Are You Staying on Top of Search Engine Marketing News Like Apple Maps?

This is no rumor. Apple plans to remove Google's integration into its mapping platform on iPhones, iPads and even iPods. In June, Apple provided iOS 6 developers with its new mapping product, which is planned to be release in Fall 2012. The release of Apple Maps makes a dramatic impact on local search engine marketing. Smartphones make up a large part of the cell phone market and iPhones are a large part of that smartphone market. This means people searching locally on the iPhone will now have a different set of results than currently, swaying the market of local search a bit.

Although speculating on the change could be fun, it is important to focus on the facts that have been released. Apple Maps is said to use Yelp when providing local data that includes businesses, ratings, reviews and media. However, it has been said that Localeze will be a source of data aggregation.

What Does This Mean for SEM?

Locally this will have a large impact on where local search is being done. Currently Google controls the local market with so many avenues to search on. With the upcoming changes to Apple phones, this could be a large shift in the market. While most local online marketing companies focus solely on Google it is important to plan for any shift in the local search market. Small businesses that have focused their energy on reviews around the web but neglected Yelp may find themselves being overlooked.

Search engine marketing news like this is important to follow when advertising locally on Google, Bing and other search engines. However, it could be more important to prepare for any upcoming changes by diversifying your efforts. Local online marketing companies that provide customers with a complete web presence, such as Local SEO Sites, will continue to thrive on new platforms.

Local search has changed rapidly over the past few years. With this new upcoming change to Apple iPhones, we can see it will continue to break new ground. It will continue to evolve and adapt to what searchers want and need locally. With changes to mapping offered by Apple Maps, we could see a change in how searchers react to data that is associated with their search. Things like better traffic information and multiple routes to choose from may result in a new destination decision for local searchers. This could mean a huge change to how local search is used in the future.

By keeping current with data aggregation changes, new platforms and apps, and focusing on the web as a whole, companies can avoid a decrease in local traffic during the upcoming changes. The days of simply throwing up a website with a few local business directory submissions have become long gone. Currently local search relies on completing a web presence to be found in every place possible. The future relies on tailoring your small business web presence for searchers with real time data and reviews.

There Is Life After Divorce

A married woman becomes a single woman for one of two reasons: death or divorce. The former is an honourable state, the latter is not.

When a woman loses her husband to death the neighbours all rally round and provide meals and any help they can give with regard to household repairs or cleaning or anything that is needed. They are willing to provide comfort and a shoulder to cry on. They are available for the widow and they include her in their activities, feeling sorry for her that she is now so alone.

However, things are quite different when a marriage ends due to infidelity or marital breakdown. That immediately plunges a woman into a new category. She is transformed, instantaneously it seems,from a married woman to a divorcee. Becoming one of many, part of a group of used and discarded women, seen as suspect by all those who are still safely ensconced in the womb of their marriage.

People tend to withdraw from her. Invitations to get togethers cease. It appears that women think their husbands might be attracted to the idea of an "available woman" and so the women who used to be friends withdraw and leave her alone with her tears and her fears. There are no meals prepared and no offers of help. Husbands are kept at home just in case, for such is the image portrayed of a divorcee. The husbands might not be safe. She might cause the destruction of other marriages.

We read jokes all the time about the lonely divorcee who invites the mailman, the milkman, or the Maytag repairman into her home with the intent of seducing him. (A joke made up, I am sure, by a man who has never known the humiliation and pain of being a divorcee.) Perhaps she even seduces them one right after the other, for such is the life of the "gay divorcee", isn't it? Freed from the bonds of marriage, with unmet needs and desires, divorcees are wanting to fill the void; or at least that is the popular image. And so in place of invitations to parties or neighbourhood barbeques which were formerly were issued to the couple and their family, there is an empty mailbox, and the phone stays quiet. She checks it every now and then to make sure it is still working.

The divorcee begins to feel as though she no longer exists; as if, because she is no longer half of a relationship, she ceases to be a part of the neighbourhood. Women who used to call her friend no longer call. Her children are not invited to play with the neighbours' children. Perhaps the women feel they would be contaminated by the disease of divorce, as if it were a virus that could be caught, or maybe they just don't know how to talk to a newly divorced woman. A divorced man, on the other hand, is often seen as more eligible and is a welcome addition to many parties. His social life may increase, and because he usually does not have the children, his disposable income is often enough to keep him comfortably.

However, life goes on. The bills still have to be paid, the kids still have to be fed and they have to be clothed. Family chores that were done by two are now done by one. If the children are old enough, they can chip in and help with the household duties such as dishes and meal preparation and housecleaning. Because of the reduction in income, the divorcee is often forced to seek employment and then she has two jobs; one inside and one outside the home.

Sometimes the inside life doesn't change much. For those who had husbands who simply went to work and came home at night expecting to be waited on, their workload is reduced by one person, so this can be a blessing. But the availability of a backup when she is really tired and the kids are really obnoxious is a problem. She has to deal with all the problems, tired or not.

Because she has been ostracized by her neighbours she seeks out other divorcees for companionship, often building relationships and forming deep bonds that last for years as they share the day to day problems and achievements. They get together with their kids and pool their resources for family dinners. They support each other in job searches, in the handling of problems, in the fights with their exes. They listen to each other and care for each other's children.

Sometimes, because of the great reduction in income, divorcees are forced to apply for an allowance from the provincial government. This is known as welfare or Mother's Allowance. There they are told that they have no right to have a phone or a car, or any of the things they consider necessities but the government considers luxuries, such as a heating bill over the allotted amount. Widows, on the other hand, usually receive a pension from their husband's estate which they can spend however they want, with no rules. The divorcees are told to sell the car and get rid of the phone, even if they are out in the country. If they have a house, they might have to give it up and move the children to a new area. Sometimes, in order to survive, they may use credit cards to buy the things they feel they need for their kids for school and other activities. They may not be able to send their kids on school trips or buy the clothes that the kids need to fit in and so their kids may be ridiculed because of the way they dress. When the kids come home crying, they often feel guilty and wonder if they couldn't have worked things out better with their ex-husbands. They cry but try to hide the tears from their children, not wanting to upset them.

When the divorcee ventures into the realms of the full-time employee instead of part-time, she must find a babysitter for her kids, arrange everyone's schedule and settle into her new lifestyle. She tries to find a boss who is willing to let her attend the various special events at her children's school and cries silently to herself when she is unable to attend a day graduation due to work, or when she is unable to see her children receive sports awards, but she knows that she is doing the best she can. She attends what she can in the evenings and on weekends and hopes it is enough.

As the divorcee settles into life on her own, she may begin to find advantages such as being able to go where she wants, when she wants and with whom she wants. She has only to consider herself, and her kids, if she has any. Eventually the heartaches will ease a little and the divorcee will reach out to others a little more, perhaps even being willing to take the risk of dating another man.

Her circumstances may not have changed a lot. She still struggles to pay bills, to provide for her kids, yet she finds her life is full. Not the rumoured life of the gay divorcee, replete with men or with parties and wild living, but one of love for her kids, and perhaps of studying for a degree while working in a fulfilling career where helping others. She has weathered the storms of life and feels that she has come out on top. Her children move on to their own homes and to employment. Perhaps her eldest has his dream job, that of webmaster and service technician. Another may become the youngest Inventory Control Manager and the only female one in Eastern Ontario for a large soft drink company. Another, with a child of her own, may work part-time and plan to return to school to take an Esthetics course. Her children could be very involved in hockey, perhaps playing at the AA level or Junior A level which requires a lot of travelling and sacrifice of personal time. But to her it is all worth it to watch her child score the winning goal and to see the smile on his face as he turns from the net. Her heart swells with pride as his teammates congratulate him and the parents lean over to say how well he played.

Yes, life continues after divorce, the pain and heartache suffered in the beginning eventually fade somewhat and the divorcee finds the strength to survive and, more than that, to move on to whatever the future has in store.

3-D Printing Will Need Completely New Laws to Protect Intellectual Property

The future is rapidly approaching and 3-D printing is about to change everything. We are already printing books on demand and those are copyrighted, but what happens when we start converting 2-D to 3-D and go off on our merry-way printing up a storm? Okay so, let's talk shall we?

Copyright Law normally has to do with 2-D work, or in the case of a 3-D sculpture a component within has to be severable to be to by copyrighted, but if a 3-D printed object is all one piece, part of something larger, integrated into the whole in a holistic way, will it still be copyrightable as a picture, image, or work of art?

Perhaps not, but it should right? Otherwise people can steal other people's work and integrate components into a 3-D printed transmission. Luckily, anything transmitted or re-broadcast does have case law protecting it if it goes by cable, radio, or satellite - but what if it goes by light-wave, that too is the future, no case law on the books for that yet.

A 3-D rendering of a 2-D image, picture, or device does apply to copyright law so if JK Rawlins has a picture of a character in Harry Potter, her company can create 3-D dolls and those are copyrighted, no one else is allowed to make those without permission, there is ample case law for this for instance Walt Disney's lawsuits against those making Disney character dolls as bootlegged pirated products. Still. The law gets fuzzy with regards to such things as artist renderings, architectural drawings, or building blueprinted plans.

Now then, this gets us into a rather challenging issue with regards to copyright law protection for 3-D printing. For instance, someone can take a picture, use special software on a CADCAM to design a 3-D version, figure out the dimensions, and then turn on the prototype making laser, water, or machine cutter and make it, likewise they could send that newly created file to someone else or to their own 3-D printer. It might be possible for a new technology time-stamping and giving credit to the designer, meaning they automatically can get a royalty trickle payment, perhaps that is the answer here.

If someone takes several objects and incorporates them into a 3-D printed work perhaps each layer of new changes or embedded images would be listed in this case, so everyone can get paid. However, this also gets into gray area with these new iPhone apps where you can take multiple pictures from different angles creating a 3-D image, which you'd then be able to stick into a software program and then send to a 3-D printer - who owns the object?

If you take a picture of something that has a patent, and then you make a copy, you've violated the patent, and it doesn't matter what method you used to re-produce it, but if you take a 2-D object with a copyright and convert it to 3-D now we get into wickedly problematic case law, where some would be covered and some not. What I am saying here, is we have a problem coming forth in 3-D copyright, patent, and even trademark law you see? If you'd like to discuss this with me at a higher level please shoot me an email.

Cite and Reference:

"How to Handle Basic Copyright and Trademark Problems," by Richard Dannay, Practicing Law Institute Audio Cassette version, New York, 1990.

Should I Buy Mounted or Unmounted Rubber Stamps?

Most brick and mortar retail stores carry "mounted" rubber stamps. These usually come with the foam pad and the pink rubber stamp adhered to a piece of oak called a block. They will have the stamped image on the outside of the block for easy recognition. This type of rubber stamp is the most convenient and hassle free way to buy rubber stamps.

These types of rubber stamps are more expensive and when you accumulate a lot of them, they become very hard to store unless you are lucky enough to have a room dedicated to them. Online stores and shops will also offer "unmounted"stamps as well as "mounted." When you purchase these types of stamps, you will only receive the pink rubber stamp that is not trimmed, put on a cushion, or have a block. You will have to purchase some kind of mounting system. You will need special scissors to cut the stamps out and trim them, and then you need acrylic blocks and a storage system.

It sounds like so much extra work, time, and money right? There is a big advantage to buying theses "unmounted" stamps. Once you have initially bought the above tools, you will only need to buy foam cushion and cling pages for storage. The best thing about them is that they are about half the price of the "mounted"ones.

Another great advantage is it takes just a little space to store them in. I bought a 5" binder and bought cling sheets. The stamps stick to the cling sheets and you can make a stamped reference on the opposite side so you can identify them quickly. As your inventory increases, you add more binders, and cling pages. Soon you will have enough stamps to put into categories or different colored binders.

I have well over one thousand stamps and I can't imagine them all mounted to blocks of wood that have to be stored somewhere. If you shop around and do your home work, you can find the items you need to mount your stamps with on sale at different times of the year. Buy binders during back to school sales, sign up for sale notifications at you favorite online store, and don't be afraid to shop the bargain bins.

I know I have given you a lot of information based on my experience and now it is up to you to decide how to buy your rubber stamps. There is no right way or wrong way, it depends entirely on your needs, your time, and your finances. To those who stamp to make a few cards or scrapbook pages, you may want to buy only "mounted" stamps that you can store in shoe boxes. Those of us who do stamping on a regular basis may choose to invest in "unmounted" rubber stamps and all the accessories. It doesn't matter whether you choose "mounted" or "unmounted" rubber stamps as long as they perform adequately for your stamping project with minimal stress and frustration.

How to Get Your HVAC Certification and HVAC Licensing

An HVAC technician can enjoy a variety of benefits including job stability and a hands-on career field. As you complete your HVAC training, make sure to get the right certification and licensing to start you out on a good path to success.

Just follow these 4 simple steps:

Complete an HVAC training program. Take your HVAC certification or licensing or exams. Apply for an HVAC apprenticeship. Apply for entry level HVAC technician jobs.

1. Complete an HVAC training program.

Enroll in an HVAC training program at a local HVAC training school. You can usually complete these programs in less than 2 years. Some colleges may even award you with an associate degree in the process.

2. Take your HVAC certification or licensing exams.

Licensing in Colorado

Some states will require heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers to be licensed, others will not. Colorado happens to be one of the states that allow licensing for HVAC technicians to be handled at the county level. Each county may or may not require licensing through their respective building departments. However, it is a good idea to look into it if it's available, for the purpose of doing work that requires permits.

For details on how to get your Heating Mechanic IV license in El Paso County, for example, visit the Contractor Licensing & Registration page at the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (Pikes Peak RBD) website.

HVAC Certification

If you choose to work in refrigeration you will need to be certified in EPA 608, as required by federal law. For this you must pass a written exam specific to the types of equipment and refrigerants you will be handling. Most quality HVAC training programs include federal EPA 608 training and certification preparation.

Being certified in the HVAC field can allow for higher paying jobs. In the HVAC Excellence program there are several certification exams to choose from for students just starting out. Professional level certifications are also available and require employment verifications and core testing to advance your career. Check them out!

15 Employment Ready HVAC Certifications

Electrical - Suggested prerequisite for all other certifications in the HVAC Excellence program Light Commercial Air Conditioning Air Conditioning Basic Refrigeration and Charging Procedures Electric Heat Gas Heat Certification Oil Heat Residential and Light Commercial Hydronic Heat Heat Pump Carbon Monoxide System Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Procedures Fuel Oil Combustion Natural Gas Combustion Analysis Carbon Monoxide and Combustion Analysis Light Commercial Refrigeration

Take advantage of what's out there, like specialized HVAC training schools, hands-on training, and a multitude of certifications. Now that you know what you have to do and where to get it done, you can be on your way to a new career as an HVAC Technician.

3. Apply for an HVAC apprenticeship.

After completing your HVAC training, you may choose an apprenticeship as your next step. Simply apply to or enroll in an apprenticeship program with an experienced HVAC organization in your area. Learn everything they have to offer and put it to practice. Your apprenticeship may last anywhere from 6 to 36 months.

4. Apply for entry level HVAC Technician jobs.

You can also enter the HVAC field directly after completing a training program and receiving your degree and/or certifications. Many HVAC contractors and employers often hire entry level HVAC technicians to "train in" to their organizations.

Many HVAC programs offer career placement assistance for graduates. Contact your local HVAC training school today and you can be on your way to a rewarding career in HVAC with a good transcript and a healthy resume.

Sources

Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Contractors Licensing and Registration, pprbd.org/contfiles/ContLicensing.aspx HVAC Excellence, Technician Certification, hvacexcellence.org/EmploymentReady.aspx United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-11 Edition, bls.gov/oco/ocos192.htm

10 Secrets to a Healthy Computer and a Happier You

There comes a time in a person's life where no matter how much you fight it time takes its toll and we begin to slow down in how we perform our daily activities. However, in order to extend our youthful glow and energy levels it is important to eat right, exercise, and keep a positive outlook on life.

Now you may ask what has any of that got to do with "Secrets To A Healthy Computer?"

Well, in a way we're all just like a computer. If you neglect to take care of yourself you soon will cease to function properly and the many tasks that once were easy to do now take twice as long to accomplish and often require you to rest or "reboot" after a malfunction.

I can't tell you what foods to eat or what exercises to perform because I am not a nutritionist. Although, with my experiences in the personal computer field I can share with you some tips of how to keep that rectangle box of circuitry that sits within sights range functioning at maximum performance as long as time will allow.

Some important steps to follow are....

Make certain that your computer is located in a well ventilated area and that all air vents are unobstructed to prevent overheating and premature failure to any internal components.

Clean out the dust build-up at least every 6 months from the inside of the computer case including case vents, power supply vents, and all visible circuitry with a few cans of compressed air that can be purchased from any major computer store or electronics outlet. This will help reduce the chances of overheating and circuitry damage.

Before cleaning just be certain to always unplug the computer from the wall outlet and never physically contact the circuitry inside the computer case to prevent damage.

Be prepared for an unsuspected failure by always making backups of any important data that you do not and can not afford to lose.

I personally keep updated backups of my website and even store the disks at a remote location away from my every day use computers just in case a disaster were to occur and my main computers were destroyed resulting in the need for those lost files.

Purchase and install a well known anti-virus program that can be regularly updated with the latest virus definitions and ran during boot-up to help protect your computer from being the victim of an unwanted infestation.

Every few months or so run your computer's "Scandisk" program followed by the "Defragmenter" program to maximize the efficiency of your hard drive.

If you are not certain of how to use these utilities and being that the steps to execute these programs varies slightly from one operating system to the other it would be easiest to simply use the "Help" option that can be found by clicking on the START button found on your computers desktop.

The START menu will open up a drop-down-box that should display the "Help" option. By going here you can enter the keywords that deal with the answers to the subject you are searching for.

Run your computers "Disk Cleanup" utility every other week or so. If set the "Disk Cleanup" utility will automatically empty the recycling bin and recover some wasted disk space by removing the internet temporary files that seem to always accumulate.

Again, use the "Help" option if you are uncertain of how to perform this task.

Never smoke near a computer because the cooling fans will pull the smoke into the case where it can coat the inside parts of the computer with a residue which in turn can damage sensitive components.

Place the computer case in an area where it will not be accidentally kicked or bumped to prevent the loosening of cables and damage to internal parts.

Invest in a high quality surge protector to provide your computer and monitor against voltage spikes or "surges" that can dramatically shorten the life of your system. Just like most items in a store, "You get what you pay for". So don't skimp out on this important device!

Its also not a bad idea to invest in a surge protector that includes what is called a "Data Line Protector" which allows you to connect your telephone lines to and serves the same purpose for the telephone line to your modem just like the surge protector does for the electrical household current lines.

Finally, if you plan on being away from home for more that a few days at a time or if there is a thunderstorm brewing in your area it is a very wise decision to always unplug all electrical lines and modem telephone lines from your system. Even with a surge protector installed it is possible that such a large voltage spike such as one caused by a lightening strike could prove fatal to any computer system.

If you follow these simple steps the outcome is a healthy computer that will stay by your side and treat you well which also results in a happier you.

Camping With Man's Best Friend

Man's Best Friend

Man's best friend your dog, and you, can go camping and have lots of fun.

Look at it as a walk that doesn't end, during which he gets to spend all his time with you.

For us campers, it can give us another means of security and another way of bonding.

Things You Need To Do

For those of you who are wanting to get involved in this great adventure with their pet, there are some things you need to do to make this as fun as possible for both of you.

Bring Him Along Slow

First time camping pooches should be shown the wonders of nature slowly.

City or urban dogs need to be brought along slow because of their tender pads on their paws, and they need to get used to all open spaces and wonders of nature.

Start with taking them on some day trips to state, county and conservation Parks

The Great Outdoors

The wide open spaces will help your dog get used to unpopulated areas.

He wll also find new odours and sights in this stress free environment.

Going on nature and hiking trails will also help your dog gain muscle strength and fitness before you go camping.

Being A Responsible Dog Owner

As we enjoy the companionship of our dogs, they become a member of our families.

Going with us on family outings, walks, trips around town, just about everywhere we go they tag along with us.

Thats fine because we care about them so much.

Its not always the same with camp owners who feel dogs are not man's best friend in their camping area.

They have good reason to be.

A lot of dog owners are not very good in keeping their pets leashed or cleaning up after them.

They also don't abide by the camp rules the way they should, but many irresponsible dog owners feel the rules don't apply to them and their dogs.

Of course because of these pet owners , we all suffer, thus there are now many campgrounds not allowing dogs.

Check ahead to see if the campground you' re going to allows dogs, and if so, are they allowed on the trails, or have special trails set aside for dogs.

Also some campgrounds charge two dollars a night for dogs as well.

Taking Care Of Your Dog

As loving, caring, pet owners, we need to find a way to take care of our dogs while we go out on the trails with our other family members.

We could take turns dog sitting with family, friends, other campers with dogs.

One thing we need to do is make sure we are good responsible pet owners. Check ahead before you go camping with man's best friend.

Here Are Some Pre-Camping Tips

Try to take your dog for a pre-camping visit for possible needed shots, and a Rabies shot tag for his collar.

Look at a possible Lyme disease vaccine.

Take with you a current copy of his records and his vet's phone number.

Pick up a proper dog license & ID tags for your dog with their name, your name, etc.

Microchips, tattoos and pet registries can be used.

Bring medications and a copy of prescriptions.

Try to get a site with some shade for your dog.

Supervise your dog closely around children, other visitors and other dogs.

Keep your dog quiet. Frequent and continued barking disturbs the wildlife and other campers.

Let your dog have time to adjust to his new surroundings. Give him time to rest.

Try to use ziplock bags to pick up after him and properly dispose of it in appropriate trash containers.

Keep an eye on how weather conditions effect your dog, heat, cold, rain etc.

Consider use of a crate for travel and short term restraint, while you are near. Your pet could be stolen if not watched carefully.

You should be aware that your dog will have increased exposure to ticks and fleas.

Take the proper tick/flea collars, repellants or use Frontline applications.

Other diseases can also be transmitted by wild animals and insects.

Travel Insurance and Important Government Advice

Tech-savvy travellers have no excuse for failing to research their holiday destination before booking a trip, after all there is plenty of advice available online. It is also easy to purchase travel insurance online. Okay, you say, but a holiday is about relaxing and having fun, not thinking about what might go wrong...

Travel insurance is important but it may not cover everything - especially if you get yourself into trouble with the law, or break your leg while doing something crazy like jumping into the pool from your hotel balcony!

If you think it is unnecessary to research your destination, have a look at the following examples:

In Barcelona it is against the law to go out in the street dressed in only swimming trunks or a bikini In Greece you could be fined and/or arrested for indecent behaviour, which includes 'mooning' in public or wearing clothing considered offensive Ignorance about something as basic as avoiding tap water and ice-cubes in drinks could cause days of sickness and misery

It is important to check official government travel sites for updated advice - especially to see if there are any advisories against travel. Many travellers are unaware that booking a trip to a destination where an advisory against travel is already in place is likely to invalidate any related claims on their travel insurance. This may seem unfair, but one basic rule that exists across all travel insurance policies is that you do not knowingly put yourself in harm's way. However, if the problem was unforeseen and occurred after you booked your holiday and purchased insurance you should be fine, but always read the small print of your particular policy.

Check your government's website for your holiday destination, such as the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO); Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland (DFA); Smartraveller (Australia); Safetravel (New Zealand); or U.S. Department of State.

The advice provided by various governments contains very useful information, including:

Laws and customs

Knowing the local laws and customs in advance could save you from inadvertently getting on the wrong side of the law. Advice could range from anything from dress code, to carrying ID with you, to smoking laws, to penalties for carrying illegal drugs, which in some countries (such as the popular Dubai/United Arab Emirates) may include products purchased over-the-counter at home.

Driving

You cannot assume that the rules are the same as at home. Driving in a foreign country comes with challenges, and there could be rules and requirements that result in on-the-spot fines if you do not comply. Drink driving laws are extremely harsh in some countries.

Natural disasters

A country might be prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. It is better to have awareness of potential problems and some idea of what to do if the worst should happen.

Safety and Security

This might cover anything from pick pocketing to lottery scams, outdoor activities, mountain rescue, how to stay safe on beaches, and ways to reach local emergency services or your consulate. Forest fires, hiking in mountains.

Entry requirements

Check for passport and visa information well in advance. Some countries require that you must have a certain amount of validity remaining on your passport, or a certain amount of available blank pages. Visitors to the United States are now required to register under the ESTA scheme.

Travel Health

Advice includes seeing your GP ahead of travel, vaccination advice, current health alerts, and links and sources for further information. If you are travelling to Australia it is important to understand their Medicare system. EU citizens should obtain the free European Health Insurance Card and also take out travel insurance.

Setting off on your holiday armed with knowledge about the country you are visiting, as well as a good travel insurance policy, should bring enormous peace of mind and a sense of well-being. Once you are there, with a basic knowledge of how things work in the country, you can relax and enjoy yourself. Remember to take loads of photos of yet another memorable trip to send to your friends and family and maybe they will follow in your footsteps.

Choosing To Go Green With Your Lawn Mower - Corded Mowers Versus Battery Mowers

If you are looking for a new lawn mower, you really should consider an electric lawn mower as a suitable replacement. There are many reasons why you should. Here are a few of the top ones.

Electric lawn mowers are environmentally friendly. These mowers use electricity to function instead of gasoline. This means that your lawn mower will not emit toxins into the environment like the gas mowers do. It will also save you money in the long run because you will not need to purchase gas.

Speaking of gasoline, you will no longer need to inhale the fumes from your leaky old gas can anymore. No more stains on your garage floor that you can not get out. You also will not have any more gas smell on your hands and clothes.

Lawn mowers that run on electricity need less maintenance. There are no spark plugs that need to be replaced. Also, you do not have to worry about the end of the mowing season draining of your mower. With electric mowers all you need to do is put it away. Then, at the beginning of the next season, pull it out and start mowing.

Electric lawn mowers also give you piece of mind. They are cleaner for the environment and leave a very small carbon footprint. This means that you can feel good about owning and using one because you are doing your part to help our planet. If everyone just did one thing to help to improve our effect on our own planet, we would help to reduce the damage we are doing ten fold.

There are a few types of electric mowers you can choose from. There are mowers that run entirely on battery power and there are mowers that run using a cord that you plug into an electrical outlet. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Battery run mowers are great for small lawns. They can mow the entire lawn on a single charge and they need little to no maintenance on your part. However, they are not idea for larger lawns. For this you really need a corded mower. They not only can mow without losing a charge, they also tend to have more powerful motors versus their battery counterparts. One drawback to a corded mower would be the cord itself. You are limited to mowing an area that is within the range of your extension cord.

We just ended up buying a corded mower from Amazon and I have to say, it really surprised me by how powerful it is! I was concerned about mowing over he extension cord until I read a good suggestion from someone else who had the same concerns that I did. You just simply get metal lawn spikes and place them strategically around your lawn. Now, when you go to mow you can let the extension cord wrap around the spikes and that will keep it out of your mowing path. Pretty smart idea if you ask me.

Parrot Behavior

Parrot behavior is very complex, much like that of a two year old child. You have to learn to think like a parrot. Interacting with your parrot is extremely important to instill good parrot behavior.

Getting to know your parrot's body language and what it's trying to say to you is beneficial to both you and your feathered friend:

Keep eye contact when communicating. Speak to your feathered friend as you would a child. Label objects when you speak, such as a toy. Be patient. Follow physical cues. Pay attention and watch for responses.

It is not a wise idea to stick your parrot in a cage for the day and take it out for an hour to play as this will most likely result in parrot behavior problems.

Reading your parrot's behavior and body language will be one of the best ways to start your relationship which can last more than 20 years.

So where do we start in understanding body language and parrot behavior? Parrots are like fingerprints in that each is unique. Consequently, it's usually better to start with the basics and build a solid foundation.

Don't mistakenly think that parrot behavior is like that of a dog or cat. Parrots are extremely individualistic, moody and endearing.

What are the signs when your parrot doesn't want to be touched? This is something you want to learn quickly to avoid being painfully bitten. The best thing is to know your parrot's behavior and the body language. When their eyes are pinning it's best to leave them alone until they mellow out.

Parrots bite out of fear, when defending their territory, or when they're just plain angry. Why would your parrot become angry or agitated? It could be because they want to be left alone. But it can also be because you want to put them down and they want more attention. It could also be because you didn't immediately respond to something they wanted from you, such as being petted when they are on your lap.

The following may be signs that your parrot is angry or agitated:

Crouching with their head down. Eyes pinning. Puffed up. A flared tail. Weaving from side to side. Hissing

If you observe any of the above signs, this not the time to say oh how cute and attempt to show affection. Let your parrot calm down until you observe a change in behavior.

Parrots are generally happy 90% of the time if they are in a loving home and have a good quality cage offering a comfortable environment with plenty of toys.

Parrots read people's emotions and respond to them. If you are angry, your parrot may likely bite. If you are relaxed in front of the TV, they are going to relax and settle down too. And when you laugh, your parrot may just join you.

Sometimes parrot behavior and body language is very straight forward as to what your parrot wants and what it needs. Other times you have to read its body language and watch how your parrot behaves to make figure out what it wants.

Interpreting and observing parrot behavior and body language is the best way to communicate with your parrot. Knowing your parrot's behavior is the road to a healthy, productive relationship that will be satisfying for both you and your parrot.

Opt-In Email Marketing And How It Can Benefit You

If you ask anybody online, they will tell you that the best way to make money with your website is with an opt-in email newsletter. This is the foundation for some people, and I must agree... it works like crazy. It's devastatingly effective, and it's something that you should be looking to implement in your online business.

I also employ opt-in email newsletters in my business also. It keeps me in touch with my customers, and I use it to sell more of my products to my members. You should be looking to do the same thing with your website. It can also produce a lot of traffic to your site (targeted traffic that is), so that's another perk.

If you're primary income model is a blog, then gaining new blog subscribers is essential. Make sure that your blog subscription form is obviously seen on your site, and offer a freebie if you can to entice people to sign up for it. Every time you make a new blog post, your subscribers will be notified, and they will get a message saying that you have new content on your blog.

It doesn't matter what niche you're in. You can become incredibly profitable through opt-in email marketing. This has become the "standard" for marketing online and earning income from your website. Just take a look at 98% of all of the successful websites out there. They all offer a "sign up" form to get you to sign up for your email newsletter. And they are smart for doing so.

Without a lot of leads, it's going to be tough to earn a nice living online. Now don't get me wrong. In some niches, you don't have to have an opt-in form on your site. You can drive that traffic straight to your sales letter page and get sales like clockwork from it. But for the vast majority of niches, driving people to your squeeze page or directing them to your email newsletter is a must.

Now don't think that you need just a few leads to make money online. If you currently have 100 leads in your autoresponder, and you haven't seen a sale yet, then it's time to put your marketing into high gear. Personally, 100 leads isn't nearly enough leads that you need to start seeing great results from your email newsletter.

Instead, shoot for around 4,000 leads. Once you acquire 4,000 leads that are active and engaging with you, there's a very high chance that you will be making money everyday like clockwork. It's not hard to do... you just have to put up a great marketing strategy and you can have all the success in the world that you want.

Make sure you work on getting your emails opened also. It's first tough to write up a good email, and then the next step that you have to do is to convince people to open up your email. This will require a bit of copywriting skills. Luckily, it's just a simple little email subject line that you have to write... nothing major.

Email marketing success can be yours if you follow the tips and advice in today's lesson. The more opt-in leads you get, the more successful your business will become. So keep this in mind.

Good luck with your opt-in email marketing efforts.

Understanding Kids With Bedwetting Problems

Parents have to know more about nocturnal enuresis or adult bedwetting. Simply dismissing it as a natural occurrence may work at times, but parents should also think about other possible causes that would need medical attention and treatment. Some of the cause of bedwetting among children can include stress or constipation. Children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) may also experience wetting the bed at night. A few children may have sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea and some have problems with infections that may cause the same problem.

Although parents can let their children wear baby diapers, they have to think of other ways of helping them with the problem especially if they are more than three years old. Though it may ease the problem, children may develop negative feelings about their inability to control their bladders that they have to be treated as babies. Parents may have to bring their kids for proper diagnosis if the problem persists longer than expected. They should refrain from punishing or making comments that tend to degrade children and make them feel shame and guilt. The ill effects of this kind of experiences will have lasting effects on their development until they grow up as mature individuals.

It may not be too difficult for parents to explain to their children what really happens during their sleeping time and the reasons why they are not able to wake up when their bladder is full they need this bedwetting alarm. Parents may enlist the cooperation of their kids so that it would easier for them to wake them up during the night to go to the bathroom. It will be a little sacrifice on the part of the parents but they have to help their children lessen the problem without harming their emotional and psychological well-being. Children on the other hand, may learn that they too have a responsibility in keeping themselves dry as much as possible. They may also respond better if parents know how to deal with the problem without getting angry and without showing signs of frustrations and other negative emotions.

Parents can also employ practical means of alleviating the bedwetting problems of their kids. They can put some plastic covering on the beds before putting the top covers so that the mattress would not be soaked in urine in case children accidentally wet their beds. They can also check some alarm systems placed in the underpants that can wake up their kids in case moisture starts to build up while they are sleeping. There are still lots of things that parents can do in order to help their children to stay dry throughout the night. However, they really need to have the patience in helping their children get over their bedwetting problem.

What You Have to Know in Order to Get the Best Motorcycle Insurance!

Having insurance for your vehicle is vitally important, whether your vehicle is a motorcycle, a truck, or a car. Every state has different rules about insurance, but the most important thing to understand is that you have to have it, although the amount of insurance required may vary by state. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent deals to be found on quality motorcycle insurance -- it just takes a bit of research and the willingness to plan ahead. In this article we are going to cover the top tips for getting the best motorcycle insurance.

Before you start searching for your new motorcycle insurance, it is important that you have all the details about your bike in front of you. This includes the year, make, and model of the motorcycle and any details about modifications that you have on the bike. If you have any safety features installed such as an anti-theft system, have the details about this handy too as you might need to provide this information to get the best insurance rates.

You will need to enter some information such as your area of residence, often just a zip code, to get some accurate insurance quotes. Certain areas, such as big metropolitan areas, tend to have higher motorcycle insurance rates, for example. You will need to use the zip code for your permanent residence, which is the place where you reside more than six months out of every calendar year.

You will also need to be fully aware of your own driving record. This will include any tickets that you have had in the past -- this information can impact an insurance quote dramatically. Your age is one of the major factors that determines your motorcycle insurance cost and coverage, so be sure to be accurate about your age. For example, a 19-year-old motorcycle driver will generally have to pay higher rates than a 50-year-old motorcycle driver. However, with every year that you keep up a clean driving record on your motorcycle, you will be eligible for steadily decreasing rates, so the higher rates do not last forever if you are still young!

You can always start with making phone calls to get motorcycle insurance quotes and information, but an Internet based search is the easiest and quickest way to find the best motorcycle insurance today. You can even search for sites that specialize in providing quotes for motorcycle insurance. When you go with a site that specializes in motorcycles, rather than advertising that they insure every type of vehicle that exists, you might be able to get a better and more specialized quote.

When you are looking for the best motorcycle insurance, remember that it really pays to do some comparisons. Seek out at least two or three different sites and compare the amount of coverage you are getting for what dollar amount. You might find, for example, that you can get the same exact level of coverage for much cheaper at one particular site. You might also find that if you are willing to pay just a little bit more that you can get dramatically more coverage. When you have more coverage it can help you feel safer on the road, and it can contribute to you worrying less about having an accident and needing to use the insurance.

Another important tip about getting the best motorcycle insurance is to choose a reputable company. You need to check around with friends, family, and with Internet reviews to see if the company that you are considering tends to get generally positive reviews for the motorcycle insurance coverage that they provide. Of course, you have to keep in mind that nearly every company will have someone out there who has negative things to say -- but if you can plainly see from the majority of people's opinions that they have had positive experiences with a particular insurance company, then that is one to strongly consider!

Keep your own budget in mind and know exactly how much coverage that you want and need when you are shopping for insurance. This is always a way to help you to get the motorcycle insurance coverage you want without making you overextend yourself! Once you have chosen your motorcycle insurance carrier, just make sure to pay the premiums regularly to ensure that you are always covered.

Use Waterproof Decking Materials to Complete Your Project

If you are interested in using waterproof decking materials for your patio project, you may be excited to know that it is a wonderful alternative to wood. Even though it is not as cheap or easy to work with, it does offer several benefits. Keep in mind that using wood is a good way to keep your costs down. However you will end up spending a great deal of money trying to maintain its condition by having to treat it on a regular basis to help reduce any rotting and warping. Take some time to learn about the different alternatives available so you can make sure that your deck is built with the best constitutes possible.

You can choose from aluminum, plastic or composite for your projects. They are very sturdy and easy for you to work with. Keep in mind that it has become much easier for you to work with alternative decking materials than it was in the past. When you take into consideration the environment and your safety, you want to be sure that any constitutes you are using are eco-friendly and hazard free. Waterproof decking materials make it possible for you to prevent you and your guests from being exposed to the toxins that can come from using treated woods. You have a few good options for you deck building materials; aluminum, composite and plastic.

Aluminum is one of the more popular choices when it comes to deck construction. This type of decking product can last for many years without succumbing to the elements. It is impervious to rust, corrosion and water. It is so lightweight that it is very easy to use for construction projects. It doesn't heat up when it's exposed to the heat and sun during the warmer seasons. This makes it a much safer and more obvious choice than wood. In climates that experience extreme cold weather and snow, you can add different enhancements to help prevent ice from forming on them. Aluminum waterproof decking materials can be used in any type of weather.

You can also choose from plastic and composite constitutes. Initially, homeowners shied away from these waterproofing materials because they were trying to keep their costs down. Now that the prices have been dropped, more people are becoming aware of their benefits. Composite and plastic decking products are essentially maintenance free. You don't have to worry about having your deck treated or painted every year. You can save a substantial amount of money each year because these products are also able to withstand any type of weather. Even though they cost a bit more initially, they are the most cost effective solution when you spread the cost out over the years.

Keep in mind that using products that are less likely to be affected by moisture and other weather conditions will save you the most money and time. You will be able to earn back your investment as you enjoy your patio throughout the years.

Most Frequent Auto Repairs

There is one call that every auto owner hates to get, that is the call when your mechanic tells you that he found a major problem with your car. You only brought it in for an oil change! According to auto repair shops the top ten most frequent car repairs are:

1) Brake system

2) Oil change/lube

3) Cool system (radiator)

4) Ignition

5) Suspension

6) Fuel system

7) Electrical system

8) Transmission

9) Air conditioning

10) Exhaust

There are ways to keep your repair costs down. One of the easiest and best ways is preventative maintenance. Regularly schedule trips to your mechanic or service station can save you lots of money from future problems. Most cars have manufacturer's maintenance schedules or you can ask your mechanic if they have their own.

Being aware of your car is important as well. Keep your eyes ears and nose open. You can visually check your car yourself. Checking all your fluids and making sure they are topped is an easy thing to do. You can inspect your tires for wear and to see if they require rotation. Do you see oil, water or break fluid under the car?

Be aware of how the car sounds. Does it sound loud while driving. Do you hear squeaks while breaking. Do you hear squealing when you turn? Do you smell fumes or smoke or burning wires? Being diligent can help keep repair coasts down.

When you do have to repair or service, make sure you ask for a written estimate ahead of time. Make sure that the mechanic will ask your approval before any repairs are made. So what they suggest and what may prevent future problems. Finding a good mechanic should be done before you need repairs done. But if you are having your car maintained regularly this should not be a problem. Make sure you are using a competent and professional mechanic for your repair work and servicing. Cheap price does not mean good work. As they say you get what you pay for. Check to see if the mechanic uses new or used parts in the repairs. Make sure the shop is clean and orderly as well.

Some problems are foreseeable and can be prevented, other problems cannot. Having a trustworthy mechanic in mind before anything happens can save a lot of headaches. As cars get older wear and tear does take its toll and repairs will be necessary at some point. Just take care and be aware.

Visit ttp://www.carinsurance.com for a Car Insurance Quote in your State