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Car Price Guides

Whether you’re considering trading your car through a dealership, selling it privately, refinancing it, or if you simply want to know what it’s worth, chances are you’ll be counting on a car price guide to assign a fair value to your vehicle. Car price guides can be accessed at the library, credit unions or banks, car dealerships, and online.

While that sounds easy enough, you might be surprised to discover the amount of information that is taken into consideration in determining the value of your automobile. Since a variety of car value guides are on the market, there may also be discrepancies that exist between one value guide and another. For this reason, it is up to the car’s owner to make sure that the car is valued at its maximum value.

Getting Started

While there are several car value guides available, the function of each is quite similar. Basically, you will begin by indicating why you are trying to place a value on your car. Used car values will vary based on whether the car is being traded, sold privately, or refinanced.

Identifying Your Car

Once you’ve identified the type of valuation needed, you will select the year, make, and model of your used car. Classic or antique cars are often classified separately. You will often be asked to select the vehicle’s trim package. Note that while an EX model might be a base model on one automobile, it might be the high-end model on another automobile. In selecting the trim package, many car owners make the mistake of guessing. This could result in assigning a less valuable trim to your car, thus reducing its overall value.

The next section of the car price guide will ask for specific information pertaining to your used car. The open-ended section of the requested information will include current mileage and your zip code. The zip code is required to determine the part of the country that you live in. Car prices and values vary from region to region.

Options and Upgrades

Following this section, you will likely find a checklist with all of the available options listed. You check off the features that your car has. This will include features such as power door locks, power windows, passenger side airbags, alloy wheels, leather, sunroof, and other components that are often considered options or upgrades. It is very important that features are not overlooked. It is a good idea to refer to the car’s original paperwork for this information. A car with a high number of extra features is referred to as loaded. A loaded car has a higher value than a base model car.

Indicating Your Car’s Condition

Finally, you will be asked to rank your car’s mechanical condition and appearance. Your choices will include:

• Excellent
• Good
• Fair
• Poor

A car with an excellent rating must run like new, and have no mechanical, body, or interior damage. All features and components must be in excellent working order. Repair and maintenance records are required.

In order for a car to be considered in good condition, the car must have little or no damage. Minor scratches and dings are acceptable. This car must be fully operable, without the need of any type of repairs.

Fair conditioned vehicles might need minor repairs and may have some body or interior damage. The damage should not impede the car’s ability to be driven.

Cars that need extensive cosmetic or mechanical repairs should be considered to be in poor condition.

Obviously, the better condition your car is in, the more the car is worth. Unfortunately, opinions often differ in this subjective analysis of a car’s condition. As an owner, be prepared to justify your position on the ranking you assigned to the car’s condition. This area has the most room for debate and the dealership or private buyer may try to convince you to lessen the value of your car based on their opinion of the car’s condition.

Results

Once this final step is completed, you will be directed to a chart that will indicate the fair value of your car. If you’re using an online car price guide, the website will list the fair value, without requiring you to refer to a chart.

How to Use the Results

Even though the first step was to clarify whether you were selling your car to an individual or trading it in at a dealership, most car value guides will still provide results for each scenario. In fact, many online pricing guides will even reveal what your car is worth if considered in excellent, good, fair, or poor condition. This overall snapshot of values can be used to help you decide whether to haggle or lose a deal over the condition of your car. In other words, if the dealer is offering to accept your car as a trade in good condition and you feel strongly that the car is in excellent condition, the value results may indicate a difference of such an insignificant amount that it may not be worth haggling over.

Quick Tips for Making the Car as Valuable to the Buyer as It Is to the Seller

If trading your car in at a dealership, cosmetic touch ups, such as those listed below, will usually will not add value to your car. However, when dealing with an individual in a private sale, these tips can make a big difference. Keep in mind, though, that the price of the repair, or touch up, should not exceed the value it adds to your car.

• Keep all repair and maintenance records up to date.
• Always maintain the condition and basic upkeep of your car. This includes oil changes, exterior washes, carpet care, and leather cleaner on the interior.
• Get rid of odors with an air freshener designed specifically for automobiles.
• If the car is especially unkempt, consider having it professionally detailed.
• Replace worn, missing, or damaged floor mats with new, inexpensive mats.
• Consider repairing loose headliners.
• Repair and broken glass or cracked windshields.
• Remove any bumper stickers or specialty tags.

Important Reminders

Always know what your car is worth before discussing the sale or trade with other parties. The dealership will often value a car at a significantly lower rate than the car is actually worth. Obviously, this is an attempt to make as much money on the deal as possible. Work as hard to save money as the dealership works to make money.

For a private sale, have a Carfax report available. Strangers are often suspicious, particularly if the deal seems too good to be true. The potential purchaser might think that the car was previously wrecked or otherwise damaged, so presenting a Carfax report may be helpful in this situation.

Your car may not sell at the price you think it’s worth. If the car does not sell after being listed for reasonable amount of time, decide whether you should take it off the market or reduce your price. Just because the car is valued at a price does not mean it will sell for that price. Factors such as the economy, similar cars listed in the area, and dealership promotions and rebates will have an impact on how easily your car sells.

You can find other ways of answer the question how much is my car worth here, and also here: how much is my car worth.

Ray T. Lewis always tries to get the best price he can when selling a car or truck.

In 2002, the lease was up on my current car, so I decided it was time to get a new one. Like most people, I generally don’t like going to a car dealership to buy a car. At the beginning of my career, I worked for 6 months as a car sales person so I knew exactly what would happen if I went to the car dealership:

The sales person would “assess my needs.” Then get me to settle for a car that they had in stock on the lot. Then I’d have to go for a test drive. Then negotiate on a price. Fill out a credit application. Sign the paperwork in the Finance and Insurance office. All the while they attempted to sell me additional add-ons to the car–paint protection, under coating, and extended warranty.

If I was lucky, the entire process would take about 5-6 hours. Plus be physically exhausting.

That’s if I was lucky. If I was unlucky, I’d have to shop from dealership to dealership and negotiate several times before I finally found the price and the car I wanted. The entire process could easily take several hours a day for a week or more.

At the time, I was working as a consultant at a very high hourly wage. And at the time, the company needed me to even work extra hours in order to complete an important project. So, for me to take any time off just to buy a car was not only a waste of time, but would probably cost me hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars in lost income.

So, I decided to take control of the situation. I decided that I would find exactly the car I wanted on the internet, and do everything else over the phone. I decided I wasn’t going to even step on the dealership lot until it was time to sign the final papers and pick up the car. After the experience, I’m convinced that you don’t have to earn a lot of money to do what I did, you just need a plan and be prepared to follow it through exactly.

Here’s what I did:

1) I decided on exactly the car that I wanted. This strategy is not going to work if you are at the stage where you are just browsing for a car. In my case, the way I decided was to rent the type of car I wanted for a week. What happened was that the dealership where I had my car serviced rented me a Jeep Liberty. I had the car for a solid week so I had a chance to get to know the car’s basics. How it drove, what the visibility was like, what the gas mileage was like, etc. Even though it was a base model, I absolutely loved it.

The best way to find out about a car that you are interested in is to rent it for several days. You are not going to learn much about a car in a 10 minute test drive. If you can’t find the exact car, at least drive a similar car by the same manufacturer. There are usually a lot of similarities. Also, make certain you research the car in Consumer Reports.

2) Once I knew the make and model of the car, I researched it online using the manufacturer’s website. There I was able to see all of the available exterior and interior colors, determine the difference between the different model types (e.g., Sport vs. Limited, etc), and the options. In my case, I wanted the car “fully loaded.”

3) Using the online tools of the manufacturer’s website, I designed the car exactly the way I wanted it and got the basic information on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price–the sticker of the car. That told me what the high end of the price was going to be (but of course, I had no intention of paying full sticker price).

4) I contacted my insurance company to find out what the exact insurance price would be on the car. This is important because your insurance will probably go up or down when you buy a new car. You want to know this information upfront before making a final decision so that there are no surprises.

5) I arranged for the financing I would need for my car. In my case it was easy. My insurance company (USAA) also providing car financing at extremely low interest rates. They took all the necessary information over the phone–no credit application to fill out.

You may have to shop around for your financing and fill out a credit application, but believe me, it’s quicker (and usually cheaper) to make those arrangements before you go to the dealership. What the lender will probably do is tell you that they will loan you up to 75% of the car’s value up to a certain value. It will all be based on your credit application and credit rating.

By getting the financing in advance, you know exactly how much you will be able to afford, and the interest rate and monthly payments are even before you speak to the dealer. This gives you a lot more leverage in negotiating the best deal and gives you time to think without a sales person pressuring you for a decision so he or she can move on to the next sale. Plus you don’t have to wait around at the dealership for them to approve your loan.

6) I went back online to locate the dealerships in my area. In the case of Jeep, they not only listed the dealership, they also listed their inventory. I not only new exactly what car I wanted, I new exactly which dealerships had the car and how many cars of this type were in the area.

7) After this preparation, it was time to call the dealership. In my case, I called the original dealership who had rented me the Liberty. I was impressed with their service department, so I decided to give them the first shot. I knew from my research that they didn’t have the car, but I also new by experience that they could arrange for a trade with another dealer.

I spoke to the sales person and directly explained my situation: my lease was up on my current car. I wanted to turn it in and buy a new car. I explained that this was going to be the easiest sale he ever made. I already knew exactly the car I wanted. I had already driven the car, so I didn’t need a test drive. I already had my financing. I knew what a fair price for the car was.

I told him that we either do the deal over the phone, or I will have to go some place else. He referred me to the sales/desk manager who had to approve the deals. I put him in touch with the lender so they new I was serious. Since they had to trade with another dealership for the car, I had to put down a small deposit using my ATM card.

They arranged for the dealer trade, got exactly the make, model, and color I wanted. They contacted the lender directly to give them the VIN number and the price.

9) The lender Fedex’d me the check made out to the dealership for the amount agreed upon.

10) I went to the dealership during a week day when sales traffic was slow. I wanted to show respect for the sales staff’s time by not going when it was busy. And I wanted to get in and out in record time. I dropped off my leased car, signed the papers, gave them the check from the lender, wrote a separate check for the down payment, and drove off in my new car. I spent about 20 minutes in total at the dealership. And most of that time was the sales person showing me the car–and forcing me to take a 10 minute test drive.

By being prepared, by demonstrating to the dealership that I knew what I was doing, by making the deal easy for them, by respecting their time, I not only was able to get exactly the car I wanted, I got a great price. And, most important to me, it took very little of my personal time.

You don’t have to be an hourly paid consultant or a former car salesperson to get a similar result. It’s all in the preparation and especially in the attitude. I approached the situation with complete confidence that this deal was going to happen. That confidence was based upon solid preparation in advance.

It was also based on complete integrity. Because I was prepared, I made certain that the sales manager knew that I would do exactly what I said I would do–if they met my terms. I convinced them that they could trust me not to shop around at other dealerships if they met my terms. I made sure that it really was the easiest sale they ever made. I reduced the salesperson’s role to that of an order taker.

This strategy will not work if you try to pit one dealership in competition with another after they give you a price. That’s not fair to them. If they offer you a fair price you can live with and the convenience of doing the deal over the phone, you have an obligation to follow through on your part of the agreement.

So, it’s critical that you have all of the other approvals you need before you make the first call to the dealership. Otherwise, they will identify you as a “shopper” or a “be back” and only negotiate with you at the dealership.

I should also add that through out this process, I used my Power Affirmations (see information in the bio below) to stay completely on target and to get exactly what I wanted in a manner that was also more than fair to the dealership. This may sound corny to some, but it’s the absolute truth.

By the way, it’s three years later and I still love my car. It pays to know exactly what you want, to have a plan to get it, and have the confidence to take action and not settle for anything less.

Copyright (c) 2005 Bill Marshall – All rights reserved. Feel free to republish this article provided you include the copyright information and the weblinks where possible.

For practical self-improvement tips, visit http://www.poweraffirmations.com. Get my new free e-book, “Power Affirmations: Power Positive Conditioning for Your Subconscious Mind”

If you are planning a skiing vacation or maybe you are already at the resort and are preparing for a day of skiing then there is a lot to think about. This is especially so if you are new to winter sports. You need to get your skis, boots and poles. You need to organize your lift pass and then you need to hook up with your ski class. Without these things your day would be unsuccessful, however there are a few other things that people often overlook that can also impact on your day. Here is a checklist of 7 things you may need on the ski slopes.

First thing to take is a trail map. No doubt you have looked at the trail maps that are dotted throughout the resort or even at your pocket version but it is essential that you take it with you when you are skiing. Despite your studies you will need to refer to it at least a few times on the first day. Maybe less as the week goes by but it is always handy to have especially if you take a turn that you are not used to.

Lip balm and sunscreen. The lips are very sensitive to the sun and wind. They are one of the few parts of your body that will be exposed to the elements. Make sure they are protected as chapped lips can spoil your vacation. Take a small tube of sunscreen and top up every few hours or so. This is mainly around the face and ears but this depends on the weather and what you are wearing. If it a pleasant day you may decide to ski in a shirt and will need to protect the shoulders and arms.

Something to clean your goggles or sunglasses. Sunglasses often come with a bag that doubles as a cleaner so this is fairly easy to cater for unless you have lost the bag a long time ago like me. If you don’t have the bag then any cloth, like a chamois, will do the trick. Obviously you need to be able to see where you are skiing so clear vision is essential. I’d suggest goggles or glasses are essential too as the glare from the snow is too much even on an overcast day. Goggles are best but sunglasses are more comfortable in my opinion (depending on the type of skiing you are doing).

Carry some water and a snack. There are many cafes and rest stops dotted around the slopes and you won’t have to look far to get a drink at the bottom of the slope but a bottle of water is handy if you need a break during a run. It also means you don’t have to stop skiing for too long. As for a snack, I like a chocolate bar and skiing is my excuse to indulge my chocoholic tendencies. Other people may take an energy bar or even a sandwich.

A cell phone is a good device to have on you if you have an accident or need to keep in touch with friends. You need to find out where to meet up for lunch at the very least ! Take your wallet with some form of id and a credit card or small amount of money. You don’t want a heavy wallet weighing you down.

For more skiing and snowboarding tips and reviews of equipment then visit [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com] The site gives advice on things to carry when skiing [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com/skiing/things-to-carry-when-skiing-21/] and types of snow skiing [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com/skiing/types-of-snow-skiing-10/] Adrian Whittle writes on skiing and snowboarding.

After the last of the ice has thawed and before the beginning of major inset activity, a narrow window of opportunity exists for the fly angler to tempt huge brown trout with large streamers. Here in our part of the country, the Midwest, this is normally during late May and early June.

As water temperatures begin increasing, so does the activity of the fish. When they emerge from their winter lethargy of low metabolism, they’re hungry and ready to eat. Smaller baitfish swimming near the river bank and shallows resume active feeding as well. They too are foraging, looking for anything and everything that might offer nourishment. The occasional subsurface eruption is a tell-tale signal that one has just met a swift, piscivorous end.

One thing you can almost always count on during this time of year is a fast moving weather front. Thunderstorms can come on quickly and wreak havoc if you’re not prepared. For this reason, I take advantage of the internet and the Weather Channel to help me choose fishing days least likely to be affected by weather. Despite all the forecasting in the world, sometimes I can still find myself in a precarious situation.

One day is seared into my memory and not likely to dissipate any time soon. I was out with friend and fellow streamer freak Brad Turner during springtime a number of years back. We weren’t on the water for half an hour before a fast moving weather front came in. A number of lightning bolts touching ground too close for our comfort drove us under cover. With our graphite rods judiciously placed against a tree yards away, we were set to wait it out. Rolling thunder turned into a loud CRACK that sounded like big-game rifle being fired right next to us. Having been caught in more than a few storms over the last 30 years, I’ve seen them come and go, but it’s impossible to be ready for that blinding streak of silver from above. This one nearly required a change of britches ! It did pass, but not before giving us an incredible light show and display of the power that mother nature has hidden in those clouds above.

Big Trout Condos

Big trout like to live where they feel safe. They also like to eat feed not too far from familiar surroundings.

Brush piles, downed trees, uprooted stumps, logjams, old docks, manmade stream improvements and deeply undercut, heavily rooted banks all qualify as home-sweet-home to an old, hook-jawed brown trout.

Occupying some of the heaviest cover the river has to offer, he doesn’t make himself easy to get at. When in search of food, he will venture from the comfort of structure to spots in the river where a feeding channel is close, but never more than a tail-kick away from the lumber and his safely zone. His home habitat is as familiar to him as your favorite living room recliner is to you. He knows exactly where he is and how to quickly get back to safety should the need arise.

Although such large trout may move to and from their preferred lies for feeding purposes, once a dominant fish finds a comfortable location to call home, he is not likely to give it up to a subordinate fish. Work log jams with the most favorable looking surroundings. Continued depth downstream from a piling or a nice cut in the river bottom at the edge of the jam where current speeds come together below the structure and create a nice seam for fish to comfortably sit in. Oven overhanging branches from a neighboring tree that casts a shadow on the hole or run. Be deliberate and thorough in working these deep, dark, promising places.

One such location proved fruitful on a late May day couple years ago. With an arsenal of rods, fly boxes, a cooler of Mountain Dew and submarine sandwiches, Tommy and I set out for another day of streamer fishing. No long into the day we came upon a likely looking run. I was on the oars. With a couple of casts toward the front of an ominous jam, followed by one down the gut, Tommy’s line went taut before he could yell, “FISH ON !” The battle between man and beast was beautiful, each having its way with the other at different times during the tussle. I dropped anchor and hopped out of the boat, intent on getting downstream from the fish. With symphonic precision, Tommy worked the fish over a sand-bar shelf. I move in with the net and —in the bag ! After we caught our breath, out came the camera and tape; 24 inches of hooked-jawed majesty. One look at his elongated snout and his mouthful of teeth and we named him “The Gator”.

Another episode three years ago will not soon be forgotten. Only after casting farther and working line deeper in a run called “Kestners Corner” on the famous Pere Marquette rivers in western Michigan, did I find the sweet spot of this particular run. Sweet for the fish, but not for me and this one will remain a mystery. With friend Adam on the oars, I diligently worked tandem flies in and around various obstacles in this short S-bend of logs, stumps and boulders. Adam pumped the oars a couple times to set me up for the prime spot in the run. I measured the cast and sent my flies toward the jam. I had barely gotten my line under a finger to start stripping it back and out he came….BANG A short but swift hook-set and the battle was on. The heavy-shouldered golden brute made a dash for the wood, but with a downstream sweep of my rod, I kept him from reaching the lumber. He made another run for cover, but another rod turn and he was clear of danger. Luck was on my side…..I thought. His last run was downstream into fast, choppy water. I felt him tire, Adam was there with net in hand and ready. With a couple more turns of the reel, I was ready to bring him up. As he came to the surface, he revealed himself, “BIG fish”. Another burst of energy put him just out of the nets reach. My attempt to bring him back toward us ended with him splashing frantically at the surface nearly next to the boat and next thing I see…….pop, there goes the hook and one incredible fish.

Gearing up for the Big Boys

He’s not your average trout. Leave your 4 and 5 weight fly rods at home. Casting full sinking or heavy sink-tip lines with oversized streamers requires greater physical strength and persistence. A 7 or 8 weight, medium to fast action rods, measuring 8 ½ to 10 feet will deliver your offering the best. Properly balanced, such rods are light enough to allow for sustained casting throughout the day, yet have the backbone to pull a big fish out of, or away from, heavy cover and structure during a dog fight such as this.

I recall a battle with a plump, feisty female brown trout with more speed than is often associated with large, lumber-hunkering browns. With the umpteenth cast of my 10 foot, 7 weight rod rigged with 250 grain sinking line in long deep runs, my fingers started to get number. Despite the fatigue, my cast landed between a boil from a submerged stump and a series of crisscrossed logs in a center river trough. Between strips of my streamer, the line jumped and I was off to the races with this butterscotch beauty.

After a run of 30-40 feet downstream, most of which was less than two feet below the surface, she reversed direction with just as much vigor and was back in front of us in no time. When she made her turn close to the boat, I could see the profile and knew this was no small trout. After negotiating a few more runs around the surrounding logs, she was safely resting in the soft mesh of the net. With a short, narrow nose and an opal blue dot behind her eye, she lit up in the midday sun, all 2 foot of her.

This pace of action can down right tire you out. It’s a good idea to take an occasional break to subdue the inevitable fatigue that will set in during a full day of “big boy” streamer fishing. If you’re too tired and not paying attention, you could end up casting a rather pricey rod/reel combo right into the river. However, with some patience and practice with your timing, such fishing can be very rewarding.

Different fishing situations call for the use of sinking or sink tip lines of differing lengths and weight. If wade fishing, I might opt for a sink-tip of 8-14 feet in length, in a 250-300 grain weight. Being able to mend the back portion of the fly line will allow you to work the bottom two-thirds of the water column.

Leaders are important, but not nearly as critical as they are for dry fly fishing. My typical streamer leader is about 3-5 feet, depending on water clarity and tapered down to 8-15 pound test. In other words, I let the river guide me……sounds odd! If the water is off color, I will increase pound strength of tippet and decrease it if water is low and/or clear. When tying fly to tippet with a standard improved clinch or Duncan Loop knot, it’s helpful to balance the line strength and diameter with “How” the fly acts in the water. Specifically, how does it look in the water based on the stiffness of both high/low pound test tippet material? I will use a Rapala knot or Perfection loop knot when tying on larger streamers. With an open loop type knot, it allows the fly/flies to “bob and weave” through the water in an erratic manner which often elicits vicious strikes.

Two years ago Marc Kiekenapp and I found ourselves drifting unknowingly close to one too many log jams and he got snagged up. I rowed over to it, he stripped extra line in to bring the snagged fly right to the rod tip to try and free it from the lumber….SNAP !….Marc’s four piece rod was not a five piece. More than one rod has fallen victim to big streamer fishing. Overhanging branches, strong hooks sets and strong tippet can be a recipe for rod breakage from time to time, bring an extra rod along just to be safe.

Supersize Flies

Let your conventional size 6 Black Nose Dace, Mickey Finns or Muddler Minnows rest comfortably in their own box next to your summertime dry fly box of Elk Hair Caddis and PMD’s. To lure a really large trout, you have to start thinking BIG. Streamers that look like small rodents with hooks. The flies you should be packing are four to six inches long, sometimes even longer depending on conditions. Often constructed with two hooks and connected with heavy backing, heavy monofilament, wire or a combination, they are truly a “creation” by the fly tier. Some are weighted to go deep, others aren’t in order to ride high in the water column. Some look more like Christmas tree ornaments than traditional trout streamers. Not to say that the “classics” don’t work, but you will increase your chances for a big boy considerably by increasing the size of the fly you’re fishing. A big trout wants a mouthful if it’s going to spend the energy chasing food. It’s a thrill to see a large fly, undulating through the water as it’s retrieved and then suddenly engulfed by a dark shadow that bolts out of nowhere and buckles your rod to the cork……my heart start pounding just thinking about it !

Vary color and combinations to correspond to differences in water depth, clarity, flow, light conditions and even physical makeup of the river. When throwing tandem streamers, I like to have one offset the other in color and/or action. Tip drab olive fly could be followed by a sparkly rainbow pattern, black followed by white, cream deer hair head (will suspend a bit due to deer hair), trailed by a bright yellow. The combinations are many and it doesn’t hurt to try out different combinations on different rivers.

I have found some consistency in productive patterns when fishing high water with some “tint” to it. Under such conditions, a fly with a good silhouette will draw more attentions from fish than a sparse, faint pattern. When working a stretch of river filled with log jams that have a dark back drop, I will use lighter combinations since they will show up good with that dark wood behind it. If the run is a deeper “cut” or trough adjacent to quality lumber based cover, but has a sand bottom, I will be quick to go dark due to the comparatively light back drop of the sand bottom.

Two years ago I was fishing a black strip leech, trailed by a white baitfish pattern. An enormous brown trout bolted from cover to inspect the leech, only to pinwheel back and absolutely HAMMER the white fly. I often wonder if an attention-getting front fly acts as an attractor more often than we “know”. Since only the fish have that answer, it’s still just a theory. There are no hard and fast rules here, experimentation has often led to some great discoveries in the world of fly fishing.

Technique

Casting supersized flies cannot merely tire you out; it can be downright dangerous if not carried out with your full attention and some practice prior to getting in the river. Case in point – following a heart-pounding episode where a true trophy TRUTTA showed himself with a quick chase and short inspection of my fly, I frantically attempted to re-cast to the same spot, only to have it all come to a halt with a five inch streamer pattern hanging from my EAR !…..OUCH ! Sunglasses or other eye protection are critical to have on when casting big flies.

Given that most any river can be fished with large, gaudy streamers, it’s now a matter of how to effectively cast such large flies, get them where you want AND not put a hook in your fishing buddy.

My vision of traditional streamer fishing involves casting toward a bank at a 90 degree angle – perpendicular in other words – and working the fly back into mid river as though it got caught sideways in the current and is now susceptible to any nearby ambush artists….big trout ! Logic here is that by casting toward the bank, “maybe” just a bit downstream from perpendicular, that you’re putting your fly in front of the greatest number of fish. This is due to the fact that trout need to keep their noses into the current to most effectively pump water and oxygen through their gills. After retrieving fly/flies to just shy of the sink line-leader knot, pick up, false cast once, maybe twice to lengthen slightly or change direction a bit, present fly, let is sink slightly and begin the stripping sequence and repeat as you work your way down river. Repeat the process, focusing on likely holding water such as medium depth and medium current speed runs, troughs and jams.

Sounds good, but what’s wrong with this approach ??? Nothing, IF you have the room to back cast 15-25 or more feet of line. When using larger flies that cast and track differently in the water, a few things can be done with the cast and retrieve to keep your flies where you want them and not beat your body up too badly while chucking around big macs all day.

I like to employ a roll cast set up when working with heavy sink lines and big flies. Like a traditional roll cast, the motion is similar, but for different reasons. Rather than stripping the fly all the way back to nearly the tip of the rod, instead begin the roll cast motion once you see your fly or have a pretty good idea that it’s only 6-8 feet out from the rod tip. By starting the roll cast at this time, you’re accomplishing 2 things in one continuous motion; not bringing ALL of your line in and then having to cast a clunky knot through various snake guides on your rod, but still keeping flies in the water for the greatest distance you can. Should a strike come at the end, when your flies are a mere few feet from your casting position, you can strip one big arm length of line in and still have enough tension to set the hook. Polarized glasses help a lot when training your eyes to look for the flies, versus aimlessly stripping away until you hear the line-leader knot clumsily climb through the tip-top of your rod.

By keeping some line outside your rod tip and using the first part of the roll cast motion as a “set up”- soft roll cast that has your flies land very close, but in FRONT of you – it’s rather easy to then simply pick up line, execute a short back cast and shoot the remainder of your fly line. An exceptional technique on smaller streams, it’s also a great way to fish larger rivers. Once you get into a rhythm, it’s a very effective method for covering a lot of water and minimizing the wear on your body, especially the casting arm and shoulder.

Once in the “big fly” mindset, it’s critical to strip whatever streamer pattern(s) you’re casting, at a speed consistent with that of the natural that you’re trying to duplicate with your fly. In other words, don’t strip a 2″ baitfish pattern in rapid, 20-30″ increments, a fish that small cannot swim that fast ! This being said, I’m not a strong proponent of the slow strip during prime streamer time, which are the warming months of April and May in the Midwest. In some cases, you have to get a fish on the verge of hysteria to follow a big streamer. Sometimes that means running it by them at a pace that’s slow enough for them to catch, yet fast enough to make them nearly swim out of their scales trying to get it. As we “match the hatch” with surface feeding trout, we can do nearly the same with streamers at times. Identify what big trout are likely to be feeding on based on the river and habitat and then duplicate the fly, motion and speed of retrieval to best match the natural. Large trout eat fish and they’re used to chasing them down…….give ‘em what they want and what they’re familiar with.

The Secret to Coaxing a Big Fish

As with so much else in life, success in hooking and landing big trout is fundamentally a matte of putting in your time. Few anglers I know can pick up a big-fly rig and cast it effortlessly and accurately if they have not devoted hours of time and sustained effort to this type of fly fishing. Even those who have fished this way have to get re-accustomed to the whole feel of this game. “A bit rusty, eh?” is a common phrase early spring from friends and fellow anglers I may be on the water with. We all throw some wayward casts early in the season. But once “dialed in”, although not always poetry in motion, it is rather magical to watch and only then can one turn the tables on large trout, when WE become the predator.

Streamer fishing for big trout is definitely not for everyone. You first have to accept the givens of this approach.

1 – You’re not going to catch a lot of fish and may get only a few good shots at them.

2 – Hooked doesn’t mean landed. I lost one of the nicest brown trout that I’ve ever seen, let alone hooked on a streamer, right at the net after negotiating numerous obstacles like stumps, boulders, an entire log jam and a tricky turn in the river. Friend Adam was ready with the net……and I lost him. As much as we “willed” that fish another 10 inches closer to the rim of the net, it didn’t happen.

3 – You will get tired. Your arm may feel like Jell-O at the end of a full day of tossing around rag dolls.

4 – You will lose flies, some very elaborate that may have taken you or another person quite a while to tie.

5 – You can experience glory and agony with the same fish in a matter of seconds….some of which you will remember forever….

Jeff Bacon – West Michigan, Orvis Endorsed, Fly Fishing Guide & Author

http://www.westmichiganflyfishing.com

Are you looking for the fly fishing adventure of your life? Join me on the river for an experience you’ll never forget!

Sports activities are one of the things that can help young people to come together and have something fun they can work on. This helps to relieve boredom and they can take part in different things to make them develop their talents. There are many benefits of playing games such as:

Socialization- This helps the young people to come together and make friends since all the games have rules and regulations that need to be followed. It helps them to work together to achieve a common goal. This can lead to the creation of very strong bonds between the players where good friendships can be nurtured.

The sports activities give the young people something that takes their time so that they can avoid taking part in activities like drugs. This helps them to grow healthy as they usually take part in a lot of exercise, which also helps them to keep fit.

Something to look forward to- Most of the times when players have done something exemplary, it is important to give them something that will give them motivation to continue playing. One of the things that can be given is basketball gifts. These should be made from high quality material and they should also be attractive so that people can be proud of them.

When choosing the items to give away, it is important to take your time to get them right. There are many stores that offer these items. Browse through them to get the ones that will suit the players best. Try and get ones that have the logos of the companies to make them more personalized and special to the people who will be getting them, so that they can work harder to get them.

When choosing Basketball Gifts, it is very important to get them right. This ensures the players have something to look forward to. Use the provided link to know more and buy the best Basketball Gifts.

In this article you will be provided with information about baby car seats and keeping your baby safe while in the car. There are tips for buying new and used baby car seats. Answers to some of the most asked questions about car seats are provided as well.

Q. What is the best baby car seat?

The best car seat is the one that matches your baby’s size and weight. It also fits properly in your car and is easily installed.

Q. What types of baby car seats are available?

There are several types of baby car seats such as infant seats, front facing car seats, and convertible seats. There are also combination seats (can face front or rear), booster seats and integrated car seats. With each type of seat there are variations.

Q. Is a five-point harness or a shield safest for my baby?

A five point harness gives your child the greatest protection because it holds your baby tighter in the seat in the event of a crash. A T-Shield or over-the-head restraint allows too much room or can get in the way of chubby tummies and legs. The stalk of the T-Shield can cause serious injury to your baby.

Q. How can I find out how to safely install my baby’s car seat?

All car seats (except most second hand seats) come with printed directions. If after reading the directions you still are not sure how to properly install it. You can call or email the manufacturer. Some police stations and hospitals have assistance programsas well.

Q. Is there a correct way to secure my child in the baby car seat?

Yes, there is a correct way in which to secure your child in his car seat. How you secure your baby in the car seat will likely depend on the age and size of your baby.

For children under a year of age they should be placed in rear-facing seats in the centerof the rear seat. Older children can sit facing front and their seat are generally placed behind the driver or passenger in order to utilize the shoulder/lap belts.

Q. What is LATCH?

LATCH refers to Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is a baby car seat installation system. The lower hooks are attached between the bottom of the back of the seat and seat itself. The tether piece is a strap made of seat belt material with a clip that secures forward facing baby car seats and prevents excessive movement of the baby’s head in crashes.

Q. What is a Tether?

The tether is a strap made of seat belt material with a clip. It attaches to the clips on the seat and secures front facing baby car seats. In a crash it prevents excessive movement of the seat and the baby’s head, reducing the severity of injuries.

Q. How can I tell when my child is ready to use car seat belts without a booster seat?

Your child will be ready for using the car safety restraint system when s/he can sitall the way back in the seat and the knees can bend comfortably over the edge of the seat. The belt crosses the shoulder between the neck and the arm and the lap belt is low and touches the thighs. Your child must be able to remain seated the whole trip.

Q. Can a baby car seat be used safely in an airplane?

Yes it can. Airlines require children age 2 and under, to be in approved car seats. The seats must be 16 inches or less to fit in the airplane seats. Call ahead and find out ifyour seat is an approved seat. Once on the plane, the hostess/es, will be able to assistyou.

Q. Is it safe for me to use second-hand baby car seats?

Yes it is safe to use second-hand baby car seats provided you do a safety check. Belts and harnesses should not be frayed or cracked. There should be no cracks or tears in the seat cover and the seat should recline easily and stay upright when the baby is seated. Look into the history of the seat, if it has been in a car crash do not buy it, its ability to safely restrain your child has been compromised. If the seat doesn’t come with a manual contact the manufacturer to ensure the seat will be properly installed.If the seat is more than 5 years old do not use it, it may have been in a crash and older baby car seats may not fit in new model cars.

Q. What should I do if my baby car seat is recalled?

In most cases, the manufacturer will provide you with instructions of what to do if baby car seat is recalled. In some cases they will replace it for free they will have you bring it somewhere to get replacement parts also at no cost to you.

Q. Are there baby car seats available for children with special needs?

Children with special needs may require different restraint systems. Discuss your options with your pediatrician. Agencies such as Easter Seals have programs and information on baby car seats for special needs children.

Q. What is the best type of harness for my baby car seat?

There are four types of harnesses in baby car seats. The six-point harness has two straps at the shoulders, two at the hips and two at the crotch. The five-point harness has two straps at the shoulders, two at the hips and one at the crotch. The t-shield is a padded triangle that latches at the crotch while the overhead shield comes down from over the head and latches at the crotch also. The safest harnesses are the five or six-point harnesses. These prevent excessive movement of the baby in crash situations. The t shield and the over-head shield allow for too much room and could cause your baby to be ejected from the car in a crash.

In Conclusion

You can never go wrong if you err on the side of caution when it comes to your baby. The size and weight of your baby as well as your budget will decide what type of seat you will purchase. This article has provided you with a number of tips to keep your baby safe while riding with you in the car.

(c) http://www.1st-babies.com

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About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Nursery Bedding which includes Baby strollers, Baby car seats, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

The fashion industry is a utopia where money rains down on streets paved with gold; where the citizens are bedecked in the finest fabrics and jewelry known to man. They live in extravagant homes surrounded by diamonds that grow from trees. This utopia is such an amazing place that words cannot describe it. Well, okay maybe I’m exaggerating a bit. But when you see the staggering amounts of money that is made in the fashion industry annually, it is hard to not compare the industry to a fairytale.

The fashion industry seems to attract money like iron filings to a magnet. Clothing lines make millions of dollars each year, some well-established lines and designers even make billions of dollars. Now the fourth largest industry in the world, the fashion industry brings in $4 billion a year and includes the revenues from old established companies and a host of new clothing lines introduced by the urban market.

Contemporary Fashion History at a Glance

Initially Contemporary fashion as we know it was run by such top couture companies and designers as Channel, Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld Gloria Vanderbilt, Dianne VonFurstenberg, Ralph Lauren, and Liz Claiborne to name a few. These and others such as Donna Karen, Guess? and Tommy Hilfiger bought couture style to the ready-to-wear market. Today, new clothing lines have made their mark upon the fashion industry, and include the wave of urban clothiers like Phat Farm, Sean John, Rocawear, and at one-time the mega clothing company FUBU.

Given the laundry list of clothing companies and fashion designers, one would think the market is over saturated. But quite the contrary is true. Like an elastic waistband, the market has simply expanded to accommodate each new clothing line, many of which have been able to capture a significant portion of market share to be rewarded with millions of dollars for their creativity, fashion sense and work efforts. Simply put, if you are the owner of a hot clothing line, chances are, you’re rich!

Marketing Genius

Tommy Hilfiger should be considered the poster child for marketing innovations. He was the first traditional clothing designer to capitalize on the Hip Hop world. From 1990 to 1993 Tommy Hilfiger was only bringing in $25 million a year. But that all changed in 1994 after a performance by Hilfiger-clad Snoop Doggy Dog performed on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. After the performance Tommy’s sales quickly jumped to $67 million. Since then, Hilfiger’s sales have continued to claim nearly $900 million. In 2002 Tommy Hilfiger reported sales of up to $1.9 billion. The company has remained around the billion-dollar mark. In 2006 Apax Partners, a global private equity investment group bought Tommy Hilfiger, Corp. for a reported $1.6 billion along with the agreement that Hilfiger would stay on to run the company.

Ralph Lauren, designer of the POLO brand is synonymous with the word fashion. Since the 1980s Ralph Lauren has been a dominating force in the fashion industry. His sales consistently hit record numbers and in 2006 for the U.S. market reached $3.75 billion. Projections for fiscal year 2007 are anticipated to reach $4.5 billion.

The company Guess?, by designer Maurice Marciano is yet another example of clothing line that has remained on top. Since 1981, the brand has dressed infants to senior citizens. A crossover brand, it has earned sales from both the urban and suburban markets, and in 2006 the company reported profits of $1.2 billion. Both Chairman Maurice Marciano, and co-chairman and CEO Paul Marciano command million-dollar salaries in their leadership positions in the company.

The men of fashion are not the only ones commanding high salaries and huge profits. In 2006 Liz Claiborne Inc, reported sales of $5 billion. While Liz Claiborne unfortunately died on June 27, 2007, her legacy lives on as does the testament to the longevity of the Liz Claiborne brand.

A self-taught fashion designer, Claiborne founded her company with her husband Art Ortenberg, Leonard Boxer, Jerome Chazen in 1976. Within a decade, the clothing company became a billion-dollar business. That type of growth is a testament to just how great and rewarding the world of fashion can be.

Another of the many top women in fashion is Donna Karen, founder of DKNY (Dona Karen New York). The DKNY name commands great respect in the fashion world and in 2006, the privately owned company reported earnings of $1.2 billion. The company’s 2007 sale projections are expected to stay steady at around the 1.2 billion-dollar mark. It should be noted that some companies partner with others to achieve their high financial earnings. For example, DKNY Jeans and DKNY Active are partnered brands of Liz Clairborne, Inc.

In 1967, fashion icon Calvin Klein graced the industry with his presence. Since then, Calvin Klein has become a household name. Another designer to use apt marketing strategy the Calvin Klein Company has also hit the billion-dollar mark. In 1980, Klein pushed the envelope with his Jeans ad where a young Brooke Shields stated, “Nothing comes between me and my Calvins.” Since then, the sentiment has been true for many. By 1996 Calvin Klein company surpassed $3 billion in sales worldwide, and by fiscal-year 2006, its subsidiary, Calvin Klein Jeans Wear Co., hit $90 million in sales. Just as Hilfiger sold his company to Apex, Calvin Klein sold his brand to the Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, the largest shirt maker in the United States. According to industry financial reports, the Calvin Klein Company was sold for $400 million dollars in cash and $30 million in stocks.

The fashion industry is not limited to clothing. It also includes accessories and shoes. The cosmetics industry is different yet closely related market that cannot be overlooked when discussing fashion. Many designers, such as Chanel for example, branch their brands out to include cosmetic and fragrance lines, and for many consumers, cosmetics are just as important to their overall sense of fashion and style as clothing, shoes and accessories. The Estée Lauder Company has held on to its market share for quite some time. Estée Lauder sales for fiscal year 2007 were reported at $7 billion dollars. For the year, that figure breaks down to approximately $19.2 million per day. The company’s sales were up 9 percent from its recorded 2006 earnings of $6.46 billion, which shows just how much the cosmetics industry parallels the fashion industry.

“The fashion industry is a best-kept secret. There is so much money to be made is this business that it’s unreal! If you have a good name and some really hot fashion designs along with the knowledge to bring it to the market and keep it there, chances are good you will do quite well for yourself! In the fashion industry the potential is always present for a clothing line to make millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars. This business is unreal and that’s why it is a best-kept secret!”

-Jay Arrington co-owner of www.startingaclothingline.com

New Kids on the Block take the Industry by Storm

Talented, new urban designers have imposed their will on the fashion industry with the same force, if not a greater one, as their fashion predecessors did. They have opened new doors to an industry that was difficult to break into. This phenomenon started in the early 1990s with the former companies Cross Color clothing and fashion designer Karl Kani. While they are no longer active companies, they were the trailblazers for FUBU, Phat Farm and many other clothing designers.

Trail Blazers

Cross Colors was founded by Carl Jones in the early ’90s. Cross Colors. Upon its arrival on the market, the company was so hot, that they had major problems filling orders. With $130 million in pre-paid orders, they could only ship $89 million. The company grew at an uncontrollable rate. In its first year of business, Cross Colors made $15 million, and by 1992 it made $89 million. These figures are staggering and show the kind of market share that the new, urban market was able to capture easily.

Designer Karl Kani started his career with Cross Colors (Threads 4 Life), but left the company in 1994 to start his own label. In its first year the Karl Kani label had $22 million in sales, ranking him No. 38 on the Black Enterprise Industrial/Service 100 list. In the following year, Kani had $59 million in sales-a 37 percent increase over the previous year. The 1995 numbers earned him a leap from No. 38 to No. 25 on the Black Enterprise Industrial/Service 100 list. After such an impressive first two years, the line lost its market share, but Kani managed to reinvent himself and the company. Often called “the godfather of urban fashion,” in 2002, Kani returned with the introduction of “Life” a new clothing line that made $25 million in its first year. Achieving success where Hilfiger failed, Kani partnered directly with Hip Hop artists, rather than just having them wear his product.

For Us By Us, (FUBU) was an inspiring slogan that motivated four friends from Queens, New York to follow their dream. According to legend the guys from FUBU went to the Magic Show in Las Vegas. Magic is the biggest clothing convention in America, and at the convention, buyers were so impressed with their designs that FUBU took $1 million in orders from stores across the country. Lacking the capital to fill the orders, they placed an ad in the newspaper for investors. It read: “One million dollars in orders. Need investors.” The ad attracted the attention of the conglomerate Korean company Samsung, which made an investment in the company and helped FUBU fill the orders. Since then, FUBU has been a household name.

FUBU went on to take the fashion industry by storm. They went from selling hats on the street corners of New York to selling full collections in stores all over the world. Their operation moved from a basement in Queens to the entire 66th floor of the Empire State Building. In 1997 FUBU made $75 million, in 1998 they made $200 million; in 1999, $ 350 million and by 2001 their sales reached $380 million. Overall, the company’s worth grew to $450 million.

While FUBU does not currently have the same market strength that they had a few years ago, last year, they still managed to make $12.1 million from international sales. It is this ability to capture both domestic and international markets that shows the versatility of the fashion industry.

“With respect to the urban market, Carl Jones of Cross Colors invented it, Karl Kani solidified it and FUBU refined it!”

-Jay Arrington

The classic urban brand, Phat Farm, created by the godfather of hip hop, Russell Simmons is another line that took the fashion industry by storm. While the company did have its ups and downs, including going bankrupt, with the perseverance and business savvy of Simmons, the company has thrived. A resilient entrepreneur, Simmons pulled the company out of bankruptcy and went on to make millions of dollars. He started developing his collection and product line slowly. In 2000 Phat Farm made $120 million dollars; by 2001 it made $200 million. In 2003 Russell Simmons reported earnings for Phat Farm of $350 million. Taking a cue from other successful designers, Russell launched the subsidiary Baby Phat line in 2000. In its first year Baby Phat made $10 million. A year later, Baby Phat tripled its sales. In the last seven years, Baby Phat’s earnings have continued to climb the chart and in 2006, reached $100 million in earnings. Phat Farm kids was also launched by Simmons, and made $15 million in 2000 and $25 million in 2001. The entire Phat Fashion line brought in $659 million from licensing deals and in 2006, the Phat Farm label had around $740 million in retail sales alone overall, the entire Phat Fashion Label made approximately $2 billion in 2006. Without sound business practices however, the company might have suffered the same fate as many other new companies.

In early 2004, Russell Simmons sold Phat Fashions to The Kellwood Company for $140 million in cash. He stuck around for two years to make sure that the company stayed on track and judging by the numbers reported above it did. Russell, job well done!

“You see, most people don’t understand the fashion business. You start a brand and you make it hot! And then you start licensing out the name to other companies to create more products and that helps to build your brand and your company. That’s how you get to the billion-dollar mark. And when you do licensing deals, others do the work and you get a cut of the action. Why? Because it’s your name! I love this business!”

-Jay Arrington co-owner of www.startingaclothingline.com

Rocawear was founded by the Shawn “Jay Z” Carter, Damon Dash and Kareem Burkes in 1999. Since its inception, the company has been a force in the fashion world, bringing in an average $300 million annually. As Jay Z states in the lyrics of his song The Watcher, “I had it laid out before you knew what a plan was $300 million later now y’all understand us.” Rocawear’s annual sales are currently up to a staggering $700 million making it one of the highest earning clothing lines in the industry. Carter recently reported selling Rocawear to the Iconix Brand Group, Inc. for $204 million in cash and $35 million in stocks. Two years before the sale, Damon Dash sold his stake in the company for $22.5 million in cash and controlling interest of several spin-off apparel and fashion brands. His business manager estimated the total value of the deal to be approximately $30 million.

Another Hip Hop star to cross over into the fashion business is Sean Combs. Known during his musical career by several different names, he has made his mark on fashion with the Sean John line. As Sean Combs would say, “It’s not a brand, it’s a lifestyle.” And apparently it is a lifestyle that the world is buying. In the first year of Sean John’s full arrival, the company received great reviews and quickly shot past $100 million in sales. In 2002 Sean John brought in $325 million; in 2003, $450 million. In the short time that Sean John has been on the market, the company has consistently maintained an average of $400 million a year. With the upcoming introduction of his women’s line, earnings in the billions can only be expected in a short time as well. Comb’s has also signed a licensing deal with power house Estée Lauder to distribute his fragrance worldwide. The fashion business is not local or regional, it is global, and those who really succeed in the business for years and years know how to capture a global market share.

“You know one of the reasons why I always praise this industry is because you can be a self-taught clothing designer and still make millions or even billions of dollars! Tommy Hilfiger, Liz Claiborne, Karl Kani, Christian Dior, Yigal Azrouel are all self-taught, but a lot of people don’t know that.”

-Michael Harper co-creator of www.digitalfashionpro.com

Miskeen is a new company that in 2002 started out making t-shirts into wearable art canvases. They created original designs on each shirt and in the first year Miskeen made $502,000. In 2003 they made $4 million and in 2006 the company increased sales to $12.5 million! Like with many other companies, Miskeen could go far, so I will be keeping my eye on them. With sound business practices along with great designs and good marketing strategies, they could be another FUBU or Phat Farm. And who knows? Maybe one of you will be the next hot clothing designer that catches the public eye. Until then, think fashion and you will always look your best!

Nigel Christopher is a fashion stylish, designer, industry insider and researcher. He currently resides in New York City as free lance clothing designer. He is also a budding fashion writer so be sure to look for more articles from him.

Your mobility depends too much on your possession of a private vehicle. You may go for a car, motorcycle or truck as your own vehicle. But due to severe weather conditions in many regions it is not a good idea to depend on motorcycles all the time. It is also not a good idea to have a truck or SUV as they drink lot of gas and the maintenance is high. Somewhere in the middle and perfectly positioned vehicle for Desi would be a car. There are various types of cars to suite your need.

What you should have

If you are a single man and do not depend primarily on your car for commuting to your work, then go for anything as you wish.

There are coupes which have capacity for 4 persons but only two big doors. Primarily these cars are designed keeping in view for two, driver and one passenger. The other model is the sedan which has capacity for 5 and has 4 doors. This can also be called a family car. Depending on the size of the car, they are categorized as Compact, Mid-sized and Full. Compact cars are very small in size and have a good mileage per gallon too. Some manufacturers even make two seated compact cars. The power of the compact car is also little less than the cars of other categories. There are other cars that have powerful engines and are rated as sports cars.

On the contrary, if you have a big family and need more space in your vehicle, then go for van/SUV. But I wont suggest this idea to people who have just come to US, before/after marriage and don’t have any kids.

Besides, it is always your dream and desire that makes you to go for a particular type and model. But before deciding upon something, you must give a thought to the other factors like, the mileage, sitting capacity, transmission, trunk capacity, engine power, ease of driving/safety, interior, power doors and anti-theft devices. Also your affordability plays a major role in purchasing a vehicle.

Do you have a driver license yet? It is most important to have one before going for a vehicle. Various states have different rules for issuing drivers license. You can logon to Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) sites to know about the pre-requisites and methods of getting one driver license for your state. Normally it involves a written examination, minor vision test and a road test.

The never-ending comparison

Now you have to decide whether to buy a new car or a used car. I wont suggest you any thing or force you to go for what I think is right, but you must know the good and bad things involved in each.

Used Cars

* They are cheaper.

* They may be old.

* They might have more than one owner.

* They could be purchased from private parties or authorized dealers.

* They might have gone through serious maintenance/repair in the past.

* They might have gone through an accident in the past.

* Some parts/components are just about to die.

* There may not be enough warranty/guaranty on some expensive parts.

* The mileage may not be good.

* They may need more maintenance.

* They may not be reliable for long drives.

* Resale may be a headache.

New Cars

* They are not cheap.

* They are covered under manufacturer/dealer warranty.

* Their fuel efficiency must meet the specification.

* There is the satisfaction of owning a new car.

* Easy to get a finance for new car than a used car.

* No need to worry about the engine, body, suspension, tyre, batteries and interior conditions.

* Insurance premium may be higher.

* Can only be bought from an authorized dealer.

There are many other things that can be discussed as advantages and disadvantages under both the headings. However, I don’t want to focus on them right now. If you are convinced to buy a new car, then go for it.

Your target

Now it is the time for you to decide the Make, Model and Type of your car. In US you will find hundreds of Make and Models (no Hind Motors/Maruti cars of course). From a Desi prospect I would say it is better to start with Honda/Toyota/Nissan. These Japanese car manufacturers know our requirement and never ditch us on the highways. The engines are good and prices are low. They run long enough before giving up. The life of a Honda/Toyota is considered to be 300K miles. But the look and interior designs are not at par with the American/European cars.

Buying a New Car

Take a cup of coffee, chat with your friends and go through some reviews before you decide upon the make model and color of your first dream car in USA. Check for the existing/upcoming models of your car by logging onto the sites. Select the color and interior and look at the car through the simulator. The most important thing that you must consider here is that, when the next model is going to be released. If it is very soon, then don’t go for it, because after you buy your car, you will see the newer model in the market and the resale value of your car will fall drastically.

Cars with automatic transmission and power window have good resale value. ABS and anti-theft devices are added advantages. Leather interior is as per your wish.

Now you have all the details in your mind and the budget is also finalized. Next step is to study the finance market and look for the bank/credit union who gives the best APR. Also don’t forget to decide upon your auto insurance. Find out a good insurance company and try to get a quote from them. The premium varies from place to place. With all these things set up, go to the Auto-Mall of your city. Go for a test drive for the car you have already decided. Beware of the car sales representatives. They will always try to sale you the most expensive car they have. But you shouldn’t deviate from your decision. Try to bargain with them for a possible reduction in their margin and ask for extra accessories.

What is the status of the loan? Have you arranged one or you want the dealer to make some arrangements for you? Always try to bring down the APR. If you are very new to US and don’t have any credit score, you may not get a good APR. However, dont worry about the APR right now. You can always refinance the loan with a better APR after you buildup the credit history after few months of repayment of the loan.

Once the deal is final, you need to sign some papers and then provide the Insurance details if you have. Otherwise, you could also provide the insurance agents phone number and the sales representative will talk to the insurance agent to get the car insured before leaving their premises (dont worry too much for the insurance premiums now, it is important to get your car insured before you drive out of the dealers premises, however you can easily change your insurance later, if you find a better one). In case you didn’t get any insurance, you can always go for binder insurance, but they are quite expensive, but you can always cancel them in the middle once you establish your insurance with somebody else and get the refund for the unused portion of your premium.

The next thing is to make the financial paper work. You will be guided to the dealers accounts department and one of the accountants will assist you in finalizing the loan and payment for the car. At that time they will try to sale an extended warranty for another 3 years after the manufacturers warranty. It is you who will decide for that. Don’t listen to them, but evaluate it being unbiased. They will try to sale so many other things like paint guard, gap insurance etc. I would suggest not to go with all these things except paint-guard.

After everything is over, they will apply for the vehicle registration/license plate to DMV on your behalf and give you the temporary ownership license (stuck to the windshield of your car). As far as I know, they wash the car and give you a full tank as a compliment before you drive your car back home.

New cars don’t give you much trouble as long as you do all the regular oil change and maintenance in time.

Buying a Used Car

Used cars are good but not as new cars. They are much cheaper than the new cars, but at the cost of your peace of mind. You can buy used cars from either a private party or from any dealer. Here also you have to decide your budget and the make, model and year of the car that you need. Also the other main factor is the odometer reading.

There are many sites that give you the links for used cars for sale. You can also refer to the local news papers for any such advertisement. There are places in some cities where people come with their cars for auction/sale. Since you are new, don’t go to such places. Rather get contact information from news paper ads or internet. Get the details of the car like make, model and year of the car, miles it has run, condition of batteries, tires and engine condition etc.

Now go to Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com) or Edmund (www.edmund.com) and try to evaluate the car. KBB will ask you some question depending upon the private trading or buying from dealer. After you enter data about the private trading car, it will show you an approximate value of the car.

Private Party

If you are buying a used car from a private party, then you need to be more cautious about certain things like, the engine condition, the body condition, the interior and the accident/maintenance history of the car. Don’t go for cars that have already run almost 300K miles (for Honda and Toyota). You can start locating for used cars for sale from various sources like, news papers, local ads and internet. After locating the availability near your place, prepare your matrix.

* Call each of them to fix an appointment for trial.

* Get the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) from the owner.

* Check for the approximate cost of the car using KBB or EDMUND sites.

* Compare the advertised price with the approximate cost that you arrived at.

* Use the VIN to find out accident/maintenance history from CarFax.com and check for any major incident. There will be a registration fee for CarFax.com, go for the one month pack.

* Talk to a mechanic for pre-purchase inspection of the vehicle. Mechanics charge around $50 per car. It is better to go to some brand names like Pep-Boys. They are good and reliable, but you may need to take an appointment beforehand.

* Go to the owner, see the car physically (for any visible dents, body color, torn airbag containers and interior) and then drive it with the owner.

* Take the car to the mechanic and have it inspected.

* (All the cars need a timing belt replacement after running for around 100K miles, so if the car is around or over 100K, then you need to figure out if the timing belt has been replaced, this information could be obtained from the CarFax report too. One thing you must remember that, in US, the auto spare parts are not that expensive, but the labor charge to install them is too high.)

* The mechanic will give you a report, in which it will indicate the current condition of the car and what needs to be fixed with a rough estimation.

* Check for the vehicle registration, is it current?

* Is the vehicle smog certified?

With the Kelly Blue Book report, CarFax report and the mechanics report, you can have a good bargain with the owner. If you really like the car and every thing looks OK to you, then start bargaining. Don’t focus more on the tires/batteries, they are not that important as the engine.

NEVER BUY A CAR THAT HAS A SALVAGED TITLE.

Once you have decided to buy the car, talk to the owner about the payment and mode of payment (check or cash). The owner has to give you a pink slip indicating that you paid for the car and it is yours now. He cant simply lodge a complaint with the police saying you have stolen his car. It is his duty to inform the DMV office about the sale and transfer of title. You should also apply to DMV for transferring the title to your name. For registration, you will need the pink slip, the insurance (get one immediately) and smog certification. After you apply for the transfer of the vehicle registration into your name, you are the proud owner of the car.

It is too cumbersome to buy a used car from a private party, sometimes it is too risky and in all the cases it is damn cheaper. For some unlucky guys it might have resulted in spending huge money on maintenance the next day. But it is not always true. However, you are supposed to visit the mechanic frequently and spend lot of time there.

Buying from Dealer

The next best thing that you can do is to buy a used car from a dealer. It may not be as cheaper as buying from private party, but 100 times more reliable. Even some dealers give warranty on the used cars they sale. They buy the used cars, clean them up, do a thorough checking of the engine and repair any damages, dents etc before putting them on sale. You don’t have to take the car to a mechanic for inspection, worry about the smog certification. But never forget to check the approximate price through KBB and have a CarFax report handy before making a deal with the dealer. Normally, good dealers don’t keep cars for sale that have any major issues like bad accident history, salvaged title etc.

Go to the dealer, talk to the sales representative about your purpose. He/she will show you all the different used cars they have that fits your requirement as well as your budget. Once you have selected the model, make and color, go for a test drive (don’t forget to check the odometer reading). If everything feels ok to you, then go to the dealers office and access their computer to logon to KBB for approximate pricing as well as to CarFax for accident/maintenance history for that car. Some dealers even do this for free. Now with all these things handy, start the bargain. You must always consider the worry free deal with the worth of the vehicle you are paying for. You may end up paying a little more than that of a private party deal, but there wont be any worries after you buy the car. If there will be any problem with the car (which is covered under warranty), you can always comeback to the dealer for having it fixed for free. The dealer may also arrange a loan for you and take care of the other formalities like title transfer etc. You will save a lot of time/worries in this. Time is important and costly in this country. So it is your call again.

After you finalize the deal, it follows the same process as a new car purchase. So finish all paper work and drive the car safely back home.

Tips

* If you own an old used car that needs maintenance and the mechanic gives you a list of jobs to be done, then do all of them once. That way you may save a lot of labor charge.

* As per my experience, buying a new car is always better than buying a used car from a dealer and buying a used car from a dealer is always safer than buying a used car from a third party.

* It seems to be a huge amount in the beginning to buy a new car. But if you compare the money spent for new (repay the loan) and used car (repair/maintenance), then over a period of 3 years they will almost equate with each other. So, why not to enjoy the ride of a new car.

As a new owner of a vehicle, you must know about auto repair. This way, when your car breaks down, you what you have to do. Many automobile manufacturers and auto parts dealers provide their customers with tips on how to do basic auto repairs.

It is important that you familiarize yourself first with the parts and systems that make up your automobile. Knowledge about how these parts and systems work, and what their optimal performance levels help you master simple auto repair techniques. If you are aware of how your car functions, you will not have a hard time identifying where a strange sound is coming from and what part of your vehicle is affected.

By knowing the basics, you can perform simple troubleshooting procedures when your car breaks down, instead of sending it to a mechanic right away. You will not have to spend massive amounts of money just to hire a professional for a simple job you can do yourself, such as adjusting a few loose screws or cooling an overheating radiator.

As a beginner in auto repair, you must realize the importance of owning a basic service tool kit. This usually contains wrenches, screws and a jack. If your car stalls on the road, you will most likely need such tools to start it up again. Tools make auto repairs easier because they allow you to troubleshoot hard-to-reach areas.

If you want to learn more about auto repairs for beginners, you can try asking your favorite mechanic for some pointers. You can also try searching the World Wide Web for tips on auto repair. Through a search engine, you can access a wealth of information. Aside from research, you also have the option of signing up for short courses on auto repair.

Auto Repair provides detailed information on Auto Repair, Auto Glass Repair, Online Auto Repair, Auto Body Repair and more. Auto Repair is affiliated with Discount Auto Parts.

All long for spending their leisure time in more positive and fun way and summer camps is a fine option. The camp industry is growing as most people have learn the evident advantages of camps. When you search for camps, you may come to witness so many options, but youth summer program can be the better option.

Camps Based On Age Groups

Most camps are based on particular age groups and the learning programs are designed keeping in mind those particular groups. For instance, you belong to the child group, there are children’s summer camps that are best suited for children. Similarly, you are a grown kid, a youth camp can be the best alternative for you. So. all learning programs as well as activities are planned out keeping in mind this teen aged group. This is the phase when you are entering a maturity phase and this is the time when you need to have the training of your body and your intellect. You need to choose the alternative which offers learning programs catering the needs of teenagers.

Varieties of Summer Camps

There is a huge variety in summer camps the way they comprise of learning programs and other outdoor activities. Every camp has its own specialty and therefore, preferring a best suited one is quite important. When you surf the internet, you may confront with a number of alternatives. For instance, you are interested in science and technology, computer camps or an engineering camp would be the right alternative to go with. Suppose, you love outdoor activities and sports, sports camps can really be the best option for your interests. So, the options are just endless these days which call for your well-informed choice.

Youth Camp for Grown Up Kids

When you’re just going from innocence to maturity phase, you will need more attention regarding how to can increase your abilities of perception and can adopt to better learning. Well designed learning programs at a youth camp can add to your emotional, intellectual and physical potential to a greater extent. Youth or teenage is the period when you have increased abilities of learning more things. This is the period when you realize how to socialize and how to develop relationships. At the camp, you have learning programs which help you develop team spirit in you. You would be capable of learning more by way of interacting with other students. And therefore, you can estimate how it is of immense help to get enrolled in a youth camp.

Summer Camp Jobs for Youth

These days, the youth has become more independent than ever. You can choose summer camp jobs if you are responsible enough and love dealing with kids. Jobs as a camp trainer would be a fun and full of enthusiasm. Suppose, you are interested in outdoor activities, you would have great time with children. And, by joining a camp as a trainer, you would be able to develop yourself and at the end, you would earn your reward!

Summer Camp Locations

Whether you are preferring a camp to get enrolled in or you are willing to work with as a trainer, you may have to decide the location. Suppose you give your preference to iD Tech Camps, which is America’s number one camp option, there are camp locations such as Columbus Summer Camps or Midwest Summer Camps to choose from.

Would you like to spend this summer at iD Tech Camps which organizes summer learning activities and summer camp jobs for teens? You can visit InternalDrive.com to learn more about youth camp, engineering camp and best camp locations such as Columbus Summer Camps and Midwest Summer Camps.

Can we simply take the pain away from our children? I think that typically, we cannot but we can at least support our children in dealing with their pain. Pains of children can range from many different aspects. Pain from being teased at school, suffering from having their feelings hurt and the most horrendous pain are when wickedness comes to our children. As parents, in order to deal with our children’s pain, we must remember what it was like at their age and the mentalities of our children. I personally remember some heart breaks as a child and how I was totally clueless in dealing with those heart breaks. As a parent, I always try to ensure that my son does not have to deal with his grief alone, and I believe this is the most critical aspect of aiding our children in getting through atrocities.

I have found as a parent that speaking to children on “their” terms works tremendously. Speaking to a child aids them to know what you are trying to relay. Children need to experience comfort and safety with their parents. Children who have been abused or severely wronged begin to lose faith in people. It is the responsibility of parents to talk through the issues and atrocities which have occurred which will encourage children in not losing their faith altogether in people.

We can “speak” all we want to our children, and this is a powerful thing; however, it’s not enough. Children need to witness their parents actions in keeping them safe and secure. If incidents occur at school, our children need to see parents calling the school, speaking to their teachers. If someone harms our children, the children want to see parents taking active strides in keeping them safe as compared to only “talking” about it. If someone scares our children, parents need to be viewed taking preventive measures in preventing such things.

It is our duty as parents to safeguard our children from the weights and worries of this world. Children need positivity not negativity. Never speak ill of people who have wronged our children in front of our children. I’m not saying that we should say pleasant things about people who have wronged our children but speaking badly about people around our children adds to negativity. We should want our children to become effective thinkers. Displaying certain actions in dealing with abuse aids children in adapting to distressing situations.

Children are more intelligent than people think. Children will always know who protects them as well as who is TRULY there for them. This aids our children in forming lasting, trusting bonds when they feel protected and secure. Life is not always a bed of roses and sometimes, dysfunction can creep into not only our lives but the lives of our children. How parents handle these situations will affect the emotional reason of their children.

If you want emotionally healthy children, ensure you talk to them, listen to them, protect them. If you want emotionally damaged children, ignore them, ignore the situation and pretend that dysfunction has not occurred in your child’s life. Nurturing children entails taking time out of your active adult life and doing what needs to be done in the best interest of your children.

Anyone can say…”I would do whatever it takes for my child” but it takes a “parent” to execute this statement and put it into action. It is our duty as parents to protect our children. True love of a child is to set yourself in front of them while shielding them from pain and suffering. Parenting is not always happy times. Parenting sometimes consist of literally standing up and advocating for your child, even when no one else joins in your mission.

Love them. Protect them. Comfort them. Talk to them. They will love you back. They will run to you. They will talk to you. They will remember. They will do the same for their children. There is no more of a sacred trust than that which is held between parent and child. There is no greater responsibility than ensuring the rights of our children are respected. Our children’s success should be a priority. Children deserve to grow up without fear and want. It is our duty, and privilege to ensure this happens.

They come in all shapes and sizes. There are cars and then there are sports cars. Deciding which ones are the best sports cars is like figuring out the meaning of life, well not that deep, but just think about it. Not only is the definition of a sports car up for debate, but then once you have that definition you still have dozens of cars from several several countries spanning the globe to sort through.

To help sort out the mess, our goals are to break this question down to the root and at the same time have a lot of fun, such tactics as creating a list of top sports cars comes to mind or how about interactive reader polls? Among these top sports cars we can break them down by sub-category, region or even manufacturer, keeping in mind that some of the top sports cars are made by the same group of manufacturers as well as the individual manufacturers themselves, life is full of important decisions and sometimes figuring out your favorite involves several models of the same make!

Now it might sound like I am speaking in code or just avoiding the subject as I have yet to get into specifics, however the aim of this intro article is to get the juices flowing and remember that the aim will be to stay as agnostic as possible. This means no bias! Even towards which cars I personally view as the best sports cars, a view that has changed over time and will be discussed in subsequent articles including the very car that first piqued my interest in the subject, which is still near and dear to my heart, but no longer what I personally view as the best sports car.

For now it is our aim to start defining categories and first one that comes to mind is the exotics. No brainer here! As whatever standards you have for a sports car, you will most likely find an exotic in there. Not so clear cut is the gran turismo, the grand touring as it is known in the US or simply “GT”. This will be a fun category to dissect as well as the sport compact bunch which includes anything from the entry level compacts in sport trim to the road going competitive rally cars. In addition, a great debate will go towards the muscle car genre as well as their close relative and at times referred to as one in the same, the pony car breed. Still up for debate, but most certainly in the discussion is the roadster class, most cars of this genre fit most if not all of the criteria most will argue embody the true sports car. Basically, the list goes on and it will be our responsibility to break it down.

Finally without further ado, these articles will put some of this information to use, if you’re obsessed like I am, surely your desktop has a sports car wallpaper theme or even a revolving set to match your mood or the season. Additionally, to truly taste what life has to offer and without having the bankroll of a Silicon Valley startup or royalty, we will discuss ways that you can experience as many of the best sports cars as possible such as tips for finding used sports cars, where to rent top sports cars and even other avenues such as track day experiences where you can test a variety of the best sports cars in their natural habitat- the track.

So on that note, more to come soon, so buckle up and get ready for the ride of your life!

Best Sports Cars Blog [http://www.bestsportscarsblog.com]

About the BiOrb 8 Gallon Fish Tank

The BiOrb 8 gallon fish tank combines an updated traditional fish tank look with a hi-tech filtration system built into the aquarium. BiOrb has designed this fish bowl to incorporate more sophisticated aquarium features, including the advanced five=stage filtration system. The fish tank is constructed of Plexiglas acrylic and comes complete with a lighting system.

What Comes with your BiOrb 8 Gallon Tank

• biOrb 30 aquarium (8 gallon)
• 900g of ceramic media
• Standard freshwater filter cartridge
• Low-voltage Air Pump
• 12v Transformer
• Tap water conditioner and Beneficial Bacteria liquid
• Thermometer
• Printed documentation

BiOrb 8 Gallon Specifications

• Height: 16.5 inches (42 cm)
• Width: 15.7 inches (40 cm)
• Weight (empty): 12 pounds (1 kg)
• Weight (full): 68 pounds (31Kg)
• Volume: 8 Gallon (30L)
• 12v transformer
• Two connectors (light and airpump)
• 12 month guarantee
• Line voltage: 12V AC
• Frequency: 50Hz or 60Hz, single phase
• Maximum continuous power: 13W
• Complies with UL, ULC and CE safety requirements

Aquarium Setup Options

The BiOrb 8 gallon is perfect for a variety of tank setups. The tank’s flexibility is one of its main strengths for fish owners looking for an aquarium that can handle various setups. If you’re looking for a quick and easy aquarium setup, the BiOrb allows you to keep goldfish and other coldwater fish right away.

If you have tropical fish in mind that need warmer water, you’ll want to purchase a heater for your BiOrb 8 gallon tank. BiOrb makes a Heater Pack that will allow you to maintain a comfortable temperature for your tropical fish. Tropical fish that you might want to consider for your tank include mollies, barbs, tetras, guppies and swordtails. Temperatures between 72 °F to 78 °F (22 °C to 26 °C) will ensure that your tropical fish have the right water temperature to thrive in their new home.

The BiOrb 8 gallon can also be setup for salt water fish. With the addition of a Heater Pack and a Marine Conversion Kit, your tank will be ready to handle various types of small salt water fish and corals.

Aquarium Care & Maintenance

When looking at tank care and maintenance, the first place one should look is to the filtration system, if one is included with the aquarium. Reef One is consistently one of the best manufacturers for filtration systems. What this means to you is less maintenance due to enhanced water quality.

The BiOrb 8 gallon, as with many Reef One BiOrb tanks, includes an excellent filtration system. The filtration system features a unique five-stage system which combines biological, mechanical and chemical filtration ensuring that your fish tank’s water remains clean, clear and healthy between filter cartridge changes.

Along with the stylish looks, the filtration system design is done very well. The filter sits in the bottom of the tank and is barely visible, unless you really look. As the BiOrb 8 gallon is an orb, this keeps the 360° viewing angle remains unobstructed.

Aquarium Design & Appearance

While BiOrb manufactures quality tanks and filtration systems, the aquarium appearance is really where the 8 gallon differentiates itself from much of the competition. BiOrb and BiUbe tanks have become something of a fad amongst celebrities, and for good reason. The tank looks great, combining a traditional fish tank shape with modern design. While many fish tanks can be relatively boring in design, the BiOrb 8 gallon let’s you place it where you will, easily fitting in to a living room, kitchen or bedroom without sacrificing area interior design.

Aquarium Reviews

What’s good about the BiOrb 8 Gallon?

• Great looks, stylish design
• Complete aquarium kit features everything you need to prepare your tank for your fish
• BiOrb 8 Gallon instruction manual includes FAQs, how to and recommended fish
• Customization with different color hoods
• Biorb Plexiglas Acrylic is 10x stronger than glass
• The service kit filter system is easy to change and clean
• 8 gallon size is larger than some fish bowls while small enough to fit on most furniture
• Versatility of use with cold water, fresh water or salt water setup capabilities
• Filtration makes maintenance easier than many equivalent tanks
• BiOrb’s advanced five-stage filtration system allows for a healthy, clear environment for your fish

What’s not so good about the BiOrb 8 Gallon?

• You’ll pay a premium for quality and design
• Fish tank size limits number and size of fish
• Visible area of fish tank is smaller than a conventional rectangular tank due to curvature of orb shape
• Water will sometimes splash out the feeding hole on top of the tank

Fish Tank Review Summary

The BiOrb 8 Gallon tank is a great option for beginners to experienced fish owners alike. With its versatility, great filtration system, clean, attractive design and small footprint, the BiOrb 8 Gallon does a great job of balancing form with function. We highly recommend the BiOrb 8 Gallon tank.

For more recommendations, information and reviews of fish tanks and fish equipment, visit BiOrb Tank Reviews.

People show so much love for their pet that they go overboard in buying pet supplies. Not only does it cost you unnecessary expenses, your home with so much pet supply but you will fill clutter which most of it your pet will never even use.

So buy wisely and get only those pet supplies your pet really needs. Below given are some ideas. Water and Food bowls. Your pet will use these bowls for many years, so do not skip. Buy in stainless steel as they last longer and are very easy to clean. Plastic bowls may be cheap, but it is very difficult to clean as it becomes old and many times it looses it shine and color. Pet food does not react stainless bowls.

Grooming pet supplies: Grooming supplies are available at online stores. Used correctly and regularly, it can help to stay your beloved pet huggable and clean.

Traveling pet supplies: If you travel often together with your pet, you may need special supplies such as well-ventilated, hard-sided kennels & harnesses. Also you may need a bag to carry your pet’s meds and grooming supplies wherever you go. And if you are traveling by car, you can get an adjustable car seat for your pet.

Toys are good for your pets. Your cat or dog can enjoy even some simple available play toys like old socks. But if you can afford you can get your pet some fancy toys. It will keep your pet busy while you may attend to some important issues. And remember, active toys will let your pets exercise while they also have fun. But you must be careful to choose only those toys that are safe for them.

Today pet supply stores everywhere are getting better and better. They are becoming an important dependable source for all pet needs like pet medicines, pet accessories and pet food. Pet are allowed in pet stores. So take your pets inside the stores to make sure that whatever accessories you have bought fit them perfectly and look good on them and see if your pet likes your choice.

Pet spas: You may now get you pets cleaned and groomed right inside some pet supply stores. Some stores offer cat nail clipping or free dog shampoos also.

Online stores: Some Pet supply stores have online website presence from where you may purchase from the comforts of your home. Forget the traffic, heat / cold or even long checkout times. Just log on to the net, order, pay online by credit card and your pet supplies will be delivered to your home. One advantage of online shopping is that you can check out several websites to compare stuff and prices with just few clicks. Online prices are also very competitive and some even provide you with free shipping if you meet their minimum order requirements.

[http://www.petsupplies4ypc.com]

Owning a pet is a big responsibility. This is because apart from making sure that your pet is well fed, properly groomed, and properly trained, there are a number of special needs for your pet, so they will live a long and healthy life. One way to make sure your pet is healthy is to give them plenty of exercise. The good news is that there are quite a number of good sources of the pet supplies that you need to make sure that the pet are met. This means that you can easy gain access to the pet dishes, pet toys, pet beds, and pet food that you need. One example of such a source is a friendly pet store.

Pet stores are some of the best sources of pet supplies. This is because pet stores also ensure that people who buy pets from them also gain access to the supplies that they need to properly take care of their pets. As a result, a typical pet store can provide a pet owner with a wide selection of pet supplies, which include pet toys and pet food, which can help him take care of his pet. Moreover, most pet stores provide pet supplies for almost all types of pets, which make also makes them the more convenient option for people looking for pet supplies.

In addition to these, pet stores can also provide pet owners with the best tools that can help them take care of their pets. This is because the people who run pet stores have vast experience in taking care of pets, which include knowledge on which brands of pet supplies can give the best results. In relation to this, the personnel in pet stores are also trained to answer any questions that pet owners may have with regard to the pet supplies, which can be very helpful especially for first-time pet owners.

Given that pet owners need to make sure that their pets are provided with the supplies that they need to be able to live long and healthy lives, pet owners need to gain access to high quality pet supplies. Fortunately, there are quite a number of sources from which pet owners can get the pet supplies that they need. One of these include pet shops, which is considered an ideal source of pet supplies because of the high quality pet supplies and the helpful information on pet care that people can get from them.

Pets [http://www.Pets-source.com] provides detailed information on Pets, Pet Supply, Pet Services, Pet Health and more. Pets is affiliated with Pet Memorial Markers.

Cooking is one of my specialties. While in the US Army Reserves I learned about Cooking. Indoor, outdoor and cooking using a utensil over an open flame was fun and easy with cast iron cookware. I remember the outdoors and the smell of cooking, accompanied by the chorus of the squirrels, crickets and birds, during bivouacs.

The most ordinary form of cooking is campfire cooking. For families it is particularly well fitting, it is an activity which presents an opportunity for pleasant evenings and outings. It has its own taste and fancy. Skill and knowledge is required, but both are easily acquired. Cooking is a tradition in itself and some cooks have years of experience both on safaris and at home. It is one of my favorite things in life. It is great; however, most open flame cooking is done in campgrounds. Credit to improvements in camping cooking gear and a horde of easy-prep and in-store ingredients, it need not be limited to burgers, dogs and smokes. Another unique way of cooking is to cook some food items inside of other foods. Another unusual cooking, using a utensil over an open flame method, is cooking in paper. An unfussy and simple way of outdoor cooking is to set a large coffee can on the coals. The days of utilitarian campfire cooking of yesteryear are gone. Try out a few odd techniques the next time you’re out camping.

For the tools and tips, place in your favorite search engines: campfire grill, campfire ring, propane in the ground campfire with a cast iron pot, campfire grill, campfire tripod, campfire in a can , California campfire fireplace, little red campfire , cooking steamer, induction cooking, cooking tripod, cooking strainer, cooking smoker, cooking station, cooking table, cooking pot, cooking twine, cooking thermometer, cooking rings, bistro cooking, plank cooking. Search for some prime cooking on the web or books on tips and tricks for Dutch oven cooking. Buy books which are specifically written for the camper who wants to make this method of cooking easier, safer, revealing how to make outdoor cooking grilling and RVing easy and fun in camping. I learned years ago from a relative that most pans will do well.

If you’ve never done any open flame cooking or camp cooking before, one of the things to be aware of is that you’ll need to monitor food closely from start to finish because it can burn quickly. Placing a marshmallow or hot dog on the end of a good stick and holding the food at just the right distance from the heat. One of the disadvantages to this kind of cooking is that cookware gets much dirtier than it does when cooking with a stove. So most likely open flame cooking will require less clean-up. Although campfire cooking can take a little more time than simply firing up the stove, it is more rewarding. If on the other hand you’re in the mood to take your time and enjoy the experience, cooking using a utensil over an open flame can be relaxing in a way that a stove can’t begin to match.

Here are some items that you will need to have to be prepared : Camping Cookbooks containing all the unique and fun camping recipes to make open flame cooking enjoyable. A large barbecue grill or rack will let you enjoy the full flavor and aroma, using either wood or charcoal briquettes. On a Campfire a simple and easy way of cooking is to set a large coffee can on the coals.

This method of cooking is the most common form of outdoor cooking. There is definitely more to It than just scorching marshmallows and making smokes. Have an outdoor party. Guest or spectators may soon become participants as the host or hosts divide their guests into teams and turn them loose for an afternoon of supervised scorching Spurred on, in part, as they are getting hungry. It is gaining in popularity because it brings friends and family together at the same time.

Attend a cooking using a utensil over an open flame class. There are conducted nationwide tours or clinics held every year at different campgrounds across the country.

While some view cooking using a utensil over an open flame as a survival skill, most people do it for other reasons. this method of cooking is a way to bring groups together. It is a method in which to lure kids away from their video games or as a way for divorced dads to entertain kids on weekends, It is an ideal way for families to reconnect. Everything tastes better roasted over an open fire. Maybe that is why with kids It is so popular. When you are done with your kid’s , make sure the fire is totally out.

How about Breakfast Muffins, fried or poached eggs, Chopped Ham, Shredded cheese, Diced potatoes, for example. Try cooking in a black skillet or even a 12 hole muffin pan. Salt and pepper half of muffin tin placing 6 eggs in 6 holes with 6 muffin mix muffins in the remaining 6 holes. Campfire popcorn can be popped in foil: Popcorn Kernels and oil or butter with salt for seasoning. Tear off an 18 inch square of tin foil. The first lesson to be learned about campfire cooking is that you do not cook over an open flame all the time. Try to have all the latest and greatest campfire gear on hand. Purchase only cast iron products. Browse products of campfire gear to find those goods that will work the best for you. Dutch oven Campfire Cooking is almost an ancient form of making food but is very prevalent today.

Select the relaxed comfort of your living room fireplace; staring into the embers as your banquet cooks, or watching the flickering flames dance and play while toasting your choice dessert; is a great way to generate memories with your family.

Whether camping with the family, hunting with friends or merely achieving that wood-grilled flavor at home is easier than you might think. Dutch oven cooking is one of the best ways to make meals on camping trips. The secret of any open flame cooking is to try and maintain steadily glowing coals, but once you have your fire in this state, you can gage its approximate temperature by using your hand. The single most indispensable piece of gear for open flame cooking is the cast iron skillet. open flame cooking is something of a science, much like cooking on the stove at home. In the days of automatic coffee makers and microwave ovens, it is somewhat of a step back.

If a departure from this method of cooking is your desire, There are some area restaurants which offer a wide range; from fast food right up to Traditional campfire cooking.

Please leave your comments.

Roger Hardieway is a retired Engineer and Amateur Radio Operator

Southern Vermont is the home of the superb Mount Snow, closest major ski area in the northeast to nearby metropolitan areas. Winter sport fans from the New York metropolitan area and the mid-Atlantic area, drive north to escape for alpine skiing, with a variety of novice and intermediate cruising trails on the main face or Carinthia, or for more challenging expert skiing, try the North Face. Located Featuring 26 lifts and more than 135 trails, the top elevation at Mount Snow is 3600 feet, with a vertical drop of 1700 feet. There are 20 chair lifts and six surface lifts available.

The Mount Snow Ski Club is an active member of two competition communities, the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA). They promote recreational and competitive winter sports, hosting major ski races for over 40 years. Their recent achievements have been “Snowboard Junior World Champions,” “US Champion”, and the “2002 Olympic Gold”, in addition to the “Freestyle Skiing Junior National Mogul Champion” and the “National Upright-Combined Champion”. Their Alpine Training Center at Mount Snow offers training to all young children interested in on-snow training and competitive skills.

To add to the skiing activities, snowboarders are welcome at Mount Snow, with a “kids only” terrain park as well as a special tubing park. The Grand Summit Hotel and Crown Club sits right off the slopes, and guests enjoy a heated outdoor pool and ski in/ski out accommodations. Different winter ski vacation packages are available with many great deals designed to save the families money. Child care is available at Mount Snow, and the youngsters will be well cared for, learning to ski as well. Mount Snow is very family oriented. They have a unique ‘back-to-base’ trail system used, that keeps everyone in the family from getting lost. Kids under six can ski and ride for free. When an adult buys a 3 to 5 day ticket during mid-week, their child receives a free ticket for that same time period as well. During January, the “Kids Ski & Learn Free” weeks seem to be the most popular family deals. Both group and private lessons are available for both adults and children.

For those sore muscles and tired bodies after a day on the slopes, Mount Snow features a full service health spa that you should take full advantage of. A variety of massages are offered, as well as various skin treatments. Spa packages are also available, and the spa caters to couples as well, with wedding parties welcome. There is also a fully-equipped health club and fitness class offered.

The total packages of winter activities at Mount Snow includes snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing, cross country skiing, and sleigh rides. There is a ski shop on the premises and rental equipment is available for those who do not have any. There are several restaurants and bars on the mountain to choose from as well. Again, Mount Snow is family oriented. You will find that this is a very safe environment for your entire family, where you can relax and have fun. Be sure to ask about the family deals when you call for reservations or information. There is always something for everybody!

Check out http://www.winter-sportz.com/ for more articles on lake tahoe ski vacations and colorado ski vacations.

How does anyone get the best value with health insurance? Answer: Combine Health Insurance Plans. To explore the principles at work, many people should understand how combining health insurance is a sound solution to a serious problem. It may appear obvious that combining insurance improves coverage, but few people truly understand how combining plans leads to thousands of dollars in potential savings over time. With so many health insurance plans available and over 1 million insurance agents actively licensed today, it leads one to question why no one knows how combining plans saves money.

Today, too many people are learning the hard way that they are under-insured when it comes to health insurance. This happens because competitive health insurance agents bid lower and lower amounts in an inflated market, leading to more gaps in coverage that less experienced agents often fail to comprehend well enough to explain. There is a simple truth to understand about the rising costs of health care.

Health Care Costs Will Continue to Rise When No Regulation is in Place

Hospitalvictims.org conducted research on hospital charges nationwide. These charges were compared to those of Johns Hopkins Hospitals, one of the most respected health care institutions in the nation. What were the results?

The vast majority of hospital charges average between 300% and 400% above the institutions’ costs for treatment. Johns Hopkins Hospital’s average charges are 117% above its costs. For every $1 charged, Johns Hopkins pays $0.85, or earns a profit of $0.25 for every dollar charged.

The average U.S. hospital pays $0.27 for every dollar it charges. The average hospital is paying $25 Million in costs while charging $95 Million to patients. The average profit margin is around $70 Million annually. The greatest of these charges are credited to surgical supplies and the administration of anesthesia.

In an ever-inflating health care industry, a solution does exist. While politicians continue making promises to solve the health care crisis, individuals and families continue to expect more than the insurance market can bear. But many self-employed individuals and families can find comfort in knowing they can do something to secure assets by simply doing the legwork and becoming informed about health insurance.

The solution is based on a very simple principle of insurance. Insurance is an Agreement to Share the Financial Risk of Loss Between Individuals and Companies

This basic concept is more important for individuals to understand now than ever. Health insurance companies, like individuals, cannot afford the rising costs of health care on their own today. Many health insurance companies have developed their focus to specific areas where they can offer more competitive coverage at very affordable prices. This is where people can save significant amounts of money by adjusting to this trend. It is no longer the case that a single health plan can offer full, comprehensive coverage at a competitive price because health care costs are out of control.

Today it takes multiple health plans from multiple health insurance companies to have the best coverage at the lowest price. This follows the trends associated with investing in the economy. One creates greater risk for their financial performance in the market by investing all funds in one stock or trade. The safest, most secure investment is a diversified portfolio. Health insurance is no different today.

Why You Do Not Know

Is it surprising to learn that many insurance professionals have no idea how to give individuals and families the best coverage and the greatest savings on health insurance? The majority of health insurance agents today are captive to one company. This means that most insurance agents are only trained to present the products of the health insurance company they represent.

Independent agents are less restricted to one plan, but a large number of these professionals still have limited access to the competitive plans available to individuals and families. While this explanation is complicated, the simple answer is that most agencies earn the majority of their profits from the volume of product sales per company, not the volume of sales overall. Some general agency contracts offer higher incentives to the agency, which can influence what products agencies offer.

So, it comes down to the individual shopping for health insurance to find the policies that create the greatest coverage and savings.

A Well-Structured Health Insurance Portfolio is the Key to Having the Best Coverage for the Lowest Price

Combining health insurance plans is the best way to improve coverage save money on health insurance long term. Health Insurance Money Saving Strategies is a 10-week campaign to spread the word to self-employed individuals and their families looking for private health insurance. A well-structured Health Insurance Portfolio is the best way for people to protect their assets and be comfortable knowing their insurance adequately protects them from the worst medical situations. The benefit is knowing that this type of approach to health insurance saves people money.

Understanding the importance of combining health plans is essential to being a responsible business owner, and more free information is available at [http://www.edgeoninsurance.com] Find protection from the rising costs of health care that lead to financial ruin. Take action now and begin building that portfolio today.

Shaun Salem is a licensed insurance agent and contributing staff member to [http://www.edgeoninsurance.com] providing free information about health insurance for individuals, families, and the self-employed. Here you can learn about the different types of health insurance plans available, from major medical and HMO plans to surgical expense and supplemental health insurance.

Find out how to combine private health plans to improve coverage and save money every month on health insurance! Edgeoninsurance.com has the latest secrets and strategies for making private health insurance affordable!

Looking to buy a new car this year? You may have your heart set on a particular make or model and you might have explored the new and second hand car prices on the internet and have decided that you can afford to purchase the car of your dreams, but a question you have to ask yourself is can you afford to run it? 

Previously you may have asked yourself this question in passing and not really given it any real thought, but with the changes in Vehicle Excise Duty in 2009 and spiraling fuel and maintenance costs, coupled with the Credit Crunch and the through of recession for the next few years then running costs become much more important, therefore compromising and picking a car that you not only like, but will save you money in the long run is a sensible thing to do.  

What about the changes in Vehicle Excise Duty? Now cars are classed by how much Carbon Dioxide they emit, therefore more environmentally friendly cars will be charged less Vehicle Excise Duty than more polluting vehicles. At the time of writing the least polluting cars will be exempt from paying tax at all, where as the most polluting cars (class M) such as large, big engined 4×4 vehicles will have to pay £440 per year. Come 2010-11 then this cost increases further to £455 per year.  

If you’re looking to purchase a brand new car, then there will be another shock for your wallet and it has been dubbed the ‘showroom tax.’ If you’re looking to drive that Class M car out of the showroom, you’ll also have to face a bill for a one off ‘showroom tax’ payment of £950. 

To help you pick the right car in this current environmental and financial climate we’ve compiled a top ten list of cars and car related schemes to consider that could save you money. 

1. Buy a Small Family Hatchback. Small family hatchbacks are generally more economical to run and are usually big enough to meet most people’s needs. For example the VW Polo Bluemotion 1.4 Tdi is an economical runabout which falls into the Group A tax band. Not only do you not have to pay any tax on this vehicle, you can also avoid paying the showroom tax as this diesel car is so economical it is exempt. This car also boasts around 70mpg which makes it super cheap to run. 

2. Buy a Diesel. When it comes to economical cars, vehicles with diesel engines are first to spring to most people’s minds. Whilst historically this was typically true, with the cost of diesel at the pump increasingly outstripping the cost of petrol, buying a diesel may not be the best way to save money. For drivers who typically need to drive a lot of miles each year then a diesel will still be more cost effective than its petrol equivalent. However if you do not drive many miles then this may not be true. You’ll need to do the maths before you take the plunge in buying a diesel car. On the plus side, the miles to the gallon of a diesel vehicle is typically much higher than petrol cars, so you will at the very least be doing more for the environment. Diesel vehicles are also typically classed into a lower tax band saving money on Vehicle Excise Duty.  

3. Bi-Fuel Cars. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a method of running a car or van is becoming a popular way of running a vehicle more environmentally friendly and economically. Although you can buy a bi-fuel car from new many people pay to convert their current car to support LPG. The cost to convert a car is typically around £1500 and a real saving of around 30% on fuel costs can be made with each fill up at the pumps. Finding a petrol station that sells LPG may be one of the more difficult aspects of owning a LPG vehicle, with at least 10% of forecourts now stocking this alternate fuel type.  

4. Electric Cars. – For many years electric cars have been pitched as the salvation to spiralling fuel costs and saving the environment from car pollution. Unfortunately in reality the electric vehicle hasn’t really lived up to the hype, with slow vehicles and short battery life limiting range. There are a few vehicles on the market which may be suitable depending on your circumstances. If you live in the centre of a large capital city such as London then a vehicle like the G-Wiz may be the right vehicle for you. Owning a G-Wiz in London could make perfect sense as they are exempt from paying parking charges in Westminster, do not have to pay the Central London Congestion Charge and are free from both road tax and petrol costs. However there are some catches. The G-Wiz is a tiny vehicle and feels very cramped inside. The car has a top speed of 50-60 miles per hour, which may not be the end of the world in a city where traffic barely moves faster than a snail pace. Another limiting factor is that the range of the vehicle is just 70 miles and it takes a while to recharge the batteries, which is not quite as simple as filling up at a petrol station! A less extreme version of the G-Wiz is the Toyota Prius, a hybrid electric vehicle which predominately runs off petrol, but uses electric power at low speeds and recharges the batteries at faster speeds. The Prius can do around 65 mpg making it an extremely economical car to drive.   

5. Large Cars For the Family and Dog. If you’re single and want to save money on your car running costs or do your bit for the environment then you have a lot more options than families who need a larger vehicle to fit everyone in. Whilst smaller cars are more likely to be economical there are some larger vehicles out there which have been designed with both space and economy in mind. Take the Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 TDCI LX- a MPV which has been designed to give plenty of room inside. This is a five seat car which boasts a 1620 litre boot space and a top speed of 115mph. With fairly low emissions, helping to save money on Vehicle Excise Duty and decent economy with 58mpg this vehicle is a good bet for a family looking to save money.  

6. Sports Performance in a ‘Green Car’. Traditionally being green means that you also have to sacrifice something. However car manufacturers being aware of this have been trying to come up with a compromise- a car with good performance, yet can also give a decent MPG return. For example the Honda Accord 2.2 I-CTDI Sport is one of these cars with 52.3 MPG and a top speed of 129 miles per hour, a great combination of efficiency and performance that can meet all your expectations.  

7. Buy a Classic Car. If you’re scared that you’ll loose a lot of money on the value of your car then buying a classic car may be the best option for you. Try to avoid fashion trends such as the one for VW Beetles and Camper Vans which inflate the cost of these vehicles short term for them to only crash at a later date. Instead pick a car that pure enthusiasts hanker after, as most classic cars tend to hold their value, or indeed increase over time as long as they are looked after. Maintenance costs are likely to be much higher with a classic vehicle and they may not be the most economical on the market, but for pure return on investment if you pick the right vehicle then you will likely get your money back when you come to sell the car.  

8. Car Sharing Schemes. Those looking to save money on their everyday running costs of their cars could consider car sharing schemes. Basically car sharing schemes are set up for people to take turns when they drive, saving themselves money on fuel, plus gaining the benefit that they do not have to drive all the time! There are plenty of car sharing schemes out there, such as ones set up for parents doing the school run to a scheme for members of the Met Police Force in London. Explore the options in your local area and you may find that car sharing is a great way to save money. Perhaps if you want to get even more involved you could consider setting up your very own scheme.  

9. Time Share Cars. You’ve heard all about time share villas in the Costa del Sol, but you don’t necessary have to be scared of time share car schemes. These schemes can range from clubs where you get a share of a Ferrari or Bentley to drive at the weekend every so often, to pay-as-you-go car schemes where you can join a club, and simply book a run-around for as long as you want from an hour to a day. For those who tend to use public transport predominately and can’t really justify owning a car then a pay-as-you-go scheme may be the perfect way of having access to a car without having to pay expensive rental costs. Live in a city and fancy a country jaunt once a month? No problem, book a car online and pick it up, swipe your membership card on the dashboard and you’re away! Generally fuel costs (up to a point) are included and insurance is also taken car of.  

10. Car Finance Packages.  In the current economic climate taking out a car finance package makes perfect sense as you can split your payments over many months allowing you to fully budget for your vehicle. If you are considering buying a car in cash over a forecourt you may be concerned about the recession and redundancy. Having a nest egg in the bank can help provide comfort and piece of mind. Spending that nest egg in the current climate may not be the most sensible thing to do therefore buying a car on a car finance scheme can be the smart move. Also you will likely be able to afford a better car on finance than you might if you were to buy a car outright. The newer the car the more likely your maintenance costs will be reduced, again saving you money in the long run.

Julie is a freelance writer and loves to write on a wide variety of topics.

Yes, even you can cook up wonderful meals and impress your loved ones!

Ever thought that gourmet cooking is not for you, or that you do not cook well? Then it’s time to totally change your mindset from today…

Anyone and everyone can easily pick up cooking skills; younger or older, ladies and even the guys. It doesn’t matter what your skill level is today; you can do much better and make great dishes like the chefs at your favorite restaurants. And what’s more, the meals you cook will be done to perfection – your kind of perfection. And you know what the best part is? You already have the most important ingredient… you know what great food is!

Let’s show you the way… experimental cooking is putting YOU in charge – you’re the boss of the kitchen! You choose the ingredients you like and whip up meals to suit your specific tastes. Forget about strictly following recipes that are complicated… that requires you to buy special ingredients you will only use once then store till they expire… that calls for you to measure out precise amounts of each ingredient. All that is required is for you to have fun and experiment with blending ingredients that you like. Let your imagination rule… pick the items and create your masterpiece; from types of meats and vegetables, to how they are cooked, to what beautiful arrangement on your dinner plate. experimental cooking is also about you and the people you are preparing a meal for. You know that each person has their unique preferences, so experimental cooking is about helping you fulfill those preferences. Sounds complicated, you may think? But actually, it is rather simple; especially after you develop the basics that will forever change your mindset on cooking and open up a whole new dimension of creativity you never knew you already had within yourself.

Now let us share with you the little secrets of experimental cooking… the A, B, Cs if you will…

A. INGREDIENTS – The first key is for you to build on your knowledge of ingredients, as they are the basic building blocks for a good meal. You already know of many ingredients, now go and take a closer look; experience each ingredient individually and experiment with it. Everything edible can be an ingredient in your creation, so you need to know and understand each ingredient; from how it looks and tastes, to its texture, to how it behaves when cooked in different ways, to which other ingredients it is compatible with, to what happens if you add more or less of it to your food, etc. Since individuals experience things differently, you are your own expert; find out what you like and what you can do without. As you have your meals each day, take the opportunity to study the ingredients. Involve your family & friends and make it fun as you experience & experiment. At restaurants, and when you travel, question the chefs if you have a chance and gain perspectives into new ingredients you come across. For the computer savvy, you can also surf the web and quickly gain insight; there is tons of information online. Try typing the ingredient you’re interested in on your favorite search engine and discover a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. As you get to know about more ingredients and become more aware of the characteristics of each ingredient, you will be able to expertly combine them to expand the number of new dishes in your cooking repertoire. There are endless combinations, so keep experimenting; you will discover many winners to surprise your guests. Have fun building up your own database of ingredients.

B. QUALITY – When you begin with great quality ingredients, you are certain to produce top quality meals; if you start with poor quality ingredients, it won’t come as a surprise that the results will naturally be disappointing. Quality can easily be determined when you use all your senses… Use your sense of Sight to look carefully at the ingredients. Check the color to see if it is bright or dull, consistent or has blemishes. Is the shape evenly symmetrical or distorted. Look also at the texture of the items. Your sense of Sight is the first sense that you will usually use when checking anything; and it is a powerful tool in determining the Quality of any ingredient. Practice and see if you can tell what the Quality of an item is, just by looking at it. You will quickly be able to use your Sight to initially screen ingredients to determine if they are worth a closer inspection or to move on. Use your sense of Hearing to listen to the tone when gently tapping or shaking an item. Does it sound hollow or solid, is there a rattling sound? Hearing is not frequently used, but can be helpful in a closer inspection of certain fruits, nuts and vegetables. Use your sense of Smell to sniff out fragrant fruits and the aroma of fresh herbs. You can also detect items to avoid when they emit off smelling odors. Train up your nose and your sense of Smell will come in handy when you search for Quality foods. If you have the opportunity, sample the items before making your decision. Besides checking that the Taste is what it should be, also observe the texture or feel it has in your mouth, when you chew on it, and when it slides down your throat. This is also your chance to confirm that you really like the Taste of the ingredient before buying. Your sense of Taste will be your most important tool when it comes to blending ingredients. With a well developed sense of Taste, you will be able to determine what ingredients, and in what quantities, will go well together. Finally is your sense of Touch. Go ahead, pick up and handle the ingredients you are inspecting. How does it feel in your hands? Is it heavy or light, hard or soft, firm or supple, smooth or rough, dry or moist? You can tell a good deal about the Quality of an ingredient by how it feels; you just need a little practice to fine tune and “get the feel” of things. Practice using all your senses to fully examine ingredients and learn how to pick Top Quality items for your specific needs. It is now time for you to exercise your senses whenever you go shopping for food. Have a good time tuning up your skills in search of Quality at the markets and stores.

C. DESIGNING – Now comes the fun part of Designing your meals. The first consideration is who you are cooking for and what are their likes and dislikes. Do take some time to ask your family, friends, or guests about their eating preferences, especially if they require special diets for health reasons, or are allergic to certain foods. From this mini survey, you can plan a meal that will delight everyone.

You can now begin to narrow down your choices; consider if you want to do appetizers and/or soup, what are the best choice for your main courses, and if you wish to make desert? Design a simple meal or an elaborate feast: it’s all up to you. Use your knowledge of ingredients to decide on what blend of ingredients will achieve the unique flavors you want. Also consider how the ingredients will look together, and how you can make your dishes visually appealing. At the beginning, you may feel more comfortable sticking to traditional flavors and cooking tried and tested recipes. But as you gain confidence after experimenting with traditional foods by altering their taste to suit your preferences better, then its time to be bold and creative; try to design something totally new once in a while. It is also fairly easy for you to design meals to take into account differing preferences among your guests; simply separate your ingredients and add or withhold them into individual portions of your dishes. In the Design phase, you may wish to consider the cooking style as well, since the way food is cooked will make a difference in the outcome in terms of taste and texture.

D. COOKING STYLES – Mastering many Cooking Styles is another way to increase the diversity of your meals. Brush up on your cooking skills by not only practicing the various Styles of Cooking, but also by paying close attention to the details of the cooking process, what each Cooking Style does to your food and the resulting appearance, taste & texture. experiment with variations to the standard method (different temperature, time, sequence, combinations, etc.) and observe the results. Learn new Styles as you come across them, and also try your hand at inventing new ways to cook. There are many methods of cooking your food; some more conventional like Baking, Barbecuing, Braising, Roasting, Stewing and Steaming. Some are more exotic like cooking meat on a slab of hot stone. So do try out the various cooking styles on your favorite foods and discover which are to your liking. Also experiment with combinations; for example you can first steam a lobster, then cut it open and put some cheese in before grilling for a short while to melt and brown the cheese sauce. Think of new ways to cook, after all its just applying heat to food. You can also broaden your knowledge and skills by observing how people of various lands cook their meals in special ways when you travel.

E. PRESENTATION – The final element is how you serve up the feast that you have prepared. Food Presentation is the art of making your meals visually appealing. Since the objective is to serve up something that will look good, experiment with what you think will look nice when assembled together. If you want to keep it simple, just focus on the dish and what is to be put on it. If you want to pull out all the stops, then go with a theme of your choice and dress up everything, including the dining room. Let’s run through some ideas to move you along… On the simple end of the scale, all you need to do is select a suitable bowl or plate and arrange your food on it, then add something to garnish. The easiest is to place all your food onto serving plates for your guest to help themselves. Select large enough bowls and plates, matching if desired, that can hold the amount of food you have prepared. You can fill a serving bowl with soup and sprinkle some chopped spring onions on top to garnish. Fish can be served on an oval plate, or one of those fish shaped dishes, and you can arrange some lettuce and round slices of lemon to decorate. For prawns, try arranging them in a circle on a round plate, and put sauce for dipping right in the center. You can be more creative when you do individual servings. For the main course, you can simply lay out the meat, potatoes and vegetables on different sectors of the plate in a traditional manner; just remember to include ingredients with nice colors and arrange them in your chosen pattern. Try using carrots or tomatoes to add bright orange or red to your dish. Use corn, pasta or potatoes for a dose of yellow. How about tri-color pasta to really mix up the colors? Appetizers and deserts are my favorites as you can really let your imagination go… and come up with really delightful creations. Try using a Burgundy wine glass for your shrimp cocktail, then plant a stick of celery with the leafy end up on one side and garnish the lip of the glass with a circular slice of lemon for a lovely presentation of this favorite appetizer. Now go forth and create visual masterpieces to serve your guests; they will surely be astonished at your work of art. If you need more ideas, you can always look at how the chefs at your local restaurants present their dishes, or you can flip through food magazines, or surf the internet for tons of ideas to get you on your way.

Now that you know the Secrets to experimental cooking, all you need to do is to start cooking; after all, as the saying goes… “Practice Makes Perfect”.

The author is a self taught Xperimental Chef. To learn more, please visit http://thexchef.blogspot.com/

This article may be distributed provided no alterations are made and this bio and copyright clause is attached.

© 2006-2011 The Xperimental Chef http://thexchef.blogspot.com/