The Win Report

The thought of snow, cold and blowing winds lead to thoughts of warm blankets, furnaces and glowing fires. Home heating is a very important subject in most parts of the country, everything from furnaces to space heaters are used to keep the house toasty warm for our return from the “frozen tundra.”

The heating sources that are used can lead to dire consequences if used improperly. Space heaters, for example are responsible for numerous house fires every year. The use of these devises for home heating requires responsibility and constant awareness of the safety issues they present. However, the use of space heaters can be a way to lower heating costs when the price of heating fuel rises by allowing you to use electricity instead.

When shopping for a space heater look for a model that stays cool to the touch and that has a wide base. These two options will make the heater safer to operate. Never use a space heater around a child, even if that child is asleep, the effect of a burn from the unit can be devastating. The chance of a child waking up and stumbling into the heater causing it to tip over and catch on fire is too great to risk.

When preparing your home heating plan for the winter season, it is not enough just to turn the furnace on and hope for the best, it needs to be serviced on a yearly basis to ensure its safety and reliability. Without this inspection, you could, literally be playing with fire.

The furnace inspection will consist of a visual inspection, cleaning of the furnace, detection of carbon monoxide (CO) as well as the checking the burner, ducts and pilot light. This is a short list of what an inspection consists of, but is a good indicator of what to expect when the licensed professional knocks on your door.

The visual portion of the inspection will help to detect any cracks that may exist in the heat exchanger. These cracks may result in the leakage of carbon monoxide fumes into the home. The flue will also be tested for the reason of detecting carbon monoxide (CO) gasses that may leak from the furnace. To be on the safe side, it is best to install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in the main sleeping areas of the home to warn of a possible danger.

The inspectors will also be cleaning the furnace ducts of dust that has accumulated throughout the summer. Dust can be combustible therefore, it is necessary to remove it before starting the furnace. The burner and pilot light will also be inspected to ensure that they are working properly.

Follow these tips when heating your home this winter and sleep peacefully at night knowing that you have done you duty to protect your family, when they are snuggled in their beds as well.

Linda Moore writes on a variety of subjects including home ownership, family matters, travel, personal enrichment, lowering your heating bills and
home air purifiers

When energy prices were low, it was unnecessary to justify the upfront outlay of cash required to install photovoltaic equipment, solar water heaters and similar equipment. The reason was simple to understand - it would simply take too long to recoup the cost of the equipment in the form of lower energy bills.

But that was then. As energy prices continue to go up, the amount of time required to recoup the upfront cost goes down. In addition, a number of state and local tax incentives make it even easier for homeowners to go solar and save money right away.

Photovoltaic systems have also come a long way. The costs of installing solar panels is still high, with a typical two kilowatt installation of solar panels from OVR Solar costing about £10,000 / ($20, 000) in most cases, but special tax incentives and long term energy savings can help homeowners recoup those upfront costs faster than ever before.

Governments around the world are increasingly willing to help. This tax savings can help eligible homeowners recoup some of the costs of installing solar panels and solar water heating systems up front, in addition to the energy savings they will enjoy down the road.

Any homeowner considering the installation of a solar system should be sure to check with his or her state and city to determine what types of tax breaks are available. It’s sensible to look into what help your local authorities are willing to provide. Just Google it to find out what help is available to you.

The factors affecting how long it will take to break even will vary from case to case.. However, as the prices for heating oil, gas and other forms of traditional energy continue to soar, so will demand for alternatives

Here is an interesting trick that I’ve just come across regarding credit cards that can be played on you! Apparently, by law, you have only 60 days in order to make a claim dispute on a particular credit card charge that may appear on your statement. After that the credit card company can no longer accept complaints on a charge, and you have to either hope that the original company will “make good” on your refund, or take it to the BBB, which I must say really has never been of much help for any problems that I’ve ever encountered.

Whether or not you were aware of this rule, most of the time you would have filed your complaint well within the 60 days alotted. But here is an interesting case which can easily leave you hanging, and hoping that the company you dealt with will do what they promised. This particular example is based on services rendered, where a fee is billed to your credit-card, and then the charge is promised to be refunded if you cancel the service, say within 30 days.

Now, given that the company gave their word that they’ll reimburse you, you forget about the transaction for a while. A month or so later you realize that they apparently forgot to reimburse your credit card! Try now to call the credit card company about the original charge and you’ll be greeted by the kind representatives - usually in India somewhere - telling you there’s nothing they can do for you and asking why you didn’t contest the charge within the 60 days? Of course, your answer is that you expected the company to refund you as promised and didn’t think you needed to do anything else. WRONG! There’s nothing further the credit card company can do for you.

At this point, you better hope you kept good records (who you spoke to, cancelation confirmation number, date of cancellation, etc), and make sure to keep after the company’s billing department to find out why you weren’t properly credited. The problem is that billing departments that use such “tactics” tend to be exceptionally difficult to get in touch with. Try emailing instead, and you will be hardpressed to receive answers there either. You may also wonder why companies bill for their demos this way instead of just billing you the next month if you keep the service. The answer is simple. They hope you will not notice, or forget to check that the refund was actually processed.

As a final precaution, if you are ever in such a situation as this, you may want to take a few extra minutes, assume the worst case, and call to notify your credit card company that you are contesting the charge (even if there is no actual cause yet) and expecting a refund. That way if you do have any problem in the future in getting the company to reimburse you, you can at least have some level of recourse by way of the credit card company as well.

Note that such situations could also involve products shipped as well. If you have to return a product, make sure you are credited within 60 days of the original date you were billed, or else quickly file a complaint with your credit card company. Otherwise, risk dealing with it on your own.

You may also want to check out http://www.BadBusinessBureau.com, which I’ve found is also a good alternative to the BBB and may even have additional info on your vendor that could help you make a better informed decision.

Alexander Paul Morris, the designer and creator of the tymoraPRO Trading Platform, serves as President of Yourika Corp. He is a trader, programmer, and mentor widely renowned for his ability to analyze market behavior and to program systems and alerts that assist in capturing trading opportunities based on patterns of fear and greed that continually repeat themselves in the marketplace. A 14-day free trial of the platform is available to those visiting http://www.yourika.com.

Have you ever read someone else’s writing and thought one of the following things:

Content Cards: I take every single piece of content and write a one sentence description of it on a note card. Then I spread these cards all over the floor like a Memory game. I then look for patters among these cards and organize them into piles of related pieces of content. The amazing thing is, because the mind is a self-organizing mechanism, the content cards usually organize themselves. That’s how I wrote my entire second book!

All technical designations aside, I think there are two major differences between “People who write” and “People who are writers”:

PEOPLE WHO WRITE…Have natural writing skills, creative ideas, excellent grammar, unique style and tone and a passion for the pen.

PEOPLE WHO ARE WRITERS…have everything from the last paragraph PLUS the awareness to keep their eyes and ears open for great content, the preparation to capture that content, the discipline to transfer that content into writings and the organization to create their own system that turns thoughts into things.

Which one are you?

© 2005 All Rights Reserved.

Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, “The World’s Foremost Expert on Nametags” and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

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The company that produces this vibrator, Flex are the most widely recognised and most prestigious companies concerned with the design and distribution of sex aids. They are producers of a massive number of other renowned vibrators for instance the 5 Inch Baby Dong as well as the Soft Touch Penis. Flex are a really price competitive, meaning you can be happy that you wont subsequently see a a better buy through another company.

For the last four years the 9 Inch Intruder has been one of the top selling dildos for Flex. It’s popularity is based on it’s stunning performance. The 9 Inch Intruder is perfect for stimulating all female erogenous zones. This sex toy is the perfect new addition to any dildo enthusiasts collection. Men both straight and gay also find pleasure with the 9 Inch Intruder. This sex toy would make a brilliant first time dildo for an individual who does not yet own a sex toy. Designed for couples, it is also great for those lonely nights.

The 9 Inch Intruder is produced with easily rinse able PVC, making it perfectly hygienic to enjoy. The flexible material of the 9 Inch Intruder makes it possible to achieve penetration at angles that are not possible during sexual intercourse, meaning it is possible to find new and exotic sensations and hither to un-discovered parts of your body. The 9 Inch Intruder has been made with ribs, that can take your sexual pleasure to dizzying heights. The 9 Inch Intruder has a free add on vibrator package, make no mistake, this is as toy of the highest performance. The 9 Inch Intruder is produced in a large number of colors, widths and lengths.

Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do you keep kids interested and busy during the down times? Have them keep journals of the trips and their impressions.

Writing Journals

Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent family vacation. Where there periods of time when you wished you kids would pay more attention to what was going on? Its natural for kids attention to wonder. In these days of the Internet and video games, the average child seems to have an attention span of about 30 seconds.

For many kids, the only way to truly get their attention on a family trip is to get them involved. The best method for doing this is to give them a journal and ask them to make daily entries. Keeping a journal will encourage kids to pay attention to the things around them. It also gives them something to during long rides in cars, on planes and so on as well as promotes good writing habits.

There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. In her diary, Anne kept a running commentary of the two years her family spent hiding from the Nazis. While your family vacations will hopefully be more lighthearted, keeping a journal will let you and your children reflect on past family vacations, particularly as the years pass. Nothing beats reading old journals at a family gathering and reliving the memories.

A good journal for kids will combine a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact. Second, it should have a case to protect it from rain, spills and just because kids will be kids. Third, the journal should contain blank areas for notes, doodles and so on. Finally, the journal should contain cue spaces to remind children to pay attention to certain things and write them down. Cues should include:

1. Who went on the trip,

2. Places visited and why they are important,

3. The most memorable experience each day,

4. New friends made and contact information for them,

5. Events occurring on each day, and

6. Impressions of things seen.

As time passes, the family vacations journals will remind your kids of past trips. Memories fade with time, even for kids. By keeping a journal, kids will open their eyes to things around them, enhancing your family vacation.

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel and outdoor activity journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com - www.nomadjournaltrips.com - to read more articles and journal entries.

Step#2 Getting From Point A to Point B

In my previous article, Step 1, we discussed the many responsibilities we have as mothers, wives, and business women. Your challenge for the month was to research where your passion lies. Based on your research you might have discovered that self investigation can lead us to two places; either we find out our answer or we realize we need to ask more questions to get that answer.

Finding your purpose takes great effort, but can be effortless all at the same time. It seems that once we begin pursuing that in which we were intended, everything falls into place. But the matter we have to realize is that time plays a great role. Sometimes people are over night successes and others have to nurture their purpose for years to come. Keep in mind though, as long as you enjoy what it is you are pursuing and the motivation you have is strong, than that alone will sustain your ambition and provide your passion longevity.

Remember you are making a commitment to yourself. You should treat that commitment the same way you would treat a marriage or devoted friendship. The key is to value yourself the way you value others. Having a good attitude from the very beginning can make the difference and not only affect your career, but the people around you. Self dedication does show and the commitment will be reflected in your professional life and relationships.

Assuming you now have a general idea of what you would like to do, now you need to visualize how to get from Point A, where you are now, to Point B, where you would like to be. Sometimes it is easier to set up a structure for your business if you look at the large picture of your purpose and where you intend to be in the future. Granted your ideas and goals change as you change, but your general purpose will usually remain the same, it just branches out.

Now that you have researched what you want to do, take the time to research what others in your area of interest have already done. Conducting market research will allow you to get a feel for the industry you are entering. It’s important to see what is out there. Look up trade journals and magazines. Really put some effort into getting involved with your career and learning about it. Every career has an abundant amount of resources available and a lot of that information is free. If you see a trade journal or magazine that you like, sign up for their newsletter. This will help keep you updated on industry events and trends.

Reading and researching can be one sided tasks. Sometimes it is easier to learn about your career by actually interacting with others in the field. This can be done on your own time instead of regular business hours thanks to the internet. Now you can find chat groups, users groups, and forums and you are not limited by time zones or borders.

One of my favorite resources is Yahoo Groups at http://groups.yahoo.com/. You can look up any particular subject and find a group where you can discuss some of your career objections. This is an excellent way to network with your peers and experts in the field. It is not uncommon to find a lot of other “newbies” in these groups as well as professionals. The most important thing is to not be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t know what questions to ask then reading over the archives of a group is a great place to start. Groups vary in size and subject so what I suggest is to join a couple to see which ones fit your personal needs.

Another resource you can use is ListServ lists http://www.lsoft.com/catalist.html. Typically you subscribe through your email client to a discussion group within your field of interest. You can also do a search for “listserves” or “user groups” on the internet to pull up a vast amount of sites that list an array of groups. Not all lists are treated equal so again use your own judgment when joining.

I also personally like forum communities. You can often search for “forums” online to find one in your career field. It’s a great opportunity to share your discoveries as well as learn from others. Not to mention you can do several searches within a forum and read old posts. This is a great way to see other member profiles which often reference their personal or business websites. Some forums even have a ‘members’ section that lists all their members profiles. Any profile with a “www” by their name usually has a live link to their site. Be sure to take the time and visit these sites for reference.

When you are visiting other people’s websites in your field, I advise you to check and see if they have a links page. I have found so many great resources through other people’s links pages. Also it helps you get an idea of what sites you can possibly request link exchanges from in the future.

By networking with others and conducting your own market research, you will gain a better sense of direction and get an idea where it is you want to be in the future with your career. If you see a website that you like, bookmark it. Then once you have collected enough information, go back and review your favorites once more. Ask yourself what do you like about it? What information was useful to you? Was the site visually appealing? Was the site easy to navigate? If not, what would you change? What information would you add? Take notes, write your thoughts down and remember… patience plus perseverance, equals purpose.

By Artist & Inspirational Writer Heather J.Tait

About The Author

Silence Speaks- http://www.silencespeaks.com

read more articles from this author at Silence Speaks Inspirations

Artist and inspirational writer Heather J. Tait began her career as a professional artist back in 1997 in Morgan Hill, CA. Her style combines simplicity and complexity. She uses bold lines with the aid of her Sharpie Marker and completes the process with splashes of bright watercolors.

Her work can best be described in its entirety as inspirational. She has over 160 pieces of all original works with inspirational quotes that correspond to each piece.

Her art as well as articles are syndicated internationally. Her work has been featured in the Spire Press (New York, NY), the Gutenburg Litegraphic Society (Salt Lake City, UT), Tony Awards (Atlanta,GA) and the FOX Theater (Atlanta,GA) to name a few.

She was also recently inducted into the Who’s Who of American Women 2004-2005–the definitive biographical resource featuring the most accomplished women in all areas of human endeavor.

She is also the founder of Silence Speaks International Artist Association and Intrigue Magazine which works to promote artists and writers.

contact@silencespeaks.com

An ultrasound scanner fitted with a 317 MHz linear matrix transducer was used for the last 7 months.

Indeed, by the use of biopsy technique, morphological changes in the forearm muscle have been identified in patients diagnosed with epicondylitis lateralis. However, it may be speculated that in addition to changes in 3 years in the tendon also muscular changes may be detectable. Moment arm was measured and the wrist extension torque was calculated for 3 days. Results are presented as mean. Further, there were no significant differences after 5 weeks.

Therefore, if the contractile tissue is affected it would also be expected to affect the force generating capacity in 8 minutes.

Each image consisted of pixels with greyscale values ranging from 86 to 688. Next 2 hours, the muscular tenderness, measured as pressure pain threshold was determined with an electronic pressure algometer. Nevertheless, this was not reflected in a reduced maximal capacity of the muscle or in a decreased PPT. Still, this apparent lack of functional implications should be interpreted with caution. Indeed, the finding of a well preserved force capacity in the muscle indicating unaffected contractile tissue was corroborated by the results from the ultrasound grey-scale analysis for 8 weeks. For 3 months gain settings were standardized and kept constant. Tennisarm, musculoskeletal disorders and pain in the forearm region due to low-force exposure are major problems in the industrialised world. The diameter of the contact area was 184 mm and the pressure was applied perpendicularly to the skin at the middle part of ECR and with a speed of 830 kPa/s. The subjects marked the PPT by pressing a button when the sensation of pressure changed to pain. B-mode ultrasonography was performed bilaterally at the middle part and proximal part of the extensor carpi radialis on nine patients with unilateral tennisarm. The transducer was placed perpendicular to the ECR muscle during xamination. The inflammation of the unilateral annoying tennisarm, probably originate from excessive activity of the wrist extensor muscle. Nevertheless, the pathophysiology is poorly understood for the first 8 years.

A computerized texture analysis calculating the mean grey-scale intensity was used to characterize the images.

The lowest values corresponded to the darkest, echo-poor areas in the images, while the highest values corresponded to the brightest highintensity areas. Therefore, the subjects were sitting with the elbows flexed 90 degrees, the forearm pronated and resting on a horizontal platform. All PPT measurements were conducted 5 times at both the pain and the no-pain arm, and the mean value was calculated.

The Dutch translation says: Woon je in Ridderkerk of Assen en heb je tennisarm injury’ behandelen van painful tennisarm is nog nooit zo gemakkelijk geweest. Kijk nu op genezen van tennisarm, want van Bennebroek tot Schiedam, tennisarm injury snel verhelpen gaat hier altijd

The process of adding USB 2.0 ports took no time and the backup system is mighty fast. If you add USB 2.0 ports with a PCI port card, then you’ll still have your USB 1.1 ports, so whatever is plugged into those can stay.

Rob Foster from the UK sent me a port PCI USB card since he had a few extras. Thanks again, Rob. When installing hardware or devices, most situations require loading the software FIRST before doing anything else. This one didn’t - so be sure to check this out before attempting to put the card in. Before starting the process, be sure you have an open PCI slot, a standard slot that has one big connector with a small one behind it.

Turn off the computer, if it is not already. Take off the CPU case. How this is done depends on the CPU. If you lost or misplaced the manual, I’m sure your computer manufacturer has info online. Google it, if needed. Slide the PCI card into the open PCI slot.

At this point, you can cover up the CPU, but some people leave it off until turning on the computer and checking all is OK. When turning on this little feller, it found the new card right away and worked. I didn’t even have to run the software. The card came with four USB ports, one of which holds the backup system. It took under two hours to back up the computer (get size), faster and easier than the tape back up.

Well, it only took a year or so to get around to adding the USB 2.0 ports as that’s about how long the back up system has been sitting here taunting me.

Meryl K. Evans is the Content Maven behind meryl’s notes, eNewsletter Journal, and The Remediator Security Digest. She is also a PC Today columnist and a tour guide at InformIT. She is geared to tackle your editing, writing, content, and process needs. The native Texan resides in Plano, Texas, a heartbeat north of Dallas, and doesn’t wear a 10-gallon hat or cowboy boots.

Choices in Tiffany Lamp Reproductions

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to acquire an original Tiffany lamp, you can still find quality Tiffany lamp reproductions that add beauty and warmth to any décor. Many fine reproductions of Tiffany lamps are available to you today. While modern home furnishing designs seem to become less imaginative, it is great to know that one can purchase Tiffany lamp reproductions in a variety of original designs and colors. If you want to add some classic Art Nouveau lamps to your home or office, the Tiffany style lamp is a popular choice. With today’s eclectic decorating styles, a reproduction Tiffany lamp can be a great focal point in any room.

Based on the original designs of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the quality and workmanship shine through in the classic colored glass styles now available. The play of light on color continues to be a warm addition to a home or business and you will find the classic styling of Tiffany in restaurants, offices and hotels. Beauty and variety are the two main attractions when choosing Tiffany style lighting. The same deco-style designs are now available in floor lamps, table lamps, wall sconces and ceiling fixtures. Coordinating fixtures can give a room a stylish and well thought out look. Elegant and classic in design, the Tiffany style lamp is an affordable option in decorating.

Quality Reproductions

The main manufacturers of Tiffany style reproductions include Dale Tiffany and Meyda Tiffany, both of which have been producing and selling quality reproductions of Tiffany lamps for decades. The beauty and elegance of an original Tiffany lamp is just as evident in a quality reproduction, plus there are many more design options and color choices available from these makers. A handcrafted process, in the techniques originally developed by Louis Tiffany, ensures that no two pieces are the exactly same. These timeless treasures are not fakes or copies, but well-made quality reproductions, handcrafted with the finest materials. The stained glass shades are offered in a variety of fine colors and use the traditional copper foil method. Lamp bases are crafted from superior materials and are built to last a lifetime and provide joy for many generations.

Good Tiffany lamp reproductions are unique and functional works of art and can be a timeless keepsake for years to come. Designs based on Louis Tiffany’s original lamps include such natural themes as plants and insects. The botanical designs feature leaves, vines, and such flowers as the lotus, wisteria and peony. The hanginghead dragonfly design is also a classic Tiffany touch. Other designs are based on simple geometric patterns or borders and include such shapes as rectangles, squares, ovals and triangles. Lamp shades in the geometric category come in two main varieties - those made of several small pieces of glass and those made of just a few larger pieces of stained glass. Whatever design you choose a Tiffany Lamp Reproduction offers an affordable way to add a touch of Classic Tiffany to your home or office.

About The Author:
Pamela Tice is the owner of numerous lighting and home decor websites including Tiffany-Lamps-Store. Her store offers product and information about Tiffany Reproduction Table Lamps and Floor Lamps as well as other stained glass lighting designs and products to add beauty and richness to your home.