You're in the market for a boat and you'd love to buy one at the next boat show. But which boat is the right one for you? It's hard to know, especially if you're a first-time buyer. A boat is a big investment, so it's important to do careful research to find the one that best meets your needs. Buyers should consider not only the price but also the manufacturer of the engine and the boat, the size and fuel capacity. The first step is to determine how you will use the boat. What types of activities do you plan to do on your boat? Will you be cruising, fishing, playing watersports or a combination of these? After you have an idea of the type of boat you need, it's time to weed through the options. One helpful resource is Boat Test, a site that allows prospective boat buyers to compare boats by type, size and manufacturer. After you specify what you're looking for, Boat Test generates a head-to-head comparison of all the models that fit your criteria. Visitors to the site can see articles about various boats and watch videos of independently conducted tests for each model as well as video clips on engines, electronics and more. After narrowing down your options to a few models, you can go to the manufacturer's dealer locator through BoatTest to get more information and pricing. If you plan to attend a boat show, doing research beforehand will save you a lot of time because you only will need to visit the exhibits of the specific boats you are interested in. At the show, take some time to look at the boats up close and check out the workmanship, ergonomics and other factors that may influence your decision. If you prepare ahead of time, you'll also be able to tell the dealer exactly what you want in a boat. Armed with price and performance comparisons, you can simply walk from one dealer to the next until you get the price that is acceptable to you. In the end, you'll head home with a new boat and the satisfaction that you got the best deal possible. - NU

Depending on whom you talk to, today's economy is either on a roller coaster, on the verge of a recession, or in a full-fledged recession. Whichever is the case, there's little doubt that people are anxious about their economic well-being. Some are in danger of losing their homes, some are in danger of losing their jobs, and some are just plain scared about the future. That's why an increasing number of people are looking for new ways to make money; even if they don't get rich, they won't get deeper in debt. Instead of going out and getting another job, more people are opting to start a money making business online. A home business has many advantages over looking for a second job. For one thing, there's no commute, which means you don't have to get gouged at the gas pump. For another, you can set your own hours and work when it's convenient. Finally a home working opportunity can give you peace of mind, since there's no chance that you're going to be laid off. When it comes to an online business opportunity, however, it's often hard to choose among the many offerings out there. Here are five things to watch for when reviewing a potential money making business. 1. How Internet savvy do you need to be? One of the big mistakes people make is signing up for an online home working opportunity, and then finding out that they need to design web pages or continually update product offerings. That's simply beyond the ability level of most people. Instead, seek out a business offering that doesn't require you to buy a domain name, find a web host, upload HTML code, and so forth. In other words, you want a system that is as fully automated as possible. 2. How much of a back office is required? Many online business opportunities require you to maintain a complicated back office where you track sales, contact customers, provide support, and so on. In most cases, you even have to set up your own merchant account in order to accept payments and credit cards. That's a major headache, to say the least. Instead, look for an opportunity that doesn't require a back office set up, and that only requires that you have a PayPal account. Remember the more fully automated it is, the less time you have to spend in order to make money. 3. Avoid affiliates and MLMs. Multi-level marketing (MLM) and many affiliate programs are great get rich quick schemes - if you get in on the ground floor. If you don't, your hard work benefits those above you, but doesn't add much to your bottom line. Select a business where you receive 100 percent of the payments made to you. 4. Find products that sell. In today's environment, the best bet for products are those that are downloadable. For example, there is a huge market for software, e-books, graphics, and website content. If you become a reseller of these kinds of electronic informational products, you will be well on your way to having a successful business. 5. Keep it simple. Many home business opportunities require you to jump through hoops in order to launch your own enterprise. Before you know it, you're signed up for trainings, paying out membership fees, participating in conference calls or web-based seminars, and so on. Instead, find an opportunity that offers a valuable product and that makes it simple to create your own income stream.

: New Zealand Car Rental If you're visiting New Zealand a rental car is one of the best ways to get around. New Zealand is a small country but has the astounding geographic diversity of a major continent squeezed into its small size. For example, within 3- 4 hours drive of Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, are sub-tropical beaches, volcanic mountains with ski fields, boiling mud pools, ancient forests, unspoiled trout fishing rivers and world class golf courses. Having a rental car gives you the freedom and flexibility to go where you want and when you want. Driving in New Zealand For most overseas visitors driving in New Zealand is a breeze because, compared to what they are used to, there is surprisingly little traffic on the roads - especially in the South Island. Whilst New Zealand is about the size of UK its population is only 4 million - UK by comparison has over 60 million. Another difference is the limited number of motorways and freeways. Roads are generally only 2-laned and frequently windy due to the ever changing landscape. In New Zealand we drive on the left, as in UK. If you're from America or another country that drives on the right then you might feel apprehensive about having to drive on the "wrong side of the road". Don't be - it's straight-forward and tens of thousands of foreign visitors happily do it every year. New Zealanders typically show a little less consideration to other drivers than is seen in UK, Australian, and the US where more cars on the road force people to be more considerate. Having said that, don't be put off - driving in New Zealand is nothing like the harrowing experience of driving in Italy or parts of Asia! New Zealand Car Rental Firms New Zealand car rental firms range from the familiar multi-national big brands through to small local car rental firms. The advantage of the big name rental firms is they can be found throughout New Zealand and offer the biggest and newest range of rental vehicles. The disadvantage is that generally they're the most expensive and often have lots of hidden costs. At the other end of the scale are the small local operators who typically have older rental cars. Whilst you may not end up driving this year's latest model the advantage is that the smaller car rental firms can be substantially cheaper, so leaving you more money to spend on the many exciting attractions New Zealand offers. Between these extremes you'll find a wide range of NZ car rental firms catering to different needs and budgets. What Sort of Driving Licenses are Required in New Zealand? You can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months if you have either a current driver's license from your home country, or an International Driving Permit. Most car rental companies require drivers to be over the age of 25 and to have held a full license for at least 3 years. Some firms will rent vehicles to younger drivers. For example, A2B Car Rentals rents vehicles to drivers who are 20 or older and hold a full driver's license. At the manager's discretion, a holder of a license for less than three years is acceptable but may incur a higher insurance excess. Make sure your overseas driver's license is current. If your license is not in English, you should bring an English translation with you or obtain an International Driving Permit. Contact your local automobile club for further details about obtaining a translation or an International Driving Permit. In New Zealand it's a legal requirement that all drivers, including overseas visitors, must carry their license or permit when driving. Naturally you will only be able to drive the same types of vehicles you are licensed to drive in your home country. What are New Zealand's Road Rules? Here's a brief over-view. You can get more details the NZ Government Land Transport Authority website ( ltsa. govt. nz/roadcode/) · In New Zealand, all vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road as in UK. · When turning left, give way (or yield) to traffic crossing or approaching from your right · When the traffic light is red, you must stop · Speed limits are strictly enforced by police using radar, speed cameras and un-marked patrol cars. Fines for speeding can be expensive · The speed limit on the open road is 100 km/h (approx 60 mph) · In built up areas the speed limit is 50 km/h. (approx 30 mph) · Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times In Summary If you're planning to visit New Zealand a rental car is one of the best options, especially for independent travelers who want to experience everything New Zealand has to offer. A rental car gives you the freedom and flexibility to go where you want and when you want to enjoy this wonderful country.

Traveling is a part of our day-to-day life. We all travel because of one reason or other and can be national or international. Traveling always involves risk. So, whether you travel for pleasure or business, it always safe to travel with proper travel insurance. If your are properly insured, there is no need to worry about the risks involved in traveling like loss of luggage or baggage, flight delay, accident, medical emergency or evacuation. Formerly, Travel Insurance was considered as a luxury. But now travelers are aware of factors that are not under their control like trip cancellation, medical emergency, evacuation, flight delay, loss of baggage etc. There are many kinds of insurance policies. Travel Insurance comes in front of you in different shapes like Travel Health Insurance, Travel Medical Insurance, Vacation Insurance etc. Whether it a business or leisure trip, proper Travel Insurance is crucial because of many reasons. It protects your travel investment, belongings and health. You can hold travel insurance for personal and business purpose it is always true that a proper Travel Insurance makes your trip memorable. Apart from personal insurance, Business Travel Insurance also covers computers and other business equipment of businessmen or travelers who travel for a business purpose. Business Travel Insurance makes perfect sense and is always a policy or contract under which the insurance company agrees to pay a sum of money to the insured for a damage or loss or injury as a result of some uncertain event during his trip. This can include flight delay, baggage loss, medical emergency, accident or disasters. Under a Business Travel Insurance contract, the insurer pays for business loss or damage faced by the insured during his trip. Many things can go wrong during your business trip. This can be your baggage loss or a flight cancellation, or your destination become unreachable due to bad weather, or even you can fall ill and have to postpone the trip. You cannot control such events, but with the help of proper Business Travel Insurance, you can minimize their outcome. Whether it is a small enterprise or a large corporation, the success of a business is largely based on the dedication and hard work of the members of that organization. But it doesn’t matter how industrious you are, because one disaster or catastrophe can destroy your business and wipe out all the profits. The only way to make sure that the effort and money that you invested doesn’t fade away when a disaster smacks is by protecting your business with appropriate insurance. About Author: Adrian Rogers - For related articles and other resources, visit : buy-travel-insurance/

: Infringement and Provisional Damages There is no action for infringement of your patent until it actually issues. However, through publication of your application, it may be possible to obtain provisional damages for the time between publication of the application and the issuance of the patent. Once your patent issues, infringement can give rise to treble damages and an award of attorney fees. During the phase from publication to issuance, only reasonable royalty damages can be awarded. Furthermore, a claim must survive and be substantially identical from publication to the issued patent. Provisional damages require notice. Notice is achieved by both publication and provision of actual notice. Thus, you still have the burden of detecting infringement and of providing notice of your application to the alleged infringer. Why You Should Consider Early Publication An inventor can accelerate the publication process by filing a request for early publication. This can be done at any time and should result in publication within four months of the request. There are two logical times to file such a request: 1) when you first file your application--to gain the maximum published time available, and 2) when you believe an infringement may be taking place. In this latter case, where you have actual evidence of infringement, you can then file a petition to "make special" and hope that the Patent Office will accept the petition and begin examination of your patent application within six months. That way, you will possibly get the benefit of provisional damages, with the patent issuing shortly thereafter with higher damage awards available. Benefits of Non-Publication Non-publication keeps 'em guessing. When a patent is filed, the inventor-applicant is entitled, and should, claim "Patent Pending" status. "Patent Pending" means that an application is on file with the Patent Office and is in the patent process. The inventor should mark his product "Patent Pending" and claim such status in any written material related to the invention. So long as the patent application is secret, competitors do not know what the inventor has disclosed or the breadth of the invention being claimed. Once a patent application publishes, competitors can at least determine the maximum scope that is disclosed in the application. However, while they will see the claims presented in the application, competitors still do not know the breadth of the invention claims that might eventually issue in the patent. The Hazards of Requesting Non-Publication Until the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (effective November 29, 2000), United States patents were kept in secrecy until they issued. Subsequent to the AIPA, inventors can elect to keep their application secret, but only if they will not file in a foreign country or file an application under a multilateral international agreement, such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty. If an inventor later files such a foreign or international application, it can lead to abandonment of the U. S. application unless the non-publication request is rescinded before 45 days after filing the foreign or international application. Thus, extreme caution is recommended before considering non-publication. C2006, Williamson Intellectual Property Law, LLC; all rights reserved, world-wide. This article, and/or the reading thereof, shall not be construed as offering, containing or receiving of legal advice, and shall not create any attorney-client relationship or privilege. If you are considering protecting your intellectual property, you should consult with an attorney of your choice. For more information, please visit trwiplaw.

Teaching a puppy or a dog proper socialization skills is vital to the safety of both your dog and other dogs and people with whom he comes into contact. A properly socialized dog is a happy dog, and a joy to be around for both humans and animals. A poorly socialized dog, or one with no socialization at all, is a danger to other animals, other people and even his own family. Socialization is best done when the puppy is as young as possible The socialization lessons a young puppy learns are difficult to undo, and it is important to remember that the socialization skills the puppy learns will affect his behavior for the rest of his life. A dog that is properly socialized will be neither frightened of nor aggressive towards either animals or humans. A properly socialized dog will take each new experience and stimulus in stride, and not become fearful or aggressive. Dogs that are not properly socialized often bite because of fear, and such a dog can become a hazard and a liability to the family who owns it. Improperly socialized dogs are also unable to adapt to new situations. A routine matter like a trip to the vets or to a friends house can quickly stress the dog out and lead to all sorts of problems. Socialization is best done when the puppy is very young, perhaps around 12 weeks of age. Even after 12 weeks, however, it is important that the puppy continues its socialization in order to refine the all important social skills. It is possible to socialize an older puppy, but it is very difficult to achieve after the all important 12 week period has passed. There are so definite do’s and don’t when it comes to properly socializing any puppy. Let’s start with what to do. Later in this article we will explore what to avoid. Socialization Do’s • Make each of the socialization events as pleasant and non-threatening for the puppy as possible. If a puppy’s first experience with any new experience is an unpleasant one, it will be very difficult to undo that in the puppy’s mind. In some cases, an early trauma can morph into a phobia that can last for a lifetime. It is better to take things slow and avoid having the puppy become frightened or injured. • Try inviting your friends over to meet the new puppy. It is important to included as many different people as possible in the puppy’s circle of acquaintances, including men, women, children, adults, as well as people of many diverse ethnic backgrounds and ages. • Also invite friendly and healthy dogs and puppies over to meet your puppy. It is important for the puppy to meet a wide variety of other animals, including cats, hamsters, rabbits and other animals he is likely to meet. It is of course important to make sure that all animals the puppy comes into contact with have received all necessary vaccinations. • Take the puppy to many different places, including shopping centers, pet stores, parks, school playgrounds and on walks around the neighborhood. Try to expose the puppy to places where they will be crowds of people and lots of diverse activity going on. • Take the puppy for frequent short rides in the car. During these rides, be sure to stop the car once in a while and let the puppy look out the window at the world outside. • Introduce your puppy to a variety of items that may be unfamiliar. The puppy should be exposed to common items like bags, boxes, vacuum cleaners, umbrellas, hats, etc. that may be frightening to him. Allow and encourage the puppy to explore these items and see that he has nothing to fear from them. • Get the puppy used to a variety of objects by rearranging familiar ones. Simply placing a chair upside down, or placing a table on its side, creates an object that your puppy will perceive as totally new. • Get the puppy used to common procedures like being brushed, bathed, having the nails clipped, teeth cleaned, ears cleaned, etc. Your groomer and your veterinarian with thank you for this. • Introduce the puppy to common things around the house, such as stairs. Also introduce the puppy to the collar and leash, so he will be comfortable with these items. Socialization Don'ts There are of course some things to avoid when socializing a puppy. These socialization don’ts include: • Do not place the puppy on the ground when strange animals are present. An attack, or even a surprise inspection, by an unknown animal could traumatize the puppy and hurt his socialization. • Do not inadvertently reward fear based behavior. When the puppy shows fear, it is normal to try to sooth it, but this could reinforce the fear based behavior and make it worse. Since biting is often a fear based behavior, reinforcing fear can create problems with biting.

If you are looking for a sword worthy of battle you want to be sure and choose a blade that is made of high carbon steel or folded steel. What’s wrong with a stainless steel blade you might ask? Stainless steel blades are nice if you’re going to hang the sword on the wall. As a matter of fact, they’re often called “wall hangers”. Stainless steel blades simply are not made to stand up to the rigors of cutting and dojo exercises. Two very popular makers of blades that are battle ready are Paul Chen and Cold Steel. Cold steel, although and American Company has most of their oriental blades forged in China. They have done well in replicating the look and feel of a well made Chinese sword at a very affordable price. Cold steel has a great video that you can usually get for free that shows professionals putting Cold Steel blades to the test. You can never go wrong with a Cold Steel Chinese sword or weapon. However Paul Chen swords are quite a bit more popular in the United States and around the world. Most Paul Chen blades are forged with a technique called “differentially tempering”, meaning that the top of the blade is actually stronger then the edge, which means that it’s nearly impossible to break the blade when you’re really putting it to the test. You’ll probably pay a bit more for a Paul Chen sword than a Cold Steel but most people are happy to and believe it’s well worth the extra cost. Another popular brand of swords is United Cutlery, which are mostly for show or hanging on your wall. United swords are usually much less expensive but are very nice for above the mantle or a great decorative piece for a study or office. Probably one of the most popular Chinese swords that everybody wants to get there hands on right now is the Chinese Saber which was used by cavalrymen and foot soldiers in the rush of battle. Whether you’re looking for a battle ready sword like the Paul Chen Zatoich Sword or one just to hang on the wall for decoration, you can be sure that it will add beauty and appeal to any room in your home or office.

Many people are very committed to following and supporting a particular sporting team. Perhaps you are such a person -- a person who is a diehard fan of one team or another. If that is the case, you may constantly find yourself looking for products that carry with them the logo of your most favored team. Indeed, you may be looking for ways in which you can incorporate the logo of your favorite team within the dйcor of your very own home. If that is the case, this article does provide you with some suggestions as to where you can go and what you can do in order to find items that you can use as part of your home dйcor -- items that contain the logo of your favorite sports team. Nearly all of the major home improvement centers doing business in the brick and mortar world today now offer a selection of home dйcor products and materials that feature the colors of logos of various professional and college sporting teams. Indeed, there are some home improvement centers in business today that offer specialty paint colors that match the exact colors used by various professional sports teams. In addition to what is available at home improvement centers in the brick and mortar world, there are also some Internet websites that cater to men and women who are looking for products and materials that feature the logos and color schemes used by various sporting teams in their home dйcor efforts. (At the present time, most professional sports teams themselves offer only a minimal amount of such items at their own websites. However, there are other merchants on the Net that offer a much wider selection of these types of products and materials.) If you are inclined to be a bit more subtle in the manner in which you incorporate sporting logos and colors within your overall home dйcor schematic, you might want to consider engaging the aid and assistance of a professional interior decorator. Such a professional can work closely with you to make certain that you do not go overboard in your own efforts to celebrate your favorite team within the confines of your own residence. These professionals are trained to help you realize your dreams and goals as far as home dйcor is concerned without shooting yourself in the foot in the process.

Items and materials that may be commonplace and necessary at home or in the workplace are sometimes banned inside aircrafts because of the dangers they pose to both passengers and crew. It therefore becomes important to check with the airline which items they allow as carry-on luggage or as checked baggage, or banned altogether. The following are the categories of items proscribed by the Transport Security Administration from being boarded in aircraft cabins: Explosives and firearms. Matches, sparklers, other fireworks, flares, gunpowder, ammunition or other ordnance, blasting caps, dynamite, loaded firearms. Other weapons. Knives of any kind, throwing stars, swords, or other items used in martial arts competitions. Rules in other countries will differ on transporting knives and other weapons. Gases and pressure containers. Flammable aerosols like hair spray, spray paint or insect repellant; carbon dioxide cartridges, oxygen tanks (scuba or medical), mace, tear gas, pepper spray, self-inflating rafts, and deeply refrigerated gases such as liquid nitrogen. Flammable liquids and solids. Gasoline, propane, butane and other fuels, lights with flammable reservoirs, matches, flammable paints, paint thinners, some cleaning solvents, some adhesives, cigarette lighters, and lighter fluid. Personal care items such as flammable perfume and such may be carried on board in limited quantities. Oxidizers and organic peroxides. Bleach, nitric acid, fertilizers, swimming pool or spa chemicals, and fiberglass repair kits. Poisons. Weed killers, pesticides rodent poisons, arsenic and cyanides. Infectious materials. Medical laboratory specimens, viral organisms, bacterial cultures. Corrosives. Drain cleaners, car batteries, wet cell batteries, acids, alkalis, lye, mercury. Organics. Fiberglass resins, peroxides. Radioactive materials. Smoke detectors, radioactive pharmaceuticals, and other radioactive materials. Dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide). Up to four pounds (1.8 kg) is allowed on board for packing perishables, providing that the package is vented. Magnetic materials. Strong magnets such as those in loudspeakers and laboratory equipment. Other items. Wet-cell batteries, chemical oxygen generators (used or unused) or any equipment containing fuel or other flammable liquids. In light of 9/11, TSA also began regulating the carriage of the following items on board aircrafts: sition, including carpet knives and box cutters (and spare blades), any device with a folding or retractable blade, ice picks, straight razors, and metal scissors with pointed tips. Corkscrews. Lighters, lighter fluid, and strike-anywhere matches. However, up to four books of safety matches are allowable. Baseball and softball bats. Golf clubs. Pool cues. Ski poles. Hockey sticks. What is allowed and what is not allowed varies among airline companies. Just to be sure, always check with the air carrier as to what kind of baggage they allow before booking.

If you are feeling bogged down in debt by having many small loans and such as credit cards, the consolidation loan can take a huge weight off your mind and help you to get back on top of things and heading towards paying off your debt. However if you don’t know what you are getting yourself into then consolidating your debts can just help you to dig the hole deeper and leave you struggling even more. If you consolidate your debts the right way then you could end up paying a much lower monthly repayment although this might be over a longer period of time, so you should take this into account when it comes to knowing how much you will be paying back in total. One big problem with the consolidation loan and which approximately 80% of people who take out a loan to consolidate their debts fall into the trap off, is using the loan for other than debt consolidation and running up further debt. The other problem with them is that once the majority of money has been used to pay off your creditors then it is very tempting to quickly get back into debt by taking out another loan or running up your credit card bill again. When choosing a consolidation loan the first thing you should look out for is the amount of interest that you will pay on the loan. This of course will vary from lender to lender and shopping online is the best way to get quotes from various lenders before deciding which deal is the best for you. As with the majority of loans there are different types available, two of the most popular are the secured and unsecured consolidation loan. The secured loan means that you have to secure something, which is usually your home on the loan, while the unsecured allows you to borrow money without putting your home on the line. The best loans will allow you to repay varying payments without penalty, for example if you take the loan for 10 years and find after say 4 years that you can afford to repay more off the loan and pay it up early then some lenders will add a cost onto the loan for doing so. Where possible look for a loan that allows you the freedom of paying more while not giving you a penalty should you pay it up early.

We’ve all gotten them. Thick envelopes that looks really important. The serious nature of the envelope, the unfamiliar return address, the somber way your name glowers up at you from under the heavy duty shine of the clear plastic window, cause your heart to hammer and sweat to pour down your back. You throw the envelope on the table and stare at it, half expecting it to grow teeth. What is it you wonder as you tip toe away, a really big unpaid bill you somehow forgot to pay, bad news from the Internal Revenue Service, a notice warning about the inevitable destruction of the planet. You don’t have the faintest idea. You are pretty sure that you don’t want to know. You spend the next few days slinking past the envelope you decide that whoever came up with expression that ignorance was bliss must have been facing one of these envelopes. Finally you can’t take it anymore. You grab the envelope and rip it open. Reaching in with shaky fingers you pull out…pages and pages of brightly colored papers. Credit card offers! Everywhere we turn they are being shoved in our faces. Elaborately done commercials on television, brightly painted billboards along the highway, filling up the pages of magazines, discreetly tucked in the bank tellers cubicle, pop up’s all over the internet, and disguised as potential doom in the mailbox. Exactly how many credit cards do the companies think you need anyway? The ones that are really disturbing are the ones that really irritate us are the ones that the Postal Service delivers. The rest we can ignore. In the new age of credit card fraud and identity theft you are going to be forced to run it through the shredder and bury it in the nastiest batch of trash you can find, and that still might not be enough to discourage a really determined person from digging it out and painstakingly taping the pieces of paper together. This particular credit card offer, with its ominous vibes has cost you years of life. And look they included one of those handy pre-sorted envelopes. The urge to rip the packet of papers into a thousand pieces of confetti and shove it all into the complimentary envelope is overwhelming. Maybe you’ll even rip up some pieces of notebook paper to add to it, that way when they open it back at the headquarters the envelope will explode and the confetti will cover the office. While that option will make you feel better it won’t stop the offers from filling your mailbox. Plus is it really fair to take out your frustration on the data entry person and custodial staff? They’re just doing their jobs. The best course of action is to run the entire contents of the envelope through the shredder. Then call the credit card company and politely ask to be removed from their mailing list. Be prepared, just because you have asked to be removed from he list does not mean the offers will automatically stop coming. Chances are that the company has an entire warehouse full of offers with your name on them. It’ll take awhile for all of them to be mailed. Give it six months, if after that point you are still receiving the offers, try again.

In today's fast paced and ever changing society, we can no longer be sure of having a job for life. If you lose your job over the age of forty, you are less likely to find further employment as soon as you might want and you don't have the money to start up that business you've always dreamed of owning. Large numbers of homeowners in this situation will take out a secured loan, using their home as collateral, or insurance against non-payment of the debt. Essentially, this means that until you pay off the loan, the bank, or whoever the lender is, owns your house. If you go for a secured loan, you are more likely to get the money than if you simply approach a prospective lender with a business plan, no matter how good it might be. If you decide that setting up a business with the help of a secured loan is the route for you, make sure that you arm yourself with as much information as possible before you settle on a loan and sign on the dotted line. This may seem tedious but this is the roof over your head that you are using, so it makes sense to try to do your best to safeguard it. Check out different banks and loan companies. Perhaps you might even try one or two of the online lenders to see what they have to offer. Pay careful attention to the following: - Loan repayment terms - APR or annual percentage rates – this affects how much interest you pay the lender. - Credit agreement. Read the small print and consider having it looked over by a legal professional before you sign. Never, ever take the first loan that you are offered until you have done your research and made some comparisons of terms and repayment and APR rates. When you are dealing with large amounts of money, it is always a good idea to be in possession of as much information as possible, that way you make an informed decision. More people are taking out secured loans with online lenders because they often have lower rates of interest because their operating costs are less. They may also be able to do a comparison for you and give you a best case scenario for your particular needs. This does take some of the strain out of the process and gives you the opportunity to use that time to concentrate on how you are going to run your business.

: Many engaged couples wish to show appreciation to their parents for funding their big day, yet struggle with finding ideas for such a meaningful gift. Fortunately, there are many options for unique wedding gifts for parents of the bride and groom. Personalized Gifts One idea is to produce a personalized wedding gift for parents. Personalized items provide a special memento of love and family history. Engraved frames with a heartfelt message and memorable photo will be cherished for years to come. Personal jewelry items such as a locket or cufflinks with the wedding date engraved are another option. Plaques with a special poem can be displayed with pride as a reminder of the merging of two families. Holiday ornaments may be engraved with couple’s names. A framed representation of the family tree (with the new son/daughter included) is another option. Classic Gifts Another idea is to give a classic item made from precious materials. The bride and groom may wish to give the timeless gift of crystal, in the form of a clock or vase. Silver candlestick holders or a serving piece provide another option. Creative Gifts Couples may wish to exercise their special talents by creating their own unique wedding gift for their parents. A handcrafted scrapbook chronicling the journey from childhood to marriage will bring tears to a parent’s eyes. A handmade quilt would become an instant family heirloom. Pottery, lovingly created or painted, will hold a place of honor on the mantel of the family home. Gift Certificates Yet another option is to give the gift of relaxation. After months of stressful (and expensive) wedding planning, most parents of the bride and groom would appreciate a gift certificate for a relaxing spa treatment or weekend getaway. Couples can get creative and research local recreational activities, bed and breakfasts and formal dining options. Wedding Mementos Once married, the bride and groom can provide parents with a special photo album with candid shots of the wedding preparations, ceremony and honeymoon. Regardless of the wedding gift that a couple decides to give their parents, the heartfelt message of gratitude will be clearly and lovingly communicated.

For years now a staple to my summertime diet has been to have a glass or two of sangria while sitting out on my patio on those warm summer evenings with friends. Sangria is a wine based punch that originates from Portugal and Spain. The word “sangria” is derived from the Spanish word "sangre" which means blood. Sangria is usually made from red wine, sliced citrus fruit, sugar, and a sprit such as brandy or triple sec. A lot of tourists flock to Spain and Portugal to get a taste of authentic sangria. What many people don’t realise is that in this part of the world sangria is predominately served out of a punch bowl at informal gathers with the express purpose of being inexpensive and easy to become intoxicated from. Bars and restaurants have realised the profit potential in serving sangria to tourists which is where the one litre pitchers of sangria have come from. The recipes for what makes good sangria are almost limitless. Some people rather use white or sparkling wine instead of red, making what is known as a sangria blanca, a sangria that is much lighter in body. The type of spirit added can also vary; some people prefer to use a triple sec while others use brandy, Grand Marnier, or even whiskey to fortify their drink. Don’t make the mistake in thinking that you have to use an expensive wine or champagne, you are adding so many other flavours to the wine that using an expensive wine is not only necessary but rather foolish. Also important is to keep in mind that at most a bottle or two is all that you need for a sangria base. The fruits used can also vary from recipe to recipe. Most common fruits used are oranges, lemons and apples, but pineapple, mango, peaches, cherries and even melon can be used to create truly unique flavoured sangria. Whatever fruits you decide to use, always remember to soak them. What does it mean to soak? Before adding ice and the carbonated liquids it is important to mix the all the other ingredients together and let sit 8 hours or overnight in a refrigerator. Doing this allows the wine and fruit flavours to meld together and enhances the overall flavour of the finished sangria. If you are looking to make your own sangria at home, looking for a recipe to fit what you want on the internet can be quite daunting and it is quite possible you will not find that you are looking for. There is no “right” sangria, which is what makes this beverage so perfect for everyone. You can put what you like in it and adjust flavours to suit your favourite flavours. For example if you are someone who loves tropical flavours a white wine based sangria with a banana schnapps and melon or pineapple might be the perfect sangria for you, or if you prefer the idea of a traditional sangria a little red wine, cognac and some citrus fruit are all you need. With a few months until the arrival of summer now is the perfect time to begin experimenting with flavours and creating your own signature sangria. Watch as your guests are amazed at the intricate and beautiful flavours you have created for their enjoyment on a warm summer evening. And remember, whether you create your own unique flavour, modify an existing recipe or prefer the traditional sangria recipes, sangria is supposed to be a fun and social drink so relax and have fun.

I've had so many people approach me about how to boost traffic, increase sales, and get more leads into their businesses. I always tell them that there is a really low-cost way to make it happen for them. Frankly, articles that I wrote three years ago are still bringing me strong and consistent traffic today. That's why article marketing – the process of “giving away” your articles – is one of the best ways to get traffic today, and will be tomorrow, and several years from now. Here's how the process works: 1. Write an amazing article on a subject your audience is very interested in. 2. Edit the article or hire someone else to edit it for you. 3. Distribute the article in article directories – a top directory is EzineArticles 4. Sit back and watch the flood of traffic, leads, and sales overwhelm your merchant account. What I've just outlined may seem simple, but there is a rather involved process behind the whole thing. For one, you have to write a clear, well-thought-out article. Some people hire others to do this for them. Big mistake! What I'm about to write may make a lot of people angry or even cringe at the thought of having to do this, but I wouldn't be leading you on the right path if I didn't share this one very important piece of advice with you. ** Always write your own articles.** Hire someone to edit, but if you're just starting out in this article marketing thing, always write your own articles. Put Your Personality On Display to Rake in Higher Sales Bottom line: You have a unique voice and that's what your readers will fall in love with. If they don't feel your personality, they won't feel as if they know you. In my experience, if my readers don't feel like they know me, they'll won't buy from me. No writer can capture your personality – no matter how good they are. I should know, I've been a professional writer for 16 years now and unless I have good previous writing samples to go by, quickly capturing a person's personality in print is nearly impossible. Now, I could always extensively interview someone to find out just what their personality is, but time is money and I charge handsomely for that kind of time – and so will any other copywriter worth his or her salt. When you're just starting out as an article marketer, paying such a hefty price may not be in your budget. Good news: There's an alternative. You can follow a set formula to create your very own quality, content-rich articles. It's good to write clear, easy-to-follow, content-rich articles. Why? If you write an article that has great content and that's infused with your unique voice, many ezine publishers, web designers, and others with web sites will publish your article on their web site. That's good for you because the bottom of your article will contain a resource box. This resource box lists why you're an expert and then gives a link back to your web site. The more your article – with the resource box – gets published, the more traffic you'll get. And traffic leads to more subscribers on your lists and more subscribers on your list leads to more sales when you launch new products and services – or when you re-launch existing products and services.