music has always been popular for people all over the world whatever its language be. Before it used to be cassette players, followed by walkmans, cd players, and then companies started to make them in much smaller sizes with much larger storing capacity which gave rise to these new breed of music players. As we walk the streets, we may encounter people carrying with them portable players that play music and for others videos. It has become so popular nowadays for people of all ages, be it the young or young at heart, to own these small and portable digital audio players like MP3 players and iPods.

The technological advances have truly revolutionized the fashion industry for more designers are trying to incorporate these hi-tech items into bags, clothes, and the like. It is not unusual to find bags equipped to fill the needs of the tech-savvy individual.

We can find a lot of backpacks in the market that has tried to fill this void. Backpacks now are designed with special compartments designed to store and protect your mobile phone, digital audio players (like MP3 players and iPods), and some even for detachable CD or DVD cases.

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, almost one third of all U.S. households with children aged between 12-17 years of age own an MP3 player. Take note thats not even half of the entire population for even the older generation is trying to adapt and blend in with the current trends.

Some backpacks are even incorporating features like built in speakers and amplifiers. Others have built in remote controls for volume which can be found on the shoulder strap. These bags are even equipped with a headphone cable exit port making it more convenient instead of it being run through the bags zipper. Some are even equipped to store your laptop computers as well.

The best selling iPod and MP3 backpacks include the brands of High Sierra, OGIO, eBags, Jansport, Eastpak and Nike. Visit the websites for a look at the latest styles and designs and try to avail of those items that are currently on sale.

With the growing popularity of these electronic gadgets and with the emergence of newer and more advance digital audio players, backpacks with these features are definitely here to stay. Music lovers will definitely enjoy owning one of these for it is a fantastic way to have their music close at hand.

By: Mary Lorainne

Buying Overseas Property ? Why You Should Consider Central Pacific Coast Costa Rica

The central pacific coast in Costa Rica continues to be a popular choice for both buyers of overseas property, for both investment and pleasure.

Here we will give you an idea of the region and its potential for capital growth, some examples of growth achieved and why it will remain popular.

Playing it safe with overseas property

If you want an established area for buying overseas property, that offers fantastic potential returns on your investment, then this region offers you just that, without the risk of buying an up and coming region or country.

The Region

The Central Pacific is a narrow coastal strip surrounded by the jungle and the mountains of the Cordillera de Tamalmanca and spectacular beaches.

Here are just three destinations in the region that property purchases in or near, can on past performance give you a great lifestyle as well as great investment returns.

Jac?

Jac? sits to the north and has long been a major destination in terms of Costa Rican tourism it is extremely close to the capital San Jos? making is just 30 minutes from San Jos?, and about 7 south of the stunning wildlife reserve, Reserva Biol?gica Carara.

The town boasts fantastic hotels and an exciting nightlife. The town is a mix of older holiday makers and a young vibrant surfing crowd.

The famous Los Suenos Marriott Beach and Golf Resort, at Playa Herradura, offers ta 250 birth marina an 18-hole championship golf course, and stunning beachfront views.

Capital Growth potential

The Los Suenos Resort for example can show the potential of buying overseas property in the region. The hotel pre sold 50 condos of 2000 square feet for $250,000. The next year another fifty were sold at $350,000.

This years upper end units are being sold between $450,000 to $850,000 and there is a waiting list!

For another example, Investors that purchased $30,000 of property in Jaco 15 years ago are now worth up to $750,000. The region remains popular and further capital gains look like being made by investors over the coming years.

Quepos

About 7 kilometers up the coast from Manuel Antonio, is the sport fishing hot-spot, Quepos and is considered one of the best destinations for sport fishing in the world and is also a magnet for surfers.

South of Quepos, the spectacular beaches of Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio present some of the country's most breathtaking ocean views.

A silvery white sand beach, with an expansive coral reef, backed by a rain forest, the four beaches of Manuel Antonio offer travelers beach, surf and natural beauty.

You can scuba dive, fish, surf, hike, turtle-watch or simply laze around and take in the atmosphere.

Dominical

A small fishing community beside the mouth of the R?o Bar? is now one of Costa Rica's major surfing destinations and is a vibrant fun place to be.

Around 5 miles north of Dominical are the Nauyaca Falls, a popular destination for travelers. The falls are composed of two cascades, plunging around 200 feet into a relaxing warm-water pool and are just two hours away.

While the Central Pacific is well known for several of its most popular beaches, this region has a host of small, secluded shores, un spoilt by the area's buoyant tourist industry.

Capital gains and lifestyle

When buying overseas property many people look at new areas to buy, however established areas that are popular can still be very lucrative and offer high potential rewards with low risk.

Keep in mind!

Many people buying property overseas want natural beauty, but they also want comfort, entertainment and good access.

This region has all of the above, look at it more closely and consider the advantages of buying overseas property here and you may be glad you did.

FREE REPORT AVAILIBLE!

On investing in property in the region for lifestyle or capital gains potential and for vidoes and other facts about Costa Rica as a place to invest and live visit http://www.costaricalandlots.com

6 Great Freebie Resources for Parents of Twins & Multiple Births

A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is to give birth to twins! Youll have twice the smiles, goos & coos, giggles, and firsts (first words, first steps, first burps.) But for many soon-to-be parents of twins, once the excitement wears off, the math sets in.

Suddenly you find yourself with twice the dirty diapers, twice the mouths to feed in the middle of the night, twice the formula to buy. Then, there are twice the outfits and booties to get. Youll need two cribs, playpens, baby swings..The next thing you know, double the fun has turned into triple the financial stress.

But before you begin pulling out your hair and pawning the family keepsakes, read on. Many companies out there realize that oftentimes, parents of twins need an extra break. They offer coupons, freebies, discounts and many other incentives.

Cashing in on Free Stuff for Twins

Before you can cash in, youll need to do a little paperwork. However, Im sure youll agree that a few moments of your time will certainly pay off. To receive any of the six free reward program incentives below youll need to provide each company with the following:

A letter stating that youve just had twins. One of the easiest ways to do this is to create a generic form letter on your computer. Print out six copies of it, and keep it saved, since youll more than likely come across other offers that will also require a letter.

Copies of your childrens birth certificates. While at a later point, you may be required to provide the company with a certified copy, at this point Id only recommend that you send an unofficial copy. Or, to save yourself time and stamps, you can try to call or email the companies.

Once youve got this information together, youre ready to get started. Here are just a few of the companies out there who are willing to help you get free stuff for twins:

Reward Programs offering Free Stuff for Twins:

1. Playtex Products

20 Troy Road

Whittany, NJ 07981

800-222-0453

Playtex will send your twins a free bottle kit, complete with liners and also a free pacifier.

2. Ringling Bros Circus

Customer Service Baby Program

Feld Entertainment

8607 West Wood Center Drive

Vienna, VA 22182

www.ringling.com

To help you celebrate the new addition, Ringling Bros offers free tickets for each of the new babies.

3. Johnson & Johnson

199 Grandview Road

Skillman, NJ 08558

800-526-3967

Johnson & Johnson offers a freebie gift packet made especially for twins!

4. The First Years

One Kiddie Drive

Avon, MA 02322

800-533-6708

The company will send out a special package full of free bibs and rattles for each baby.

5. Summer Infant Products

6 Blackstone Valley Place

Suite 206

Lincoln, RI 02865

800-268-6237

Summer Infant Products offers a generous box of free stuff for your twins.

6. Nestle Infant Nutrition

P.O. Box AW

Wilkes Barre, PA 18703

800-222-0453

www.verybestbaby.com

Nestle will send you coupons for 5 free cans of Carnation Good Start formula, an incredible value

Dont forget to check back often for more incentives, freebies and rewards for twins and multiple births!

Jennifer Gibbs is a successful freelance writer who lives in South Georgia with her husband and son. If youre on the lookout for fresh, custom content for your website or publication, be sure to check out her website at, http://www.jennifergibbs.com!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JenniferGibbs

By Jennifer Gibbs

Your Tuxedo Formal Wear Glossary

There are two theories about the first tuxedo. The tuxedo was invented by Pierre Lorillard IV of New York City according to one school of thought. However, some historians believe that the tuxedo was invented by King Edward VII.



Pierre Lorillard

Pierre Lorillard's family were wealthy tobacco magnates who owned country property in Tuxedo Park, just outside of New York City. At a formal ball, held at the Tuxedo Club in October 1886, the young Lorillard wore a new style of formal wear for men that he designed himself. He named his tailless black jacket the tuxedo after Tuxedo Park. The tuxedo caught on and became fashionable as formal wear for men.



British Origins

According to English clothing historian James Laver, the idea of wearing black for evening wear was first introduced by the nineteenth century British writer, Edward Bulwer-Lyttonn who wrote in 1828 that people must be very distinguished to look well in black.



A resident of Tuxedo Park, James Brown Potter vacationed in England in the summer of 1886. Potter and his wife, Cora were introduced to the Prince of Wales who later became King Edward VII at a court ball in London. Potter asked the Prince for advice on formal dress. The Prince sent Potter to his own Saville Row tailor, Henry Poole & Co. Potter was fitted with a short black jacket and black tie that was unlike the formal tails with white tie that was worn in the United States for formal occassions.



The new tailless formal wear was said to have been designed by the Prince of Wales. The Prince and his tailor drew inspiration from the British military uniforms of the time, which used short jackets with black ties. This is where the two origins meet. James Brown Potter took the design back to the Tuxedo Club, where Pierre Lorillard modified it, named it, and made it popular during the Autumn ball.



Take a look at the types of terms that have come about over the years related to tuxedo formal wear.



Ascot: Accessory; a wide scarf or necktie knotted so that its broad ends are laid flat upon each other. Often pinned together with a pearl stickpin and usually worn with a cutaway tuxedo. Today all ascots are banded for ease of use.



Band Bowtie: Accessory; a bowtie with an adjustable band that wraps around the collar of the shirt and connects with a clasp. All rental bowties are now banded. ?



Banded Collar: A formal shirt, with banded collar only, no wing-like appendages. Worn with fancy button covers. Usually features a wide pleated front. Also referred to as mandarin collar.



Besom Pocket: On a coat, a very narrow piping above the pocket slit. Can be satin besom or self (same fabric as coat) besom, with flap.



Button Cover: Ornamental accessory device worn at the neck of the shirt, clipping onto the button of the collar. Available in many styles. Usually worn with a mandarin or crosswick collar shirt.



Button Stance: On a coat, the position where the coat first buttons on the chest. Usually defined as a standard, low, or high button stance.



Collar: On a coat, the turned back material that falls around the back of the neck. Can be of satin or same material as the coat.



Comfort Collar: On a formal shirt, a manufacturing feature that allows for more comfort at the neck of the shirt. The button of the collar is attached to a small tab that slides, giving more range in movement.



Crosswick Shirt: A very modern formal shirt with a crossover spread collar. Features a wide pleated front. Usually worn with a fancy button cover; a tie cannot be worn with this shirt.



Cuff Links: Ornamental accessory device of two parts joined by a shank, chain, or bar for passing through buttonholes to fasten shirt cuffs.



Cummerbund: Accessory; a broad sash worn over the waistband of the pants. Pleats are worn with the opening facing up.



Cutaway: A formal coat also known as the morning suit. Usually a dark grey coat worn traditionally in the morning for weddings. Now can be worn anytime during the day.



Double Besom Pocket: On formal coats, two narrow pipings in satin or self material above and below the slit, without flap.



Double Breasted: A tuxedo coat which overlaps itself in the front. Often adorned with four or six buttons.



Double Breasted Vest: A vest which overlaps itself in the front. Often adorned with four or six buttons.



Euroband Tie: Accessory; a fashion tie, much like a 4-in-hand necktie with an overstated knot. Available in many colors, worn with a high cut vest.



Flap Pocket: On a coat, a standard pocket. Common on traditional coat styles.



Floor Level Peak Lapel: On a coat, a type of peak lapel in which the peak, rather than pointing upward, runs parallel to the floor.



Formal Shoes: Patent leather or vinyl shoes with a glossy finish. Today's selection offers a variety of styles featuring insets and textured materials.



4-In-Hand Tie (Necktie): Accessory; a necktie fastened with a slipknot, a man's regular necktie. Usually worn with a stroller coat.



French Cuff: A wide shirt cuff folded back and fastened with a cufflink. Found on 100% cotton retail shirts.



Full Back Vest: Accessory; a vest which has a full back panel sewn in.



Full Dress Tails: A coat also known as the tailcoat, being short in the front and long in the back. Very formal. Once available only in black, now available in all colors.



Gorge: On a coat, where the lapels start and the collar ends. A very low gorge is down the middle of the chest.



High Cut Vest: A vest which has more buttons on the front, causing it to close higher and closer to the collar. Worn with a bowtie, euroband 4-in-hand tie, or button covers.



Lapel: On a coat, the turned back material that falls around the front of the coat. Can be of satin or the same material as the coat.



Laydown Collar: A shirt similar to most men's dress shirts, a regular fold over style collar. Usually with pleats.



Mandarin Collar: A formal shirt, with banded collar only, no wing-like appendages. Worn with fancy button covers. Usually features a wide pleated front.



Notch Lapel: On a coat, a notch is cut out between the collar and the lapel.



Peak Lapel: On a coat, the top of the lapel is pointed sharply upward and outward.



Pique Shirt: A white shirt with a waffle-like texture on the front panel and cuffs. Worn with matching vest and tie. Most formal.



Pique Vest: A white vest with a waffle-like texture. The most traditional vest; often worn with white tie and tails.



Shawl Collar: On a coat, there is no change from the collar to the lapel; it is a rounding continuation of the collar.



Spats: Short formal fabric shoe coverings worn over the instep and reaching just above the ankle, usually fastened by a strap under the foot and buttons on one side. Once used to protect shoes from mud, now a high-fashion accessory.



Stroller: Matching tuxedo length coat to the cutaway. Worn with contrasting striped trousers, pearl vest, laydown collar shirt, and 4-in-hand tie.



Studs: Accessories; small ornamental buttons mounted on short posts for insertion through an eyelet next to the shirt button.



Tuxedo: Specifically used to refer to a standard length coat, single or double breasted with satin lapels. Generally used to refer to all men's formalwear.



Vents: On a coat, an opening in the lower part of a seam; a slit in the garment. Tuxedo types: center vent, non-vented, side vented.



Waist Coat: A coat also known as the Spencer or Eton. Resembles a full dress without tails. Worn with matching or contrasting trousers.



Wing Collar: Also known as stand up collar. A formal shirt, usually with a pleated front that has wing-like pointed appendages.

Safety precautions for boating and hunting

Boating and hunting are certainly two of the most popular outdoor activities. In the following article we will take a look at each of them and discuss some of the safety risk involved.

Boating
The term boating usually refers to the recreational use of a pleasure craft. Fishing and waterskiing are two common boating activities along with many other sports. Millions of boaters can be found all around the world as it is an incredibly popular activity.

Boating Safety
For most people when they go out boating on the water the last thing on their mind is emergency preparation. This is a mistake which over time has cost many people their lives. Being prepared for an emergency is absolutely vital if you are going to go out boating. Common boating emergencies include someone falling overboard, boat breakdowns, boat leaks and capsizing.

Proper safety equipment is not only recommended but is mandatory in most places. Boating safety equipment includes life buoys, life jackets and ladders. A horn and bailer are also recommended and/or required in most areas. Survival suits are also recommended especially when boating in cold water where the risk of hypothermia is greater.

Proper maintenance of your boat is essential to ensuring a safe trip. Without proper maintenance your boat has a much greater risk of breaking down which will put the lives of everyone on board including yourself at risk.

Hunting
Hunting can be defined as the practise of pursuing some type of animal while attempting to capture or kill it. Hunting dates back many, many years and is a very celebrated pastime.

Hunting Safety
Unload all firearms when not in use. Although you may know that your firearm is loaded, the people around you may not. Never hop over a fence or climb into your tree stand with a gun that is loaded. When travelling on an ATV or other vehicle unload the gun as well.

Be sure that not only do you know what is in front of your target before shooting but also be aware of what is behind it. Many hunters leave this part out as they assume that they will not miss. That however is not the case.

The most important safety tip that we can offer you is to use common sense at ALL times. While hunting, do not at any time allow your emotions to override common sense.

Taking a compass and map with you will aid if you get lost. Even a flashlight is a good idea in case you become lost in the dark. The flashlight will also help in avoiding snakes and other potentially dangerous animals.

Following these tips will allow you a much better chance of having a safe and enjoyable time boating or hunting.
About the Author

Hunting Source provides information about hunting. Boating information can be found at the Boating Source.

The Tenant?s Tenets: Residential Lease Agreements

In this world, everybody must abide by certain rules and regulations. These could be official rules which are penned by persons of authority and are expected to be followed by one and all; or these could be unofficial rules which are dictated upon people by other people or by society. Of these two, official rules are those which are considered as more formal and shall apply to everyone ? from small (offices, classes, organizations) to large (townships, cities, countries) groups of people.

As with everything in this world, real estate transactions are also governed by rules and this extends through the entire gamut of individuals who are, in one way or another, involved in the process. There are federal and state property laws which real estate agents and lawyers must be aware of. Within the real estate office, there are specific rules that need to be followed as well. The professional relationship of a broker and a client are also governed by rules. However, in real estate, no one is more exposed to a list of dos and don?ts than a tenant of leased property.

Tenants of rented units are bound by a contract called a lease agreement. All the details pertaining to the lease are itemized in this document, and these include the names and addresses of the parties involved; the rented property, duration of lease, agreed upon rental fee, payment terms, and so on and so forth. Apart from these, lease agreements also include specific tenets or rules which, upon signing of the document, the tenant promises to abide by. And like anything that come in pairs these conditions come with concomitant penalties and corrective actions. Lease agreements are very important documents and the preparation of such should not be taken lightly.

Lease agreements are usually prepared by real estate agents and/or lawyers and this forms part of the whole service package offered to consumers. These days, however, you no longer need to consult with professionals for this. Many of these real estate related websites can give you tips on how to prepare a legally binding lease agreement. There are sites where a sample is presented to you on the screen, and there are also websites where you are able to purchase and download these contracts. The forms, such as the residential lease agreement, though found on real estate websites were created by professional real estate agents, thus you can be assured that the format and contents are valid. These can be opened using any word processing program and you can easily modify the contents to plug in the rules and conditions for you expect your tenants to follow.

If you want to secure a copy from the internet, all you need to do is pay for the contract by using your credit card, paypal or the issuance of electronic cheques, and once the payment approved, you can immediately download the residential lease agreement and alter the contents as you see fit. So pen those tenets now and include these in the lease agreement so your tenant will live by your rules.

This is article is brought to you by Gloria Smith at LegalHomeForms.com. Created by a former, licensed Real Estate Agent, LegalHomeForms.com was designed to offer instant access to the most sought after type of real estate forms. For the cost of what others charge for one real estate contract, you can have instant access to over 60 downloadable real estate forms. You can find the Residential Lease Agreement form at: http://www.legalhomeforms.com/residential-lease-agreement.htm

Miami Real Estate

Miami is considered the largest urbanized city in the state of Florida. With the metropolitan area surrounded by the Miami River, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami a great place for residential homes and recreation areas.

Types of Miami Real Estate

With the ever increasing demand for Miami real estate, properties both existing and new are readily available. You can choose from affordable homes to luxurious mansions, condos, lofts, apartment buildings and even pre-construction buildings. Whether it be for residence or commercial properties such as hotels, restaurants, offices or other income properties, you can find something that will suit your taste. Properties range from $650,000 to millions of dollars, and surely you can find something that will suit your budget. Properties are available in Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Brickell, Surfside, Bal Harbor, Key Biscayne, Aventura, Fisher Island, downtown Miami, Lincoln Road, and more.

Guidelines

Wherever you may want to find a property in Miami, you can find a realtor who can help you purchase that piece of Miami real estate that is right for you. He or she can present you with photographs, videos, or virtual tours of the properties available. Your realtor can find a property that will match your budget. He will also guide you through local taxes and mortgage rates. And be sure to seek the services of a member of the National Association of Realtors who will strictly uphold the Code of Ethics of the association.

Amenities

What contributes to the beauty of Miami real estate is the richness of the cultural diversity that exists in this city. Aside from the local Americans, the city hosts a rich population of Latin Americans and people that reside in the Caribbean. Miami also has a healthy number of tourists, not to mention many celebrities who call Miami their home. The city has at least two prestigious universities - University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University - and hosts athletic teams such as the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, and the Miami Heat.

Miami Real Estate provides detailed information on Miami Real Estate, Miami Waterfront Real Estate, Miami Beach Real Estate, Miami Luxury Real Estate and more. Miami Real Estate is affiliated with Downtown San Diego Real Estate.

The Beauty of Ceramic Backgammon Sets

VW Parts for the People Car

Volkswagen literally means people car. True to its name, Volkswagen produced the best-selling car of all time, the Beetle. Volkswagen's history goes back to Ferdinand Porsche's vision of producing a vehicle that every working man can afford. This idea was not a new one but previous attempts to realize it had failed.

Ferdinand Porsche had an impeccable reputation as an automobile engineer, heading his own consultation firm and previously serving as chief designer of Lohner, Austro-Daimler, Mercedes, Daimler-Benz and Steyr. When Hitler expressed his desire to produce a car that would serve the needs of the average German, Porsche seized the opportunity and presented his plans to Hitler who greenlighted the project, but with several requirements: the car should be a five-seater, have a cruising speed of 100 kmh, get 40 miles to the gallon, be air-cooled, and be priced below 1000 Marks. Ferdinand Porsche accepted the challenge even though he was sure that a car could not be made that cheaply: the cost of Ford's mass produced models at the time was roughly the equivalent of 2,600 Marks. Fortunately, Porsche had already designed many of the required VW parts in one of his earlier models with a similar name - the Volksauto. Porsche assigned the name Type 60 to his prototype but it was changed to V1 and a convertible version Hitler requested was named V2. By 1935, 3 prototypes were created and Daimler-Benz were ordered to build another 30 to complete the testing. The car now sported the unique streamlined look that would become famous around the world.

The Beetle or VW Type 1 was ready for production in 1939 but World War 2 intervened and the car was retooled for the far effort. Porsche revised some of the VW parts, enlarging the engine and crafting a four-seater body for the wartime model Type 81. The VW Schwimmwagen was an amphibious vehicle used extensively by the German army. After the war, Volkswagen's first customer would ironically be the British who needed light transport and ordered 20,000 units. Volkswagen sold only 2 cars when it started exporting to America but clever advertising campaigns popularized the brand immensely. In 1973, sale of the Volkswagen Beetle exceeded the 16 millionth marks replacing the Model T as the best-selling car in the world. It was also named fourth most influential car of the 20th century by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation. Later versions of the Type 1 sold poorly and Volkswagen purchased Audi/Auto Union to help the company create a new breed of VW vehicles. Polo, Golf, and Passat succeeded the VW Beetle and represented a break from the company's one-brand policy.

To keep the company competitive, Group CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder and brand CEO Wolfgang Bernhard unleashed a brand offensive that started in 2002, introducing new models in its lineup like the sixth-generation Passat and the fifth-generation Jetta. Martin Winterkorn will become VW Group CEO on January 1, 2007. He was responsible for bringing the Audi brand to the spotlight and making it a credible competitor to other luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes.

Volkswagen is now the world's fourth largest car manufacturer.

Fourty-one year old Meg Foler brings her skills as an interior designer to not-so-new model cars, repainting and redoing the interior herself. Most of her pieces are ?Pop Art? in nature as she is an Andy Warhol fan.