1/20/2009

Tax Exchange – Frequently Asked Questions

After years of conducting tens of thousands of successful 1031 exchanges, we found that there are a number of frequently asked questions related to this type of transaction…

Equity and Gain

Is my tax based on my equity or my taxable gain?

Tax is calculated upon the taxable gain. Gain and equity are two separate and distinct items. To determine your gain, identify your original purchase price, deduct any depreciation which has been previously reported, then add the value of any improvements which have been made to the property. The resulting figure will reflect your cost or tax basis. Your gain is then calculated by subtracting the cost basis from the net sales price.

Deferring All Gain

Is there a simple rule for structuring an exchange where all the taxable gain will be deferred?

Yes, the gain will be totally deferred if you:

1) Purchase a replacement property which is equal to or greater in value than the net selling price of your relinquished (exchange) property, and
2) Move all equity from one property to the other.

Definition of Like-Kind

What are the rules regarding the exchange of like-kind properties? May I exchange a vacant parcel of land for an improved property or a rental house for a multiple-unit building?

Yes, "like-kind" refers more to the type of investment than to the type of property. Think in terms of investment real estate for investment real estate, business assets for business assets, etc.

Simultaneous Exchange Pitfalls

Is it possible to complete a simultaneous exchange without an intermediary or an exchange agreement?

While it may be possible, it may not be wise. With the Safe Harbor addition of qualified intermediaries in the Treasury Regulations and the recent adoption of good funds laws in several states, it is very difficult to close a simultaneous exchange without the benefit of either an intermediary or exchange agreement. Since two closing entities cannot hold the same exchange funds on the same day, serious constructive receipt and other legal issues arise for the Exchangor attempting such a simultaneous transaction. The addition of the intermediary Safe Harbor was an effort to abate the practice of attempting these marginal transactions. It is the view of most tax professionals that an exchange completed without an intermediary or an exchange agreement will not qualify for deferred gain treatment. And if already completed, the transaction would not pass an IRS examination due to constructive receipt and structural exchange discrepancies. The investment in a qualified intermediary is insignificant in comparison to the tax risk associated with attempting an exchange, which could be easily disqualified.

Property Conversion

How long must I wait before I can convert an investment property into my personal residence?

A few years ago the Internal Revenue Service proposed a one-year holding period before investment property could be converted, sold or transferred. Congress never adopted this proposal, so therefore no definitive holding period exists currently. However, this should not be interpreted as an unwritten approval to convert investment property at any time. Because the one-year period clearly reflects the intent of the IRS, most tax practitioners advise their clients to hold property at least one year before converting it into a personal residence.

Remember, intent is very important. It should be your intention at the time of acquisition to hold the property for its productive use in a trade or business or for its investment potential.

Involuntary Conversion

What if my property was involuntarily converted by a disaster or I was required to sell due to a governmental or eminent domain action?

Involuntary conversion is addressed within Section 1033 of the Internal Revenue Code. If your property is converted involuntarily, the time frame for reinvestment is extended to 24 months from the end of the tax year in which the property was converted. You may also apply for a 12-month reinvestment extension.

Facilitators and Intermediaries

Is there a difference between facilitators?

Most definitely. As in any professional discipline, the capability of facilitators will vary based upon their exchange knowledge, experience and real estate and/or tax familiarity.

Facilitators and Fees

Should fees be a factor in selecting a facilitator?

Yes. However, they should be considered only after first determining each facilitator's ability to complete a qualifying transaction. This can be accomplished by researching their reputation, knowledge and level of experience.

Personal Residence Exchanges

Do the exchange rules differ between investment properties and personal residences? If I sell my personal residence, what is the time frame in which I must reinvest in another home and what must I spend on the new residence to defer gain taxes?

The rules for personal residence rollovers were formerly found in Section 1034 of the Internal Revenue Code. You may remember that those rules dictated that you had to reinvest the proceeds from the sale of your personal residence within 24 months before or after the sale, and you had to acquire a property which reflected a value equal to or greater than the value of the residence sold. These rules were discontinued with the passage of the 1997 Tax Reform Act. Currently, if a personal residence is sold, provided that residence was occupied by the taxpayer for at least two of the last five years, up to $250,000 (single) and $500,000 (married) of capital gain is exempt from taxation.

Exchanging and Improvements

May I exchange my equity in an investment property and use the proceeds to complete an improvement on a vacant lot I currently own?

Although the attempt to move equity from one investment property to another is a key element of tax deferred exchanging, you may not exchange into property you already own.

Related Parties

May I exchange into a property that is being sold by a relative?

Yes. However, any exchange between related parties requires a two-year holding period for both parties.

Partnership or Partial Interests

If I am an owner of investment property in conjunction with others, may I exchange only my partial interest in the property?

Yes. Partial interests qualify for exchanging within the scope of Section 1031. However, if your interest is not in the property but actually an interest in the partnership which owns the property, your exchange would not qualify. This is because partnership interests are excepted from Section 1031. But don't be confused! If the entire partnership desired to stay together and exchange their property for a replacement, that would qualify.

Another caveat. Those individuals or groups owning partnership interests, who desire to complete an exchange and have for tax purposes made an election under IRC Section 761(a), can qualify for deferred gain treatment under Section 1031. This can be a tricky issue! See elsewhere in this publication for more information. Then, only undertake this election with proper tax counsel and only with the election by all partners!

Reverse Exchanges

Are reverse exchanges considered legal?

Although reverse exchanges were deliberately omitted from Section 1031, they can still be accomplished with the aid of an experienced intermediary. Since reverses are considered an aggressive form of exchanging, your intermediary and tax advisor should assist you with exchange and tax planning based upon successful reverse exchange case law.

The Taxation Section of the American Bar Association has submitted suggested guidelines for the IRS in evaluating reverse exchanges and issuing new regulations. Although it is unknown when the IRS will make a definitive reverse exchange ruling, one is expected in the future.

Identification

Why are the identification rules so time restrictive? Is there any flexibility within them?

The current identification rules represent a compromise which was proposed by the IRS and adopted in 1984. Prior to that time there were no time-related guidelines. The current 45-day provision was created to eliminate questions about the time period for identification and there is absolutely no flexibility written into the rule and no extensions are available.

In a delayed exchange, is there any limit to property value when identifying by using the 200% rule?

Yes. Although you may identify any three properties of any value under the three property rule, when using the 200% rule there is a restriction. It is when identifying four or more properties, the total aggregate value of the properties identified must not exceed more than 200% of the value of the relinquished property.

An additional exception exists for those whose identification does not qualify under the three property or two hundred percent rules. The 95% exception allows the identification of any number of properties, provided the total aggregate value of the properties acquired totals at least 95% of the properties identified.

Should identifications be made to the intermediary or to an attorney or escrow or title company?

Identifications may be made to any party listed above. However, many times the escrow holder is not equipped to receive your identification if they have not yet opened an escrow. Therefore it is easier and safer to identify through the intermediary, provided the identification is postmarked or received within the 45-day identification period.

1/19/2009

Whiplash Injury and Accident Claims

Injuries most commonly sustained following car crashes and other road traffic accidents are called whiplash injuries. Your head is suddenly yanked backwards or sideways, affecting many areas of your body, particularly, your bones, discs, muscle tendons, and nerves in your neck. Swelling and inflammation occur following the impact.

The type of car accident that usually ends up in whiplash injuries are rear-end car accidents because of the sudden increase in speed which causes your head to snap back and then forward. Head-on collisions may also cause whiplash injuries, only that the head is jerked forwards then backwards instead of the other way around.

Car accidents are not the only way you could obtain a whiplash injury. Any situation that involves an abrupt change in speed and the neck is not protected one way or the other can result to a whiplash injury. In fact, falling off a horse, a bike or anything else, can cause a whiplash injury.

You will know when you have sustained a whiplash injury when you begin to sense some stiffness in your muscles and pain, particularly in the back, neck, jaw, arms or shoulders. Nausea, blurred vision and difficulty in swallowing have also been reported by persons who have gone through injuries of such nature. Memory loss, impaired concentration, personality changes such as irritability, nervousness and depression may also indicate a whiplash injury; so are sleep disturbances and restlessness. Some of these signs may happen almost immediately following the impact, but sometimes you will not even know you have suffered from a whiplash injury until a few hours or even days later.

Whiplash injuries are diagnosed by way of radiological examinations and medical imaging.

Characteristically these symptoms may last for a period of up to six months, and your doctor may prescribe pain relievers or muscle exercises to deal with the problem. In more severe circumstances, the symptoms of whiplash injuries can go on over a period of several years, and there are even cases when permanent damage is a possibility.

You should know that you are entitled to a whiplash injury compensation claim if you have suffered whiplash injuries resulting from an accident that is not at all your fault. You can ask a personal injury solicitor to help you through with the processing. There is practically no harm in filing for such claims because usually you will not be required to pay any fees at all if you lose the case. In legal terms, this is called no win no fee, meaning, you pay only if you win. In many cases a personal injury solicitor will also be able to offer a 100% compensation guarantee. This means that if your whiplash claim is successful, your solicitor would recover their legal costs, along with a success fee from the third party insurance company. Therefore you do not have to pay anything from start to finish.

There are some precautions you can take when you are on the road which may help to minimize the risk of a collision causing a whiplash injury. This includes making sure you have a properly installed head restraint.

Get an iPod and Get Green Too

I simply love my iPod Nano. It has many different applications that make it more than just a music storage device. The computer actually recognizes your iPod as a device for storing data almost like a thumb drive. I can download movies and watch them on my iPod too. It can store up to sixteen hours of video. That is almost 8 movies. How neat is it to be able to watch a movie on something that small. Even more so , its in the palm of your hand. Also, there are games that you are able to download on to it using the iTunes program that comes with it. I don’t use the other functions really , such as the notepad , stopwatch or calendar. I find that there are better ways of keeping up with those things aside from doing it on my iPod. That isn’t the reason why I love my iPod though. The best thing about the iPod for me is in how I am able to browse through my music with ease. It shows album covers on a rotating circle which is easy to use with the circle pad that is on the face of the device. Also I think that browsing through the list after you pass the album art is very simple because it is black and white then. You’ll become very familiar with a clicking noise when you use the iPod - don’t worry. It’s a very familiar sound whenever you’re looking through songs. It helps the eye be in time with the ear so you know when to stop scrolling if you see what you are looking for.
Personally, I have never had a problem with my iPod. They have a lot of great features too if you’re thinking of getting one for yourself or maybe for a family member or friend. One of the things I like the best is that iPods can hold more songs than I ever even knew existed. It’s a great tool to have, especially if you live in the city or whenever you walk everywhere. The music blocks out all of the loud noises and strange conversations that occur while I’m sitting next to many people on the subway. Aside from all the technical parts, the variety of colors you are able to buy are almost endless too. The newer versions of iPods come in all sorts of very bright colors, rare to any other music player on the market now. The screens match the skin in how vibrant the colors are on the 320-by-240-pixel resolution screen. In my opinion everyone should own an iPod. They’re great little devices - all you have to do is import songs from CD’s you own, buy them from iTunes and then sync and create fabulous playlists! As time goes on it’s clear that everything needs to become more friendly to the environment too, and Apple has gone the extra mile by making the pod with arsenic free glass, mercury free, and a highly recyclable outside enclosure as well. They’re very trendy and also very eco-friendly keeping with all the new "Green" alternatives you see popping up everywhere now.

1/11/2009

Essential Basics In Wrongful Death Litigation

Sometimes in personal injury cases, the victim has already lost the ability of filing a lawsuit for himself. This situation happens if the victim was still unconscious, succumbed to a long-term coma, totally paralyzed and worst case is if he was already dead.

If the victim died because of an accident caused by another person or entity's negligence and/or wrongful act, then the personal representatives of the victim's estate may file a wrongful death lawsuit against the liable party.

People who can file a wrongful death lawsuit

The following persons or personal representatives of the victim acting on their behalf can assert a cause of action for the victim's death that was caused by a negligent and/or wrongful act:

Group A

- Surviving spouse or domestic partner

- Children

- Offspring of children who are already deceased

- In case the victim has no surviving children, persons including surviving spouse or domestic partner entitled with
the victim's property through intestate succession

Group B

Whether they are qualified or not in the Group A, if they had been dependents of the victim, they may also sue for the victim's wrongful death.

- Putative spouse or the surviving spouse from a void or can be considered void marriage if the court found that he or she believed in good faith that the marriage with the victim was legitimate or valid.

- Children by the putative spouse

- Parents

- Stepchildren

Group C

-A minor who has resided with the victim's household during the previous 180 days at the time of the victim's death and the victim's dependent for a half or more of his/her support.

Many people may become qualified to sue for the victim's premature death.

State of California's statute of limitations in filing a wrongful death lawsuit:

Currently, the state of California's Statute of Limitations for suing on account of a wrongful death case is two years starting from the date of the accident or the incident that caused the wrongful death.

Failure to file a lawsuit for wrongful death within the two-year period means that the qualified persons lost or waived their right to sue.

Damages for wrongful death or the compensation entitled to those who have sued for the victim's wrongful death.

• Financial Support – the monetary support, if any, that the wrongful death victim would have provided for the surviving family or dependents, either for the duration of the victim's life expectancy before the sudden death occurred or the life expectancy of the plaintiff, whichever among the calculations would be shorter.

• Expenses for the victim's funeral and burial services – total cost

• Loss of gifts and benefits – the gifts or benefits that the wrongful death victim was expected to provide to the person suing

• "Reasonable value of household services" that the victim was expected to provide

• Loss of love, affection, comfort, care, society, companionship, protection, assistance, moral support the victim was expected to provide

• "Loss of enjoyment of sexual relations with the victim"

• Loss of guidance and / or training that only the victim could provide

• Punitive damages – considered as punishment damages that can be awarded to the wrongful death victim's personal estate as an action of the estate's representative according to the "cause of action" that the victim would have received had he/she survived.

What Makes A Killer Marketing System? Here Are 7 Prime Components

When it comes to marketing enterprise software and other complex technology products or services, your efforts must do more than simply generate leads. You’ve got to move prospective customers from curiosity to action often using alternative and largely automated methods.

For that you need a marketing system – a group of integrated processes that work together to identify your best new business prospects, reach and develop those prospects into qualified leads and hand them over to the sales team consistently and profitably.

Here’s a look at 7 prime components of a solid marketing system.

Prospect Pool. At the front end of the marketing system, you need a well-defined source of potential new business leads. If you’re selling a complex, high ticket, business-to-business product or service, the world is not your market. The people in your prospect pool should, at minimum, be in the right positions at the right companies to have a need for and means of buying your product.

You can find good prospects in rented or purchased mailing lists, among trade publication subscribers and association members and often even in your own database.

Demand Generation. Once you have a good source of potential prospects, you need to get their attention and interest. How you do this depends on where they are in the buying process.

You can use pay-per-click advertising and search engine optimization to reach people who are already searching for a solution. You’ll want to use tactics such as direct mail, tele-prospecting, email and direct response advertising to reach people who aren’t actively looking for you yet.

Lead Nurturing. Some of the prospects who find you through search engines may be ready to speak with a sales person right away, but in my experience 75% to 80% or more of your prospects won’t be ready to buy when you first engage with them. The lead nurturing (or lead development) process in your marketing system helps these prospects become more familiar with you and your solutions, and moves them forward toward the sale.

Events, presentations, reminders, and the occasional phone call are all good lead nurturing tactics.

Stay in Touch. Some prospects are further from actually needing or wanting your solution than others. These prospects simply cannot be moved forward in the pipeline right now. But if they are people who could very well need your solution in the future, your marketing system should provide you with a method of gently reminding them of your existence without being an unwanted sales attempt.

Monthly electronic newsletters or email messages are good ways to do this.

Sales Hand-Off Process. At some point, all of your marketing efforts will pay off and you’ll have leads that are ready to be given to the sales team. Unfortunately, many companies don’t see this hand-off as a critical part of the marketing system and, as a result, when marketing feels a lead is ready, they simply throw it over the wall to sales.

A good marketing system should include procedures for qualifying the leads, confirming the hand-off to sales, and accepting the lead back into the marketing process if it is later found to not be sales ready.

Metrics and Measurements. No marketing system should be considered complete until it includes quantifiable goals and methods of measuring progress at each step of the way. Like any other business process, you must measure and adjust constantly in order to deliver maximum results.

Your system should measure response to various marketing tactics (such as email campaigns and direct response advertising), how well you are feeding the pipeline, and how fast your prospects are moving through each of the stages.

Automation. A good marketing system delivers results through consistent and on-going communication with your prospect pool. It also allows you to communicate with your prospects based on actions – either the things your prospect does or the things the prospect doesn’t do.

It’s possible to accomplish this without the help of technology, but it is labor intensive and unlikely to be as effective. There are so many good and affordable way to automate any marketing program, it just makes no sense not to do it. We use our own proprietary system for Tatum Marketing and our clients, but commonly-available autoresponders and a decent CRM will give you a good start.

When we develop marketing systems with our clients, these are the key elements or processes we always include. Once the system is set up, we can tweak individual elements as needed to maximize the effectiveness of the system. Some are more obvious than others, and I’ve yet to see a marketing program that runs effectively without all of these elements.

1/10/2009

What You Should Do With Your Carpets

Carpets make a house a home. They add warmth, color and texture to a room, transforming it into a haven of relaxation. However, a dirty carpet can make a room a virtual health hazard. Dirty carpets trap toxins, such as pet dander, dust mites and even mold.

All of these can lead to poor air quality that affects breathing conditions, such as asthma or respiratory disease. Therefore, it is important that you keep your carpets clean and fresh, so that they do not become a household problem by trapping dirt and dust in a room. By setting aside a little time each month to properly care for your carpets and area rugs you can keep them looking fresh and beautiful long after their purchase date.

Regularly cleaning your household carpets is essential for good indoor air quality. Along with improving you and your family’s health, regularly cleaning your home’s carpets will help extend the life of the carpet. You paid good money for the carpets, so you want to keep them looking new, don’t you? Dirt and foot traffic can break down carpet fibers, leading to fraying and fading. Regular cleanings help prevent unnecessary wear and tear.

Few people have the time (or the desire) to wash an entire carpet on a weekly or even monthly basis. Therefore, it is important to tackle stains or spill right away, before they have a chance to set it. This will go a long way in keeping your carpets looking tip-top. Before you tackle any stains or spills with cleaner, you should first try to remove as much of it as possible, by blotting or scraping. Test any cleaner in an unnoticeable area first, to make sure it won’t discolor your carpet. Working from the outside to the inside, dab the cleaner on the stain. Don’t rub it, or you’ll just make the stain harder to remove. Once you have covered the stain with cleaner, blot any access with a paper towel or other absorbent material. Use a bath towel (white, so the color won’t run) to dry the carpet and refresh the fibers.

Regular vacuuming is another important step in keeping carpets fresh and clean. You should vacuum your carpets once a week and more often in areas with high foot traffic. This will help prevent dirt and particles from building up, which can deteriorate carpet fibers. Once a month you should take your crevice tool (yes, there is a purpose for this tool) and vacuum around the edges of your wall-to-wall carpeting. If you have odors from smoke or pets, you can add baking soda to the vacuum cleaner bag, which will help absorb the odors.

There are many different types of carpet cleaners available, including dry cleaners and ecologically friendly cleaners. Dry cleaners, a new alternative to traditional steam cleaning, use hot carbonation extraction that deeply cleans the carpet. Because dry cleaning a carpet uses only a fraction of the water than steam cleaning, carpets dry in just a few hours, rather than a few days. The dry cleaning method is ideal for delicate or antique area rugs. Both steam cleaners and dry carpet cleaners come in ecologically friendly or organic versions. These eco-friendly cleaning products don’t have many of the chemicals used in commercial cleaners and are one hundred percent biodegradable.

Keep yourself, your family and your pets healthy with fresh, clean carpets. Indoor air quality will be greatly improved and at the same time your carpet will look good as new. Regular cleanings, such as vacuuming and stain removal are an important part of keeping your carpet looking and feeling great.

Body Language At An Interview

It’s easy to think that if we go through all the steps when looking for a new job such as searching for ads, sending resumes with cover letters, and landing an interview, then we’re home free. Unfortunately, it’s rarely that simple. It happens often that all of these are flawless, and the applicant is a very good candidate for the job, but the interview flops. What happens? Probably something as simple as ignoring one important step: understanding the body language of the interviewer and using body language to reinforce your excellent resume.

It’s not uncommon for a person to say one thing while sending an entirely different message with his body language. If you pay close enough attention, you can tell when a person is not telling the truth. There are tell-tale signs in his movements, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions.

Taking the time to understand the dynamics of body language may be the best weapon in your arsenal for getting the job you want. You need to know that some companies hire body language experts to help them make the best possible selections. Most interviewers have some training in body language, so it’s in your best interest to have at least a cursory understanding of it.

Facial Expressions

Is the interviewer smiling? He may be signaling that he is friendly—even that he is supportive of your application. On the other hand, be wary if the person is smiling too much—while he is talking, for example. He may be hiding something. Maybe he already knows that another candidate has been selected and he is just going through the motions with you. Smiling from time to time is a good sign, though. It’s an indication that the person is being himself and is probably not hiding anything.

The most important clues will be in the eyes. A shifty-eyed person is not to be trusted. Does the interviewer make eye contact with you? That’s a good sign that he is receptive to you. Even so, making eye contact and holding it are two different things. If the interviewer holds eye contact too long, he may be trying to put you on the defensive.

Movements

When two people are talking, and one keeps looking away, it’s a sure sign of lack of interest in what the other one is saying. Ear- or chin-scratching and playing with an ear also indicate either a lack of interest or disbelief. It would be a good time to begin to take action and try to make yourself seem more believable.

Crossed arms send a not-so-subtle signal. It indicates defense, but it also sets up a symbolic barrier. Has the interview turned combative? It might be a good time to lighten up a bit.

The face is also a good barometer of the mind. A blank face indicates either hostility or that the person is thinking about something else—perhaps what he wants to say next.

Using Body Language to Get the Job

Practice reading body language in the people around you until it becomes natural. But don’t go overboard. If you are so preoccupied with this part of the interview, you may not do well on the other parts. Even so, don’t fold your arms; control your smiling so that you are using it only in those instances where it increases confidence in you; look into the interviewer’s eyes, but do not hold the contact too long. Don’t look away from the interviewer.

In the long run, being scrupulously honest makes it easier for you to put forth the best body language because you won’t need to hide anything. Have a reality session with yourself before you go into the interview. Go in confident and real and use what you know about body language to read your interviewer.

1/08/2009

Information Technology Certification Test Taking Tips & Techniques

How to pass your Information Technology Certification Exam is the question that ALL students who are preparing for their IT certification exam should be asking! With many online sites giving you certification test taking tips and techniques where do you begin with gathering the pertinent information about being prepared for your certification? There are 2 major questions that every prospective student looking for their information technology certification should be inquiring. Certification test taking tips and techniques really come down to the study technique and the appropriate material.

There are many Information Technology Certification practice test questions, free study guides, free online tutoring and practice exam questions that people want such as: Microsoft, Comp TIA, MCDST, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, A+, MCPD, Comp TIA Network, Comp TIA Security, CCNA, CNA, CISA and many others. Knowing the secrets of certification test taking and implementing the most effective technique will give you the edge in passing your certification exam. You can lose your fear of test taking and have the confidence you need when going to your certification exam center.

What is the most effective study technique to use when studying for your information technology certification exam? Many online certification training centers will tell you to relax, use flash cards to prepare, review your material the day before the exam and to think positive about passing. Memorization of all your material is not the most logical choice for exam preparation. If you have a book that is eight hundred pages long and five hundred practice exam questions then you would be foolish to try to memorize all of this material or even part of it. There is another very effective way of retaining the information that you need to pass your information technology certification exam. Simple repetition of the actual exam material will better prepare you for your certification exam.

Having the appropriate material like practice exam questions and study guides will better prepare you for your certification exam then anything else you may obtain. There is much online certification training and the material that they use is extremely important when it comes time to take your exam. There is much IT certification material that will help you understand the operation of a windows operating system but how much of that material will be on the actual exam? In order to pass your information technology certification exam you will want only the material that pertains to the actual exam itself. If you could have the exact IT certification exam right in front of you to study before you took the actual certification exam would you not be better prepared to pass then any other method?

Exam preparation does not have to be difficult. Why spend your money on useless material that is out dated and irrelevant to the actual certification exam. You can learn much from someone who has taken an information technology certification exam and how they prepared using a proven way of success. Their test taking techniques could benefit you more then any study guide. Information technology test taking is unlike other certifications. Certification preparation is really not as difficult as some make it out to be. If you use the most effective study technique and the best test taking tips about studying the exact material on the actual certification exam then you will be able to go to the exam center fully confident about passing. I’m giving you the best knowledge on the subject of Information technology certification test taking tips & techniques.

1/07/2009

A Personal Injury Lawyer Takes Care Of All The Needs

Life is one thing that is very unpredictable. No one knows what is in store for him or her and what can hit them the very next moment. Life is again full of surprises. These surprises can be beautiful and at the same time, these surprises can get equally ugly. One such ugly surprise can come in the form of an accident and especially, when the person has been the victim of a mistake committed by some other person. In this case, the victim is not at fault and therefore, he can easily sue the person or in any special case, the organization that has got him into the trouble. In this case, the best person to be approached is a personal injury lawyer.

If you are a resident of New York City or stay in nearby regions, then you can easily consult with a personal injury lawyer of New York to help you solve any legal matter connected to this. If any of your relatives or any friend of your has become the victim of an accident caused by a third party, then you can easily take the help of a personal injury lawyer to fight out the legal case against the main culprits. Having to go through an accident is not only a physical trauma but is also a huge mental set back. The one who undergoes the trauma exactly knows what he or she has gone through. Even his or her family members also face a lot of trouble, right from the rounds at the hospitals to getting the medicines. In this case, fighting a legal case against the culprit would again mean a lot of hassle. However, a legal expert can definitely help to ease out things.

Fighting a legal case needs a lot of patience, time and at the same time expertise on the part of the person who is fighting the case. Therefore, when you think you want to hire a personal injury lawyer, you will have to make sure that you do some research before you fix any lawyer to fight your case. You will have to make sure that the lawyer you hire is good at his work and has enough expertise in his field. Moreover, you will also have to see that he has a good success ratio because it is on him to win the case for you. Yes, you too will have to give him some inputs like when the accident happened and how it happened and every small detail. This information will help the personal injury lawyer to prepare a note and a history of the case, which will further help him to have an upper hand in the case.

A personal injury lawyer of the New York City can not only help you to win the case but also provides you with a metal support that is very much needed in a case of trauma. A personal injury lawyer actually helps t o become your best friend, helps you to recover, and at the same time helps you to get justice.

1/05/2009

How to Buy Horses Online?

When buying the right kind of horse it has to be made sure that the seller is being honest and not diplomatic while answering questions even though the best pictures and information related to horses available would endorse the website. Therefore, it is worthwhile to notice the online rating of the seller whom one is about to buy from. The horse should not only be healthy but of sound mind as well and good at socializing with new owners especially when it comes to buying grown up horses. Likewise, a horse should not be too young either, else most of the cost would turn out to be training related as compared to the original cost incurred while buying it in the first place. However, it also depends on the owner as to what age of horse is preferred.

For online purchases, often it is noticed that a separate sections are maintained for different categories, such as horse feed, hay, latches, horse saddles, horse jewellery etcetera. Therefore, it becomes much easier and organized to search for the perfect item sought as opposed to print classified advertisements that dump everything into one category of livestock or horses.

In terms of ratings made the level of seriousness of both the seller and buyer could be well evaluated. Ratings for the seller show how honest he/ she is for dealing with online horse sales and those made for the buyer show how serious the person is while coming up to a final purchase decision.

Great precaution has to be taken, especially while buying horses online. Those sold through online auction should be definitely avoided as usually this type of sale is a characteristic of those horses which are either belong to poor breed or which people are unwilling to buy. Similarly, a horse should not be bought just because it would be a good riding companion someday, a horse should be bought that would be more compatible for you in accordance to your experience of even amateur level.

There are other various important things to know before buying the horse, for instance, whether it ever kicks, bites, becomes colic or even has a slightest of tendencies to colic. How regular have the visits been to a veterinarian answer the horse’s health related queries which would also include it’s vaccination whether completed or ongoing. Finding out the last time the horse was ridden and if it is green broke are essentials of through research based on horses before buying them. Furthermore, the temperament of the horse should also be brought to one’s knowledge. This should be done by asking questions regarding whether it has been kept with other horses or stabled alone. This helps in coming to a conclusion about the behaviour of the horse with people and how social an animal it is or whether any further training would be required.

It is advisable to request a purchase agreement as it serves to protect the rights of both the buyer and the seller. This would include mutually agreed payment mode and time, circumstances of a void contract, trail period if any and the shipment procedure of the horse. Moreover, as discussed about last visit to the vet, a purchase health examination and negative Coggins test should also be asked for. The latter is a test for infectious anemia which a viral disease that cannot be cured. Even though many states demand this test, great precaution has to be taken where it is not part of the law so that the horse you are buying is free of any such vulnerability.

Fast Food At Home

Families need to eat and the hungry mouths never stop asking "what's for dinner"? We Moms know that a pile of recipe cards with meals that you can throw together in minutes is a must-have. Things happen quickly in families today, and you may be called on to put a meal together in a matter of moments. Wouldn't it be great to have a simple plan for quick meals that the whole family can help with?

Dive In:

What kid doesn't like to dunk their food. Clean and slice some carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, celery, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and zucchini and lay them out on a platter with some ranch style dressing. I've seen the most dedicated vegetable-hater dig right into these vegetables when they can dip them.

Sandwich Building 101:

Your child will love experimenting with whatever you have on hand to build a sandwich. Use buns, waffles, bagels, English muffins, or dinner rolls to begin with, or anything you have on hand. Now you can start adding peanut butter, fruit, meat slices, vegetables, cheese, hummus, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, or hard boiled eggs, or whatever jumps out of the refrigerator at you. Let your child give it a try and remember, it is a work in progress.

Never Fail Noodles:

Every pantry should have an assortment of noodles at the ready. When dinner plans are unsure, noodles will be there to pull off a family-friendly meal in a minute. Start some noodles boiling and search the kitchen for goodies to add. Try adding some leftover vegetables to your hot noodles and topping with cheese. If you have a can of chicken broth you can make a quick soup with noodles and some celery and onion. A skillet dish with some hot, cooked noodles, pasta sauce stirred in, and topped with cottage cheese makes a great mock lasagna.

Wrap it Up:

If you've got tortillas and leftovers, you've got a wonderful meal. Warm up your leftovers and wrap them up in a tortilla with some cheese. Voila! Leftovers Burrito.

Spuds from Heaven:

Potatoes are a meal waiting to happen. Microwave a potato, pile on cheese of any sort (cheddar, mozzarella, cottage cheese) and some meat, veggies, or even salsa or sunflower seeds, and you have a delicious dinner.

Soup Warms the Soul:

Fill a pan with broth and veggies. Then, just throw in whatever you have in the house, meat or beans, leftovers, a can of diced tomatoes, noodles or rice, and spices. You just made soup in minutes.

Turn the Day Upside Down:

You can have breakfast any time. Cereal, eggs & bacon, waffles, and pancakes are all so much more delicious when they're unexpected. Breakfast is always better at night.

If your meal planning took a turn for the worse today, take note of these quick and easy dinnertime solutions and your table will be ready for your family in the blink of an eye.

1/04/2009

Know Your Business Know Your Environment

The second in a series of articles entitled ‘Know Your Business’, which explores how to identify the perfect business to run and is written by entrepreneur and multi business owner James Keightley, who runs his own ecommerce business and business coaching consultancy.

I have previously outlined that there are several logical levels that are important to follow when identifying the best match between you and the type of business you want to run and own. These are; the overall vision, how it relates to you as an individual, what your beliefs are about the business, what skills and capabilities are required, how it requires you to behave and lastly the environment you and your business will operate in.

By working through these one at a time it will be possible for you to flesh out a clearer picture of how you and your business will look and feel at each of these stages and provide you with food for though on what business you will be suited to run.

The first of these is the environmental level and by this I mean, what sort of environment do you want to see and feel your self in on a day to day basis when you are running your own business? How comfortable or uncomfortable would it feel for example if this involved working underground as a miner for example? How would it feel to be working at heights or being amongst children etc? It is important to identify the type of environment you most enjoy working in, whether this is amongst others, in a more solitary environment, with young people or adults for example.

You are a very lucky if you enjoy all the environmental aspects of your chosen career because for those who consider that they have the best job in the world, there are usually still aspects of it which they prefer less than others.

It is important to try and identify the most suitable environment possible and yet remember that from time to time this may involve aspects or short periods that are not the perfect environment. The idea is to find an environment that on the whole is ideal and well suited to you. For example, on the whole I like being in the outdoors, but I appreciate that from time to time about 20% of my time may be indoors or other less desirable environments. I appreciate this and understand that occasionally I need to take the rough with the smooth so to speak, but on the whole I am able to enjoy working in my preferred environment.

So how do you do this? Well it is a case of following some thought provoking exercises and recruiting the support of others to try and identify what your ideal environment might look and feel like, which is the same for identifying the finer details for all the parts of the logical levels of your perfects business.

Work through some of these suggestions below, which are intended to flesh out ideas and suggestion about what your perfect environment might be, ensuring to write everything down, no matter how insignificant it might seem. I’ll repeat that. You need to make sure that you write everything down no matter how insignificant or ridiculous it might seem, just scribble it down, because the weirdest of ideas can lead directly and indirectly to other thought processes. We can string it all together later on and use it to construct a clearer picture.

Fleshing out your ideal environment;

Ask Yourself – before you do anything, think about it and ask yourself what environment you feel naturally attracted to. Not what you would like to do, but simply what environments would you most like to spend your time in. Is it on your own, are you with others, is it in the country, an office, amongst animals or in a theatre etc. Write down as many as you can think of, just scribble them all down on a piece of paper or better still type them on our computer so they are easier to sort at a later date. Your list my have 10 or 100 things listed.

Go For a Walk – walking is a great way to get some space to think freely and to day dream. Go for a walk on your own and reflect some more on the thoughts you gave to the above task and see if anything else pops up. Write this down on a pocket book or note pad and be sure to add it to your list when you get home.

Browse the Magazine Rack – when you buy yourself a magazine, which do you go for? What are they about and what magazines catch your eye the most or which do you find yourself picking up and flicking through? Notice what thoughts this might stimulate about the environments you prefer or dislike. Are they walking magazines, home furnishing or travel magazines etc?

Go For Another Walk – leave it a few days and go for another walk. It is important to let a few days’ laps because you will be amazed at how much work the unconscious mind does when you think you are not thinking about things. Then go for another walk and see if on reflection the magazine exercise prompts any new thoughts around the issue of your preferred environment. Again, note your thoughts down and add it to your lit when you get home. Add ideas, even if they already appear on the list because if the same ones keep cropping up then this is saying something.

Write a Short Story – story writing is a really great way to think creatively and release the things that are stored up in your head. Write a short story that only needs to be a page long about something you have done that you really enjoyed. For me it was a story about building my own house. Write down what you did, how you did it, what it involved, what challenges you faced, how you over came them, what you enjoyed the most, how you would make it more enjoyable if you could repeat it and what was the outcome of it.

Go For Another Walk – spend some time walking and reflecting on the story you have written and see what other thoughts it prompts about the environments you like to spend time in. Who were you with, where were you, what were your surroundings, what pictures does it conjure up and what type of painting would someone paint to illustrate the environment the best captures the essence of the story you have written?

The Miracle Question – ask yourself if a miracle could happen and you were able to wake up tomorrow in your ideal environment and where money or any other factors that would ordinarily be a limiting issue did not exist, what environment would you be in? Add your thoughts to your list

Ask Others – ask others to email you a list of suggestions as to what type of environment they see you smiling in all day long. When they think of you working somewhere, what environment are you in. Remember to make sure they don’t describe what it is you are doing, but to describe where you are, what your surroundings are etc.

By now you should have a fairly comprehensive list of environments that appeal to you in some form or another and to varying degrees.

Prioritizing Your Environments

Now it is time to try and identify which environments you are most suited to, which you would enjoy spending most of you time in and what the priority of them are.

Take an initial look at the list and see if you can group together any of the ideas in to common environments. Are there suggestions that you have noted several times. From the list try to formulate a list of at least your top ten most preferred environments.

Now write these down on individual cards, pieces or paper or post it notes.

Next, in any order pick up any two environmental descriptions you have written on individual pieces of paper and ask yourself, ‘if I could only choose one, which would I choose and which would I discard?’ Place your preference to one side. Repeat the process until you have whittled it down to just three preferred environments and make a note of these being your preferred three ideal environments you like to spend time in.

In the next article, ‘Knowing Your Business Knowing Your Behaviour’ we will be exploring how you like to behave.

Case Study: Florida Beach Resort's Volleyball Court Lighting Fixture System Project

Our client was a resort in Florida. Near the resort clubhouse, and not too far from the beach, was a volleyball court surrounded by stadium bleachers. Various types of volleyball games were played in this facility, and the resort wanted us to design a lighting system that would accommodate them all. They also requested that we light all outdoor areas under the stadium with the most energy efficient lights as possible, and they were hoping we could decorate the facility a bit with wooden lighting poles.

The main challenge in this project was creating a volleyball court lighting system capable of generating varying levels of foot candles. In recreational games, where only family members and friends of players are in the stands, only 30-40 foot candles of light are required. However, it was not this simple. Even though this was not a stadium-sized facility, it was nevertheless a very popular location for a number of local tournament games—some of which were televised on local sports channels. As a general rule, non-televised volleyball tournaments require between 50-100 foot candles of light on the court, depending on the number of spectators. However, once TV cameras are rolled in, foot candle minimums jump to over 115 feet. In essence, then, our client needed one volleyball lighting system that could do the job of three. Additionally, this system had to be mounted on poles that could withstand the many hurricanes that buffet the Florida Coast. Wooden poles would be out of the question, but before our proposal was complete, we would end up offering something better.

Our Photometric Design Software Proved Invaluable in creating this multi-functional lighting system. Our basic approach to lighting this volleyball court was to install sports lighting fixtures on three independent switches. Each switch would control a different group of lights that would generate the necessary foot candle levels for recreational, tournament, and televised tournament volleyball. In order to be able to produce increasingly higher levels of light without simultaneously producing hazardous glare, we had to render three dimensional models of the facility and systematically analyze the luminance from every possible angle. This allowed us to determine the optical requirements and wattages for each fixture installed. It also allowed us to determine the exact lighting angles that would be necessary to create an evenly-lit court without throwing light back into the stadium and into the eyes of spectators. We were even able to factor in the location of cameras for televised matches and make fine-tuned adjustments to both direction and optical requirements to ensure that the excess spill light would not reach the cameras.

The client was more than happy to pay for this advanced design work due to the fact that a local contractor they had hired to do the installation promised to do the job in 2/3 the normal time if such a systematic layout of the proposed system could be forwarded to his crew.

Poles and equipment were selected after our design analysis was complete.
Although we could not recommend wooden poles due to wind zone regulations, we were able to find rust-colored, galvanized steel poles that closely resembled wood in appearance. For the outdoor areas beneath the bleachers, we used pulse-start metal halide low bays to provide bright lighting in and around concession areas and restrooms.

Free Credit Card Processing For Business Owners

Would you like to upgrade your company’s operations by taking advantage of free credit card processing for business owners? There has never been a better time to locate banks offering this service and make the best possible deal for your interests. Financial institutions are eager to work with you in opening a merchant account, and they sometimes offer attractive incentives to get entrepreneurs’ business. If you like the idea of free credit card processing, start shopping at your community banks and credit unions to see what type of deals they can offer.

Free credit card processing for business owners is an attractive perk, since some companies impose fees of perhaps 15 to 25 cents per transaction or a monthly percentage fee overall of between 1% and 2%. Being able to get free credit card processing for business owners could save you a significant sum of money each month, and over time, those savings could increase even more. Your customers will love the ease with which they can make online credit card payments, and you will appreciate the time-saving benefits of handling credit payments electronically rather than by employees who require regular paychecks.

It is a good idea to sit down with your financial institution and discuss the precise terms of the free credit card processing for business owners deal. Will you have to pay an application fee? Will annual membership fees come due each year? Are there other embedded costs that you should know about up front? Even if your credit card processing is free, other start-up expenses could add up to cost even more than the transactions would. You will want to make the best possible deal before signing an application or contract to be sure you don’t get trapped into paying unexpected high costs later.

Keep in mind that free credit card processing for business owners may not be the best perk to ask for when applying for a merchant account. In addition to start-up fees that could be imposed and perhaps increased in lieu of the free credit card processing option, you also may have to pay expenses like a statement fee, a minimum fee, a discount fee, and a license fee. These could add up initially to more than you will pay for transaction fees. Even if the free credit card processing option appears to save you money at first, is this a limited time offer? When reinstated later, will transaction fees be difficult to add to the company budget since you did not start the process with them?

You might want to get a second opinion on weighing the benefits offered with various merchant account deals. You could even ask the customers via an informal survey about the type of credit processing they are most interested in and then see how promotional offers for opening a merchant account may impact customer interests. Of course, you can always check out the benefits of paying no transactions costs, and if permissible, switch to another system later if costs increase more than expected with free creditcard processing for business owners.

Fine Dining in Sydney: Looking For a Luxury Restaurant?

As one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, Sydney, Australia offers an array of fine dining options that will accommodate even the most divergent of palates. Pleasing ambiance, great service, and delectable bites of perfection can be found on any block and represent fine cuisine from all over the world.

Are your taste buds tingling in anticipation of a taste of Thai? Yok Yor is calling your name. Consistently rated one of the best overall restaurants in Sydney, Yok Yor delivers the goods time and again, redefining spice and giving traditional Thai food an edge. With a romantic atmosphere and attentive wait staff, what more could you ask for? Recommended signature dish: Fried Barramundi.

If you're in the mood for Greek, you can't go wrong with Nostos. The menu offers a large selection of traditional Greek fare, and the knowledgeable and friendly wait staff will ensure you leave satisfied. Known for subtle, fresh tasting food, Nostos is perpetually perched at the top of restaurant review lists. Stop in on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and you'll get the added bonus of live music. Recommended signature dish: Keftedes (Greek meatballs in feta dip)

Tetsuya’s offers the best of two worlds. Japanese flavors are enhanced with classic French cooking techniques, directed by Chef Tetsuya, who is known for his innovative approach to food and the wide variety of an ever-changing menu. He uses fresh, seasonal foods to create unforgettable dishes that wow customers and keep them coming back for more. Recommended signature dish: Confit of Tasmanian Ocean Trout.

Sweet tooth? Don't pass up the opportunity to indulge in the tastiest of treats at La Renaissance Patisserie. Serving up generous portions of French cuisine and delicate pastries, La Renaissance Patisserie has been a favorite of tourists and Sydney residents for years. For something truly decadent, check out the catering menu. You can order an assortment of desserts for parties and get a nibble of every variety. Recommended signature dish: Black Forest Cake.

Another notable French restaurant is La Pelican. Housed in a smallish sandstone structure, La Pelican has a cozy, old world feel. Large groups are accommodated in the inviting courtyard at the back of the building, and private rooms are available for small parties. The chef gladly adjusts dishes for customers with special dietary restrictions, and customer requests are always greeted with a smile. Recommended signature dish: Lamb.

Times on the Park is hands down the number one place to go for a good steak. Not only are the steaks tender and flavorful, but customers also get to dine while looking out at the lovely view of Hyde Park. Add in the superior wine selection and friendly staff and Times on the Park is a serious contender for the best restaurant in Sydney list. Recommended signature dish: Chateaubriand Wagyu Aged Steak.

In all, fine dining restaurants in Sydney maintain a high standard. Keep an open mind and try out all the cuisines Sydney has to offer--your taste buds will thank you.

1/03/2009

Moving Home - Moving Back With Family

As the result of an unfortunate situation such as the loss of a job; a broken marriage; a sudden illness; the need to save; going back to school , or other financial circumstances, many adults are moving back home with their parents. Although moving back home maybe something you resist, often times it is the best solution available or at least until you get back on your feet again. The most important thing for you to consider when moving back home is finding a way to make your new living arrangements easy for everyone involved. Here are a few tips on how to survive your move back home with your parents.

1. Talk with your parent s to establish payment before you move. If you are not able to pay rent right now, maybe you can help with utilities, food, and necessities until you are able to give more. If any amount of financial payment is out of your means at the moment, ask them if you can help them maintain their home by cleaning, mowing the lawn, or cooking. Your parents will be grateful to receive anything offered to them in exchange for providing help to you for a while.

2. Set a deadline for yourself to move out. Unless you are moving in with your parents to take care of them, it should be understood that the arrangement for you to stay is only for a short while. Try to give your parents the peace of mind that you intend to only stay until you get back on your feet again.

3. As much as possible try to keep your parent’s house as close to how it was before you moved there. Before you move in, you may think about getting your own phone line so that your phone calls do not disturb them at odd hours of the day or night. Also, purchasing your own refrigerator to keep in your room and parking your vehicle in an area that won’t block them from getting in and out of the driveway are just a few other ways to ensure that their lifestyle remains the same.

4. Even though you may be an adult, it’s wise to remember that you are still living in your parent’s house and they may have rules for you to abide by. When they discuss their rules try to accept them openly. Think about it, if you are out of luck, the rules of your parents are probably a lot better than any other place you’ve have to live.

5. It’s best to act respectful toward all individuals of the house. It’s likely that other siblings or family members are also living in your parent’s house. Do your best to stay out of other’s way and avoid any conflicts that might occur.

6. Please try to remember that things will probably not be like they were when you lived there before, we all move on and things change, it may be a shock to you to discover your patents have discovered a life too, so respect that.

Most Effective Exercises For Building Leg Muscles

To effectively build muscle mass you will need to do several intensive lifting workouts per week. The best way to avoid over straining your muscles is to focus only on either the upper body or lower body in one session.

Here is a compilation of the best muscle building exercises for your lower body:

Deadlift:

Body Position – Provide a solid base by placing your feet marginally further apart than your shoulders. The bar of the weights needs to be resting across the balls of your feet. Look straight forward and squat. Make sure you keep your back straight to avoid injury. Position your hands a little wider than your feet, and firmly hold the bar with both hands.

The Lift – Keep your back and arms completely straight and lift the bar. Your aim is to work your leg muscles – which will be providing the power. If you feel pressure and pain in your back, your technique is incorrect. If your back is not completely straight you risk damaging your disks. When you have achieved an upright position, raise the bar up from the shoulders and the lift is complete.

Completion – Use precision and control to return the weights to the floor. Your back should be rigid, and you should use your hips and knees to lower your body.

Squats:

Body Position – Firstly, you should position the bar of the weights approximately 3 inches lower than the highest point of your trapezius. Back up to the bar, and provide a solid base by placing your feet marginally further apart than your shoulders. Place your hands on the bar at a comfortable distance apart.

The Lift – It is critical to look straight when you do this exercise, because shifting your focus can lead to a nasty fall. Your torso should be rigid, and you should bend your knees to lower your body.

Completion – Use precision and control to rise from your knee bend into the standing position again. Your hips and knees should be extended, and your focus should be on controlling the bar’s motion.

Lunges:

Body Position – Take a stride, maintain the position, and move your feet slightly further apart. A straight line should form between your front knee and front foot. To use this exercise to its fullest extent, add dumbbells in both hands.

Movement – Bend your front knee thus lowering your back knee towards the floor. Avoid the temptation to lean forward by focusing straight in front, and keeping your chin up.

Completion – Straighten your legs and return to your original position. You should tightly squeeze your buttocks and use your abdominal muscles and lower back muscles to keep your upper body rigid.

Leg Press:

Body Position – Use the leg press machine for this exercise. Sit comfortably in the seat with your back straight. Place your feet a little more than shoulder width apart, and stabilize them by using the footpad provided. Ensure that your legs form an angle of around 100 degrees before you begin.

Movement – Use your heels to push off from the footpad and straighten your legs without locking them. If you use the balls of your feet instead of your heels, you will risk injury.

Completion – Restore your legs to their original position by using a carefully controlled, gradual motion.

Calf Raises:

Body Position – If your intention is to use a calf raise machine, put your feet on the pads provided, and position your shoulders properly with the shoulder pads. If you are using free weights, hold them securely and put your toes on the edge of your block.

Movement – Using the balls of your feet, carefully move your body in an upwards direction. Keep your knees straight, and use the motion provided by your ankle.

Completion: Using precision and control lower your body until your heels are only slightly elevated from the floor.

Leg Extension:

Body Position – Use the leg curl machine for this exercise. Seat yourself and place your legs over the bar which will lie in a resting position behind your knees - forming a 90 degree angle. Tuck your feet behind the other padded bar which should lie over your ankles. Remember that the height of this second bar will determine how far you are moving the weight. Further down = more valuable muscle mass.

Movement – Extend your legs in a kicking motion without locking your knees.

Your calf muscles and the floor should be parallel.

Completion – Return your legs to their original position using a fluid, controlled movement with no jerking. Lowering the weight is as important as elevated in to build your muscle mass.

1/02/2009

Remodeling Your Kitchen? Here’s a Tip

Do the winter doldrums, cramped up inside your home, have you yearning for a newly remodeled kitchen? As you shopped for holiday gifts this year, did you spend more time drooling over kitchen accoutrements than the items you had pre-designated on your gift-giving list? Then, maybe it’s time Santa brought you a kitchen remodel.

Remodeling your kitchen doesn’t have to be the scary proposition it’s made out to be. With a little preplanning, in fact, your dream kitchen could be just that: a dream come true. Just in time for post-holiday makeovers, the “Albany Times Union” recently ran an article titled “Kitchen remodeling tips.” Therein, the newspaper listed several pieces of kitchen remodeling advice, straight from the mouths of some leading kitchen designers. What did those experts suggest?

1. Devise a kitchen remodeling budget. To optimize the resale value of your home, multiply its overall value by 10 to 15% suggests one kitchen remodel expert. So if, for example, your home is worth $250,000, your remodeling budget should fall somewhere between $25,000 and $37,500.

2. Call in some kitchen remodeling help. No matter how handy you might be, plumbing, electrical and construction issues are going to creep up. If you can’t afford to hire experts for the entire project, at least splurge on them during the kitchen remodel design phase.

3. Don’t be a kitchen remodeling scrooge. If ever the adage “You get what you pay for” rang true, it’s during a home remodel project. The money you save at the outset will come back to bite you over the long haul when you have to shell out more money to replace or fix the shoddy work.

4. Make your kitchen remodeling investments sensible ones. It’s okay to splurge on certain aspects of your remodel projects, but make sure those expensive purchases provide you with long-term return on your investment. Kitchen flooring and cabinets are ideal kitchen remodeling splurges.

5. Don’t overlook the lighting. Inadequate lighting, in fact, may be the rationale behind your kitchen remodeling desires. Don’t make the same mistake twice by investing in a remodeled kitchen only to discover it’s a dark and dreary prison.

6. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your kitchen remodel will be permanent. In this day and age, when change is moving at fast forward pace, that space-age design you love today may be an eyesore a year or two from now. When remodeling your kitchen, try to steer clear of built-in components that may be impossible to replace with a same size fixture.

7. Get back to kitchen remodeling basics. You have to keep in mind that functionality reigns over form. While a pretty remodeled kitchen looks nice, it’s not going to do you much good if you can’t store your kitchen gadgets and gizmos in it, cook in it or gather for meals in it.

8. Conduct a space reality check before remodeling your kitchen. “You may want an island for extra storage, but if the overall space isn’t large enough, an island may just be in the way,” one of the newspapers kitchen remodeling experts pointed out.

1/01/2009

Stretch Marks: Prevention And Treatment During Pregnancy

More than half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks during their pregnancy. Otherwise known as striae gravidarum, stretch marks look like streaks on the surface of the skin, and may be vary in color depending on your natural skin color. Most lighter skinned women develop pinkish stretch marks, whereas darker skinned women tend to have stretch marks that are lighter than the surrounding skin.

Most women develop stretch marks on their abdomen during pregnancy, however it is also common to get stretch marks on the buttocks, hips, breasts and thighs. In some cases up to 90 percent of women have stretch marks on some part of their body as a result of pregnancy.

What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks form when your skin is stretched rapidly as happens during pregnancy. Most women develop stretch marks during the later trimesters of pregnancy though some women start to develop them as soon as their bellies start growing.

Stretch marks are actually small tears that form in the tissue that supports the skin and helps it stretch. Stretch marks represent the tearing or separation of collagen from the skin when tearing occurs. Stretch marks are not harmful or painful and usually fade over time.

Who Gets Stretch Marks
Many women believe that using lotions and creams help prevent stretch marks. Realistically speaking however, the number of stretch marks you get depends on how elastic your skin is. The elasticity of your skin usually relates to your genetic make up. The best thing you can do is find out if your mother got bad stretch marks during pregnancy. If she did, you are probably more prone to stretch marks than other women.

Keep in mind the more weight you gain during pregnancy the more likely you are to have stretch marks. Normally the skin is elastic and capable of stretching quite a bit, however for some women the changes that occur during pregnancy are very drastic. These rapid fluctuations of weight and skin stretching can result in stretch marks.

Women with multiples are more likely to get stretch marks because their bellies usually grow much larger than women with single pregnancies. Other women likely to develop stretch marks include women who gain a lot of weight quickly during their pregnancy and women who carry big babies.

Here are some other factors that may contribute to your susceptibility to stretch marks:

* If you developed stretch marks before (like on your breasts during puberty) you are more likely to get stretch marks while pregnant.

* If you had stretch marks during another pregnancy you will usually get them again.

* If you are overweight or gain more weight than recommended you are more likely to get stretch marks.

* The better hydrated and well nourished you are the less likely you are to develop serious stretch marks.

Stretch Mark Prevention
Most women believe that they can prevent stretch marks by using creams and lotions. There are many formulations on the market today that claim to help prevent stretch marks. Some of these may help moisturize your skin and reduce itching. They may help reduce some stretch marks however there are no scientific studies that support this.

You probably know at least one parent however that swears by cocoa butter or some other formulation to prevent stretch marks. If nothing else rubbing these creams into your belly provides your unborn baby with a light and comforting massage. They may also give you peace of mind knowing you did everything possible to prevent stretch marks.

The best thing you can do to minimize stretch marks aside from using any creams or moisturizers you select is gaining the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy. Doctors recommend most women gain between 25 and 34 pounds. Gaining much more than this can cause you to develop more stretch marks.

Removing Stretch Marks
Most women worry about stretch marks after they have their baby. Fortunately most stretch marks do fade with time. Usually after 12 moths postpartum most stretch marks are light and less noticeable. Their texture may remain different from the surrounding skin however. Many women notice their stretch marks fading into whitish lines that are minimally noticeable.

Some women have very severe stretch marks that impact their self esteem after pregnancy. There are many treatments available for women that want to improve the appearance of their stretch marks.

If your stretch marks are particularly bad, you may consult with your doctor or a dermatologist. Some topical treatments such as tretinoin cream can help reduce stretch marks. These creams must be used after pregnancy however, because they can cause defects in your unborn baby.

Most of the topical treatments available should be used shortly after delivery, before they start to fade. The more time that passes between the delivery and use of cream, the less likely they are to be effective.

If you are breastfeeding it is important you consult with your doctor before using any stretch mark treatments. Some treatments may impact your milk supply or pass through the breast milk to your baby.

Most of the creams available to reduce stretch marks do not help relieve the sagging skin that also accompanies childbirth. There are some newer treatments including laser treatments however that may improve the skins elasticity and help reduce stretch marks. Some women also consider plastic surgery after they are done having children. A tummy tuck can help hide some stretch marks and reduce sagging skin.

Most women are able to joyfully overlook stretch marks when they consider the miracle of life they bring into the world. For the most the small annoyance even the worst stretch marks bring are well worth the joys of bringing a newborn baby into the world. Do what you can during pregnancy to maintain an appropriate weight and try not to worry too much about stretch marks. Many women wear them with pride, a ‘war wound’ or “badge of honor” related to their pregnancy. Why not wear them with pride?