Breast Cancer Risks and Prevention Tips

One risk factor for breast cancer is hormone stimulation. One way to stimulate hormones is hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy was a popular treatment for women going through menopause. It was used to control the mood swings and other menopause symptoms. The hormone commonly being replaced was estrogen, with progesterone sometimes being used as well. The greatest risk comes from using a combination of progesterone and estrogen.

One other way for hormone stimulation is an uncontrollable factor, the age a woman begins menstruation and menopause. If a girl starts menstruation before 12, or a woman starts menopause before age 55, she will have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. There are ways to decrease that risk though. If a woman has a full-term pregnancy (38 to 40 weeks) before the age of 30 that may decrease her risk. Also, if a woman breast feeds her infant for at least 12 months or breast feeds several children, her risk may also be reduced.

Medication can also be used to prevent breast cancer. Tamoxifen is the most commonly used and others are being researched right now for their potential use in preventing breast cancer. Tamoxifen is often prescribed to women who have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, either because of genetic factors or other risk factors. This medication works by blocking how estrogen affects the cells in your breast. There are several serious risks associated with tamoxifen use however. These include an increased risk of uterine cancer, stroke and blood clots in the legs or lungs. You need to see your doctor immediately if you develop any symptom of these side effects.

Some women may choose to surgically remove their breasts in order to prevent breast cancer. This is called a preventive mastectomy. This is usually done by women who have a strong family history of breast cancer, as in several women (usually a woman's mother, sisters and/or aunts) in the family have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This surgery reduces the risk of breast cancer by as much as 90%.

Another type of surgery that may be performed to reduce the risk of breast cancer is a prophylactic oophorectomy, or elective surgery to remove the ovaries. This helps reduce the risk of breast cancer because the hormones produced by the ovaries increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. The genetic mutations that increase breast cancer risk may also increase a woman's chances of developing ovarian cancer. By removing her ovaries, a woman can dramatically decrease her chances of developing either type of cancer.

A woman's choice of foods and lifestyle may increase her risk of breast cancer. There seems to be a connection between obesity and breast cancer. Some studies have shown that obese women have a higher chance of developing breast cancer because of an increased amount of estrogen in their systems. Another study has shown that women who regularly eat high-fat foods have an increased risk of dying from breast cancer, not just developing it, compared to women from the same population that eat low-fat foods. These two studies suggest that an exercise program and a low-fat diet may decrease your chances of developing breast cancer. One lifestyle choice that may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer is alcohol drinking. Studies have shown that drinking alcohol may slightly increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. This does not mean that every woman who had a drink to celebrate her birthday or job promotion is at greater risk of cancer. The study suggested that current drinking had more of an impact on the risk than drinking as a young adult.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

You Have More Money in Your Pocket Than You Think

You Have More Money in Your Pocket Than You Think... by Gabriel Nijmeh

Let me be the first person to say, Why wasn't I smarter with my money? I look back over the years in amazement at how my money innocently slipped through my hands.

Ultimately, beyond those fleeting moments of gratification, I can't really say I have much to show for some of my misspent money. I certainly don't want to be a killjoy or anything and I don't advocate being a penny-pinching scrooge that doesn't enjoy life but there are small, yet significant steps you can take to keep more money in your pocket.

Just off the top of my head I came up with these and you can probably add a heck of a lot more to the list. Here we go:

Bank Service Charges:

We all know how our banks love to nickel and dime us. For reasons such as not maintaining a $1000 monthly balance or using another banks ATM machine. Whatever the reason these small fees quickly add up over time. Pay attention to your bank statements and review all bank documentation regarding service fees. You are looking at savings of $4 to $15/month.

Magazine/newspaper subscriptions:

Visit your local library or subscribe to magazines that offer professional/courtesy subscriptions. Tradepub.com lists various free publications across a range of subjects. Otherwise, carefully pick and choose the magazines you really want to subscribe to and look out for introductory subscription rates.

Stop smoking:

Preachy, I know... but that's a lot of money going up in smoke (pun intended!). Not only is this good for your wallet but for your health as well and if you are applying for life insurance, your premiums will be lower because you are classified as a lower risk individual. At $4 a pack and two packs a week that's $32/month.

Telephone services:

Do you need all those bundled services (call waiting, call answer, call forward). Pick only the services you absolutely need otherwise save at least $5-10/month.

Books and CDs:

Why pay full price when you can get a gently used or previously enjoyed copy of that best seller for a fraction of the price. I have bought CDs from local used CD stores that were almost brand new and saved $8-9 off the retail price for each CD.

Rebate Programs:

Always take advantage of rebate programs. It might be a hassle to fill out the forms and send them off but your savings will add up. Check out Rebateplace.com or AsmartShop.com

Coffee/Muffin mornings:

I'm guilty of this? I have to have my morning coffee (the office coffee is not very good) but at least I've learned to cut back on the muffins and donuts. At $3.00/day over the course of a month you are looking at a potential saving $60.

Lunch:

I finally stopped being lazy and started preparing my own lunch. Not only is it expensive but also fast food is not entirely healthy either. If you save on average $5/day that adds up to $100 for the month.

Sales patterns:

In my experience, Christmas merchandise is discounted 50% or more a day or two before Christmas and following Christmas.

Also consider buying seasonal products (boots, winter/summer clothing) as the seasons change. At times it might be difficult to find your exact size or colour but luckily that's usually not the case. We're talking savings of 40-60% and sometimes even more.

Case in point, I bought a leather jacket from Eddie Bauer last spring which was regularly priced at $498, and which was reduced to $199 and then further reduced by 30% during their annual spring sale. What made the deal even sweeter was that I had a $75 gift certificate, which I earned through MyPoints.com. Not a bad deal and one, which I'm proud of because I don't really have shoppers luck. As much as I like a deal, I can never find exactly what I'm looking for... maybe I'm too picky.

Something else I noticed where I live, gas prices are usually at their lowest Thursday through Monday and by Monday afternoon gas prices go up 5 - 8 cents per liter. However, pay attention to price patterns and news in the gas industry to have an understanding about where gas prices are heading and how it might affect you.

Month end recap:

By the end of the month, depending on your lifestyle choices and spending habits, you just might end up with an extra $50, $100 or more that you thought you never had. You can do it without depriving yourself and without a noticeable difference in your day-to-day life.

It's a balance between living for today and planning for the future. It's not always easy but it's worth it!

Think of these little sacrifices as an investment, which will reap you multiple rewards many times over.

Gabriel is the editor and Webmaster of The Money Advisor - http://www.the-money-advisor.com. He believes that everyone is capable of controlling their financial destiny with the right combination of rich thinking and smart action. The Money Advisor, a knowledge network of people, articles, tips, e-books and ideas about making money, saving money and building wealth!

Who Needs Cash When There's Electronic Money!Merle

It's a new world. Gone are the days of writing paper checks and entering credit card numbers. Now with the click of a mouse you can pay anyone anywhere, anytime, or you can receive payments yourself without a merchant account. All you need is the right service and an email address.

There are so many electronic payment services on the Net today, if you're not taking advantage of them you're missing out on a fast, simple way to move money around. If you're selling products or services online, adding one or more of these payment processes to your site will give your visitors more options and possibly result in more sales for you.

Let's examine some of the Top Players a little more closely:

1) PayPal http://www.PayPal.com

PayPal has to be the most popular of the payment services available by far. They offer three different account types: Personal, which has a limit of 100.00 per month in credit card payments; Premier, for those in need of high transactions (which means you need to accept a large number of credit card payments); and Business accounts, which are intended for business use only. A business account includes the ability to accept payment from your website and use of PayPal's shopping cart along with your own ATM/Debit card which allows you to access your funds at any local bank or use the debit card like a credit card at any store.

Fees: For Premier accounts these are 2.2% of each transaction plus $.30. Business users pay 2.9% per transaction plus $.30. There are no transaction fees for personal accounts. They do allow International payments for some countries; check the site for details.

2) BidPay: http://www.BidPay.com

Owned by Western Union and devised to make paying for online auctions easier. Basically, when you open an account with them you purchase money orders that they send out to pay for any auctions you may have won. Cannot handle transactions over $700.00. The money orders are mailed out within 24 hours. Emails are sent to the buyer and seller once payment is on its way. All payments under $100.00 are charged a $5.00 flat fee. Money orders between $100.01 and $700.00 are charged $5.00 +2.25% of the face value of the money order. International access allowed but limited to certain areas.

3) Yahoo Pay Direct http://PayDirect.yahoo.com

Send and receive money anywhere in the US with only an email address. You can transfer money to and from your online account with a credit card or from your offline bank. U.S. accounts only with no fees of any kind to use the service. The minimum amount of money you can send is $5.00 and the max is $200.00 -- that is, until you respond to a special verification mailing from them, after which they up your limit to $1,000.00

4) C2IT : http://www.C2It.com

This service is a part of Citibank, and when you register with them you'll receive a $10.00 sign up bonus. This one can be used to send cash to anyone in the U.S. with only an e mail address. Funds can be drawn from a credit card or your offline bank as well. Fees range depending on the type of transaction. Sending cash from your C2it account will cost you 1.00% of the transaction amount with a minimum. of .50. To transfer funds from your linked bank account to any linked account 1.60% of transaction with a .50 minimum. Requesting a check will run you $3.00. You must be a resident of the United States to use this service.

As you can see, there are many options available to you for moving cash around the Net quickly and easily. Personally, I use PayPal and have found the majority of people I encounter on the Internet have a PayPal account. You'll want to take into account a service's popularity before deciding on which one is just right for you.

Moving money electronically is a beautiful thing! And that you can take to the bank -- literally!

Merle http://www.EzineAdAuction.com Where some of the BEST Deals in Ezine Advertising are Made Buy & Sell Ezine Ads in a live auction setting! Publishers sell off your excess inventory and Buyers pick up some Fantastic bargains. Go now.

INTELLIGENT INVESTINGStephen R. Renfrow

Talk at the cooler about investing, is usually around Stocks.
Although I make money in Commodities, there is a safe way -
that banks and investment houses use, but they won't tell You!

How about a product that returns 12 - 42%, is 100% insured and
backed by the assets of the wealthiest institutions on the planet.
Your banker takes your CD money and invests in this vehicle.
Now you can turn the tables with this special insurance contract.

Earn ROR equivalent to, or exceeding, the equity markets!
Without any market risk or risk to principal - Guaranteed!!!

Its called a Viatical Settlement - and here is how it works.

Viatical Settlement - the sale of a life insurance policy at a
discounted rate to a group of investors by a person who is in
the advanced stages of a terminal illness.

The Investors hold the policy and receive the full face value of
the policy at maturity. A win-win situation. The viator is able
to enjoy the cash proceeds of his policy while still alive, and
the investor receives substantial returns that have been g'teed
by a major life insurance co. as well as the state's g'tee fund.
This means it's safer than a bank CD for amounts over $100,000.

Imagine ... NO exposure to downside risk! So instead of 4.75%
return on a CD you can receive 3 times as much, with no risk to
your principal or earnings on that principle. They are so safe
they qualify for placement in IRA, 401K, and Keogh private plans.

Maturities are available from 12 - 36 months, and are taxed as
capital gains when they mature.

CAVEAT: Do Not use contestable or policies that offer to buy
back annually or at maturity. They are more likely unregistered
securities. Ask only for one who represents a viatical settlement
provider who is licensed, bonded, insured. Make sure the policies
are raditional, conforming, non-contestable viatical
settlements.

Isn't it time you join the professionals? Your Banker won't tell
you! Nor your Insurance Broker or Attorney! Not even your Fund or
Trust Manager! For more info on Viatical Settlements and reputable
firms, please visit this page;

http://www.quackwatch.com/02ConsumerProtection/viatical.html

Stephen R. Renfrow, a Freelance Writer from Florida
is also Director of Consolidated Investors Group and
creator of the HOME BIZ NETWORK http://www.homebiznet.nu

Why Mortgage Insurance Can Actually Save You Money

Mortgage insurance provides lenders a form of financial guarantee which protects the lender in cases in which the borrower defaults on a loan. For those looking to buy a home, agreeing to loan terms which include mortgage insurance, increases the purchasing power of the buyer a great deal. Agreeing to buy mortgage insurance allows individuals the opportunity to buy a home with a down payment of only 5%-10%, as opposed to the 20% that is often required when the lender does not have the guarantee of mortgage insurance.

Buyers typically purchase and pay for mortgage insurance in three different ways. These ways include paying in annuals, monthly premiums, or singles. We are going to take a closer look at the available mortgage insurance payment options below:

1.) Annuals: The annuals payment option allows the lender to collect the first year?s premium at closing and then all subsequent payments are made on a monthly basis.

2.) Monthly Premiums: This payment option requires the buyer to only pay for one month at closing and all remaining payments are then made on a monthly basis.

3.) Singles: The singles payment option requires the buyer to make a one-time single payment that is typically financed as part of the mortgage amount.

Mortgage insurance ensures the lender is covered in cases in which the borrower can no longer pay the loan and defaults on it. It is also a powerful bargaining tool for potential borrowers who are unable to come up with a large down payment. Offering to pay mortgage insurance can decrease the amount of ones? down payment by 10% to 15%. But it is important to note that mortgage insurance does not have to be paid forever. After a certain period of time and when certain conditions are met, mortgage insurance is no longer required to be carried on the mortgage.

For more information on better Mortgages as well as great Mortgage Broker tips, tricks, and techniques and money-saving info visit www.lenoxnationalmortgage.com

Circuit Training for a wellrounded exercise program!

Circuit Training & Circuit Training Routines

Circuit training routines are one of my favourite training sessions, whether for myself personally, or for clients. I use circuit training as part of injury rehabilitation programs, for conditioning elite level athletes, or to help my clients lose weight. I use circuits for just about everything.

I was introduced to circuit training routines by an exceptional sports coach by the name of Col Stewart. Col is one of those rare coaches who can take just about any sport, and devise a specific training program that always produces outstanding improvements for his athletes.

Col's circuit training routines are largely responsible for the success of many of his world champion athletes. Including his son, Miles Stewart (World Champion Triathlete), Mick Doohan (World 500cc Motorcycle Champion), and countless others from sports as diverse as roller-skating, squash, and cycling.

Many other coaches are also impressed by circuit training and use it regularly.

Brian Mackenzie from Sports Coach says, Circuit training is an excellent way to simultaneously improve mobility, strength and stamina.

Workouts for Women state circuit training is one of the best methods of exercising as it provides excellent all round fitness, tone, strength, and a reduction of weight and inches. In short, maximum results in minimum time.

And another site referred to circuit training as an ideal way to build versatility, overall strength and fitness, as well as to consolidate your mastery of a wide variety of physical skills.

So what is Circuit Training?

Circuit training consists of a consecutive series of timed exercises performed one after the other with varying amounts of rest between each exercise.

For example, a simple circuit training routine might consist of push-ups, sit-ups, squats, chin-ups and lunges. The routine might be structured as follows, and could be continually repeated as many times as is necessary.

* Do as many push-ups as you can in 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds.
* Do as many squats as you can in 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds.
* Do as many sit-ups as you can in 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds.
* Do as many lunges as you can in 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds.
* Do as many chin-ups as you can in 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds.

What makes Circuit Training so good?

The quick pace and constant changing nature of circuit training places a unique type of stress on the body, which differs from normal exercise activities, like weight training and aerobics.

The demands of circuit training tend to prepare the body in a very even, all-round manner. I have found circuit training to be an exceptional form of exercise to aid in the prevention of injury. Circuit training is one of the best ways I've found to condition your entire body (and mind).

There are many other reasons why circuit training is a fantastic form of exercise, and what most of these reasons come down to is flexibility. In other words, circuit training is totally customizable to your specific requirements.

Circuit training can be totally personalized. Whether you're a beginner, or an elite athlete, you can modify your circuit training routine to give you the best possible results.

A circuit training routine can be modified to give you exactly what you want. Whether you want an all-over body workout, or you just want to work on a specific body area, or you need to work on a particular aspect of your sport, this can all be accommodated.

Also, you can change the focus of your circuit training routine to emphasize strength, endurance, agility, speed, skill development, weight loss, or any other aspect of your fitness that is important to you.

Circuit training is time efficient. No wasted time in between sets. It's maximum results in minimum time.

You can do circuit training just about anywhere. One of my favourite places for doing circuit training is at some of the parks and playground areas near where I live.

Circuit training is a favourite form of exercise for the British Royal Marine Commandos because they tend to spend a lot of time on large ships. The confined spaces means that circuit training is sometimes the only form of exercise available to them.

You don't need expensive equipment. You don't even need a gym membership. You can just as easily put together a great circuit training routine at home or in a park. By using your imagination, you can devise all sorts of exercises using things like chairs and tables, and even children's outdoor play equipment like swings and monkey bars.

Another reason why I like circuit training so much is that it's great fun to do in pairs or groups. Half the group exercises while the other half rests and motivates the exercising members of the group.

The main types of Circuit Training

As mentioned before, circuit training can be totally customized, which means there are an unlimited number of different ways you can structure your circuit training routine. However, here are a few examples to give you some idea of the different types available.

Timed Circuit
This type of circuit involves working to a set time period for both rest and exercise intervals. For example, a typical timed circuit might involve 30 seconds of exercise and 30 seconds of rest in between each exercise.

Competition Circuit
This is similar to a timed circuit but you push yourself to see how many repetitions you can do in the set time period. For example, you may be able to complete 12 push-ups in 30 seconds. The idea is to keep the time period the same, but try to increase the number of repetitions you can do in the set time period.

Repetition Circuit
This type of circuit is great if you're working with large groups of people who have different levels of fitness and ability. The idea is that the fittest group might do, say 20 repetitions of each exercise, the intermediate group might only do 15 repetitions, while the beginners might only do 10 repetitions of each exercise.

Sport Specific or Running Circuit
This type of circuit is best done outside or in a large, open area. Choose exercises that are specific to your particular sport, or emphasize an aspect of your sport you'd like to improve. Then instead of simply resting between exercises, run easy for 200 or 400 metres. You can even use sprints or fast 400 metre runs as part of your choice of exercises.

Some Important Precautions

Circuit training is a fantastic form of exercise, however, the most common problem I find is that people tend to get over excited, because of the timed nature of the exercises, and push themselves harder than they normally would. This tends to result in sore muscles and joints, and an increased likelihood of injury.

Below are two precautions you need to take into consideration.

Firstly, your level of fitness. If you've never done any sort of circuit training before, even if you consider yourself quite fit, start off slowly. The nature of circuit training is quite different to any other form of exercise. It places different demand on the body and mind, and if you're not used to it, it will take a few sessions for your body to adapt to this new form of training. Be patient.

Secondly, you're warm-up and cool-down are crucial. Don't ever start a circuit training routine without a thorough warm-up that includes stretching. As I mentioned before, circuit training is very different from other forms of exercise. Your body must be prepared for circuit training before you start your session.

For more information on how to warm-up and cool-down properly, review the following articles.

Warm-up: http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/warm-up.htm
Cool-down: http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/cool-down.htm
About the author:

Article by Brad Walker. Brad is a leading stretching and sports injury consultant with over 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. For more articles on the prevention & treatment of sports injury, subscribe to The Stretching & Sports Injury Newsletter by visiting http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/.


STRETCHING - Scientifically, The latest scientific studies and research findings.Brad Walker - Walkerbout Health Pty LtdSTRETCHING - Scientifically

Without a doubt, the most common questions I'm asked is; What's your view on the latest scientific studies and research findings in regards to stretching?

The short answer is; They all make for interesting reading, but I don't put a huge amount of confidence in them. Let me explain why.

Most of the studies I've reviewed attempt to determine the effects of stretching on injury prevention. This is a mistake in itself, and shows a lack of understanding as to how stretching is used as part of an injury prevention program.

Stretching, by itself, will not prevent injury. In fact, stretching can cause injury if certain precautions aren't taken.

Plus, it's not just a flexibility problem that can lead to injury. It could be a strength imbalance. It could be a stability or balance problem. It could be a proprioceptive imbalance. It could have to do with postural imbalances. It could have to do with physical imbalances like leg length differences. Or, it could simply be a matter of trying to do too much, too soon.

Stretching is just one very important component that assists in reducing the risk of injury. The best results are achieved when stretching is used in combination with other injury reduction techniques.

Stretching and its effect on physical performance and injury prevention is something that just can't be measured scientifically. The effects of stretching are very hard to measure and all the studies that I have seen are nothing more than anecdotal studies. Meaning the results achieved, or not achieved, are simply that persons perception of what has improved or not improved.

You see, stretching is not a science. It is near impossible to PROVE anything about stretching, scientifically. Sure you can measure the effect of stretching on flexibility with simple tests like the Site and Reach test but then to determine how that affects athletic performance or injury susceptibility is near impossible. The only way to do it would be with muscle biopsy's, which can be extremely painful and lead to muscle damage if done repeatedly.

I've seen so many people benefit from stretching and increased flexibility, that I'm absolutely positive it is beneficial. Most people involved in the hands-on side of coaching and sports training aren't worried by this type of study. It's mostly the academics that do the majority of there coaching from behind a desk, that are influenced by these studies.


So what can we say about the benefits of stretching...

Firstly
Upon undertaking a regular stretching program a number of changes occur within the body. Firstly, by placing particular parts of the body in certain positions, we are able to increase the length of muscles and tendons. As a result of this, a reduction in general muscle tension is achieved and our normal range of movement is increased.

By increasing our range of movement we are increasing the distance our limbs can move before damage occurs to the muscles and tendons. For example, the muscles and tendons in the back of our legs are put under great strain when kicking a football. Therefore, the more flexible and pliable those muscles are, the further our leg can travel forward before a strain or injury occurs to them.

The benefits of an extended range of movement includes: increased comfort; a greater ability to move freely; and a lessening of our susceptibility to muscle and tendon strain injuries.

Secondly
There is a dangerous stretching myth that says, 'if you stretch too much you will lose both joint stability and muscle power. This is totally untrue. By increasing our muscle and tendon length we are increasing the distance over which our muscles are able to contract. This results in a potential increase to our muscles' power and therefore increases our athletic ability, while also leading to an improvement in dynamic balance, or the ability to control our muscles.

Thirdly
We have all experienced what happens when you go for a run or to the gym for the first time in a few months. The following day our muscles are tight, sore, stiff and it's usually hard to even walk down a flight of stairs. This soreness that usually accompanies strenuous physical activity is often referred to as post exercise muscle soreness. This soreness is the result of micro tears, (minute tears within the muscle fibres), blood pooling and accumulated waste products, such as lactic acid. Stretching, as part of an effective cool-down, helps to alleviate this soreness by lengthening the individual muscle fibres, increasing blood circulation and removing waste products.

Fourthly
Fatigue is a major problem for everyone, especially those who exercise. It results in a decrease in both physical and mental performance. Increased flexibility through stretching can help prevent the effects of fatigue by taking pressure off the working muscles. For every muscle in the body has an opposite or opposing muscle and if the opposing muscles are more flexible, the working muscles do not have to exert as much force against the opposing muscles. Therefore each movement of the working muscles actually takes less effort.

And finally
Any person who experiences the benefits of stretching is certainly more likely to feel good about themselves. This leads to a confidence and assuredness, which helps to enhance physical performance and motivate the individual to participate in exercise.
About the author:

Article by Brad Walker. Brad is a leading stretching and sports injury consultant with over 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. For more articles on the prevention & treatment of sports injury, subscribe to The Stretching & Sports Injury Newsletter by visiting http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/.

Valuable Real Estate Purchasing Tips

Perhaps the most important process of buying or selling your home is the ?contract of purchase and sale?. This one contract must be the strongest link in the chain that holds your purchase or sale together. The intent of each item included in this contract must be clear with no misunderstandings. In other words, everyone understand what to do and when to do it.

The ?contract of purchase and sale? has been developed by the B.C. Real Estate Association and the Canadian Bar Association within British Columbia. This contract is mostly suitable for residential real estate and should not be used for commercial transactions. One major issue in the contract of purchase and sale that is often over looked is the numbering of pages. The approved contract and all ammendum pages should be cross referenced. The appropriate page number should be written at the top of each page (i.e., Page 1 of 3, or Page 2 of 3 and so forth).

An amendment to an original contract of purchase and sale is essentially known as a change in the agreement. This new agreement that has been made should be put in writing in what as known as an ?addendum form? and signed by all the parties to the contract. Each of these parties much receive a copy and this copy must be dated appropriately. The amendment done on the addendum form must clearly refer to the original contract and ?all other terms and conditions remain the same? should be in writing after the change.

Are you out of the country or out of the province? The seller or buyer may appoint someone (realtor or another person) to act on his or her behalf with regards to any real estate transaction. This authorization should explain the exact terms and conditions under what authority the person has to sign on an agreement. For example: A telegram, letter or fax may be perfectly fine for this person to sign for. However, the signing of legal binding agreement may need the signature of ?power of attorney?. When a person is granting the power of attorney to another individual, the proper way to complete this is as shown. However, should not be taken as legal advice and should not be used without first consulting your lawyer.

? First-Name Last-Name grants a power of attorney to her friend First-Name Last-Name to enter into contracts for the sale of his/her property.? This friend could then sign both the listing contract and any other contracts including the contract of purchase and sale. This agreement should be witnessed by another person. This should be done on the correct form provided by your lawyer of choice. Legal Counsel is recommended that all parties to a transaction be advised to have legal advice from separate lawyers.

?Subject to? Clauses in the purchase of your new home, condo, apartment or mobile home is a very important binding element of your agreement. If one or both parties are not clear, this can weaken your agreement and could alter the original intentions of the purchase and sale. The ideal subject clause is one whose criteria are so clear that it is completely obvious whether the criteria for satisfying that clause are met. When your looking at your clauses consider this. Is your clause subjective or objective? Here?s the difference:

A subjective ? Is one that depends on the personal view of the individual who decides it.

An Objective ? (in contrast) Is an objective clause that depends on the external event.

The more subjective the wording of a subject clause, the higher the chases the court system in British Columbia will find the clause to be uncertain. So how do you make your clause more objective? Make it clear so that everyone may easily know whether the clause is fulfilled or not. The more objective it is, the more you can prove whether the subject clause is completed or not.

Your local realtor is required to take a course on proper contractual writing and should have an innate knowledge of the law. If you have questions, don?t only present your questions or concerts to your realtor, but your lawyer as well. For the most part the experience of your realtor and the requirements put forth by the BCREA (British Columbia Real Estate Association) should be sufficient. In conclusion the be sure that all pages are numbered, the addendum is clear with signatures and that your ?subject to? clauses are clear and objective.

Shane Toews is a Licenced Realtor who helps others to educate themselves on current real estate issues. He also provides assistance on how to locate quality homes, apartments or vacation rentals in Canada's Fraser Valley area. Visit his website RentFraserValley.com for more information on Canada's Fraser Valley Real Estate Market

Choosing the Right Car Seat Covers!

I always used to laugh when people bought a new car then put car seat covers over the seats. After all, many folks by a car because they like the style and colors of its interior, so I couldn't understand why they would then go and cover up one of the very things that they found attractive about the vehicle in the first place. That is until I became a family man with 2 kids and a boisterous hound called Tramp!

For those of you that have children, messy partners, and pets, will know only too well that if you plan to sell your motor at some point in the future then you will need it be in tip top condition in order to get the best resale price. Car sear covers can help protect your seats from general wear and tear, plus spills and splits. So, when the time comes to trade your vehicle in, your seating should look as good as the day you bought it.

Dog seat covers are generally made for the rear seats of the vehicle. There are a lot of choices today for specially made pet covers for the car. It's always worth going for good quality animal seat covers so that you can relax and not stress about the dog eating or scratching through the rear seat while on the move. There are many different designs, shapes and materials around today, so you should be able to easily find something to blend with the interior of your motor.

Since there are so many companies around which produce a huge variety of car seat covers made from all types of materials, we're no longer stuck with those awful leopard skin or fluffy fabrics that we used to have. And now that the world of online shopping has opened its doors to everyone, there is an even greater choice available than ever before.

Protective seat covers now come in high quality leathers to the basic cloth types, (which many folks use as temporary protection when moving garbage and the like). But some custom made car seat covers are so well made today that they look even better than the original fabrics, and can actually enhance the car's interior. Gone are the days of loosely fitting baggy types as today's customized seat covers are a very snug fit with no sagging ends.

Messy toddlers can often play havoc with the inside of your car and even the best behaved youngsters make a mess at times. They're not at fault, they are just doing what kids do best which is making a mess at every possible opportunity!

Good baby seat covers can both protect your car seats, and cushion the baby at the same time. If you know someone who is about to have a baby, then a baby car seat cover is a great gift and quite unique, as it's a gift that most people don't think about. As most parents take their baby out and around town on errands and trips, the baby car seat cover is a must have!

Lots more articles on autos and car accessories including a piece on Choosing a Baby Car Seat, plus a look at the Best Booster Car Seats and a piece on what to look for when Buying Cheap Tires and Wheels. For these articles and more, visit Keeping Cars dot com

Child Car Seats 7 in 10 Are Misused How to Get the Right One To Keep Your Child Safe!

Learn about car seats before you buy. It is not only important that you obtain the right car seat in the first place, but also that the car seat be used properly at all times.

Child car seats are widely recognized for their value in helping to keep children safe and comfortable while traveling, and are one of the most important purchases that can be made for your child's safety. However, a study by the U.S. Government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration** found that, of nearly 3500 car seats observed, more than SEVEN in every TEN child restraint systems were misused in a way that could be expected to increase a child's risk of injury during a crash. It is not only important that you obtain the right car seat in the first place, but also that the car seat be used properly at all times.

**Per the U.S. Government's Department of Health and Human Service's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 'Child Passenger Safety Fact Sheet' (see the 'Risk Factors' section).

Types of Child Car Seats:

There are three basic types of child car seats, with each type being suitable for a child within a certain age and weight range.

'Infant' car seats are designed for newborns up to about six months of age. These are rear facing car seats with a harness to keep the child securely in place, with the child riding in a lying down position. There are also 'convertible' infant/toddler child car seats available. These car seats can be used for children from infancy into their toddler years, until they are ready for a booster seat.

At about six months of age most children are ready to start using a 'toddler' car seat, until they transition into a 'booster' car seat. Many toddler car seats allow the child to ride in either an upright or a reclined position, and some models raise the child up sufficiently to be able to easily see out of the vehicle's windows while in the upright position.

'Booster' car seats are designed for children from approximately 2 years of age up to 6 years, and are forward facing car seats that are designed for the child to sit upright. There are also 'convertible' toddler/booster child car seats available. These car seats can be used for children from the time they are ready to start using a toddler seat until they are ready to start using just the car's seat belts.

Purchasing a Child Car Seat:

Although it may not be necessary to buy an expensive car seat to keep your child safe, price alone should not be the determining factor in choosing which car seat to purchase. A 'cheap' child car seat, or a 'bargain' that you find at a garage sale, may not give your child the maximum level of protection that he or she deserves.

Using a secondhand child car seat may not be a good idea, as you may not be able to tell how old the car seat is, and, thus, whether or not it was designed to comply with current automobile designs and child car seat standards (federal motor vehicle safety standards change regularly, and older car seats may not be in compliance with them). In addition, the car seat may have suffered internal damage in an accident, or may not have all of its original parts. You may be able to use a relatively new secondhand car seat from a family member or friend, if they can tell you the car seat's history, and know that the car seat has all its original parts. Also, make sure that the instructions for the car seat are either included with the car seat, or that you obtain them from the manufacturer or a distributor (instructions are usually available at no cost, either through the mail, or by downloading them over the Internet).

Before buying any child car seat, you should do your 'homework' to make sure that you select one that is suitable both for your child, and for the vehicle(s) in which it will be used. You can purchase quality child car seats over the Internet, and searching the Internet is a good way to find manufacturers' descriptions and recommendations, product reviews, safety ratings, and recall information, for various child car seat models, so that you can choose the best models to consider purchasing. Child car seat manufacturers are bound by very strict guidelines, and you may be surprised to find that some of the more expensive car seats don't provide any better level of protection than those which are more moderately priced.

A good place to start your research is to read Consumer Reports for comparisons of various car seat models. Make sure that any car seat you're considering has passed the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) test. Also, there are often parent comments that you can read on the Web sites of retailers that sell car seats online. In this way you can find good information from actual users about both the good and bad features of various car seat models (such as comfort level, and easy of installation and use).

Child Car Seat Installation and Use:

To provide your child with the maximum level of protection, it is vital that your child use a child car seat that is suitable both for the child and for the vehicle(s) in which the car seat will be used, and that it always be used in a proper fashion. Every new car seat comes with instructions for proper installation and use, and before buying any car seat, you should always check the manufacturer's specifications and recommendations to make sure that it is not only appropriate for your child, but also that it will fit into your vehicle(s) properly, so that it will provide the best possible protection. There may be special instructions that you should be aware of, and failure to follow these instructions could result in compromising your child's safety and comfort while using the car seat.

If you have any questions about the suitability of a particular car seat for a particular vehicle, or how to install the car seat in that vehicle, contact the car seat's manufacturer for clarification. In addition, many communities have agencies (including local law enforcement) that will assist you in making sure that you know how to properly install and use your child's car seat, so as to provide the highest level of car seat safety.

Buying the right child car seat for your child, and using the car seat properly, will provide your child with a comfortable and safe riding experience, and make traveling a more pleasant and enjoyable experience for the whole family.

Where to Shop:

GalaxyOfStores is an Online Shopping Center for THOUSANDS of different products for the whole family.

Please visit CHILD CAR SEATS for more information about car seats, as well as a great selection of car seats, strollers, and travel systems, and visit the GalaxyOfStores.com HOME PAGE for all of its great products.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Hi. My name is Tom Littlepage, and I operate GalaxyOfStores.com, your Online Shopping Center for THOUSANDS of different products for the whole family. Please visit the GalaxyOfStores.com HOME PAGE for all of our great products.

Ancient Backgammon History A Game With A Rich Past

Backgammon is the oldest known board game in the world. It has a history dating back nearly 5,000 years into the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia, where the original concept of the Backgammon game was established. Throughout the millennium, Backgammon has not only survived, but thrived. Today, Backgammon remains one of the most popular games in the world, played by fans from all corners of the Earth. Through the power of the internet, online Backgammon has allowed anyone with an internet connection to learn how to play Backgammon. To understand how Backgammon evolved from its early roots as an upper-class game of ancient civilizations to the commonly played Backgammon software we are familiar with today, let's take a look at the ancient history of this legendary game.

The first of what is generally considered the family of Backgammon archetypes is known as the Royal Game of Ur. The game originated in ancient Mesopotamia, which is today the area of Iraq and Iran, as early as 3,000 BC. In the tombs of Ur al Chaldees, several wooden playing boards and dice were discovered. They are believed to be the oldest remnants of a game that would eventually produce today's Backgammon. Similar to the Royal Game of Ur is the ancient Egyptian game Senat.

After these civilizations collapsed, an even closer ancestor of today's Backgammon called Ludus Duodicem Scriptorum (The Game with 12 Lines) arose in the Roman Empire. Like Egyptian Senat, this game also used 30 markers, 15 carved from ebony and 15 from ivory. Originally, this game was played on a board of three rows of 12 points each; by the 1st century AD, the board had been modified to two rows of 12 points each, bringing it closer to the Backgammon board game in use today.

Tabula is the next known version of the game, supposedly played by Rome's Emperor Claudius, who wrote a now lost guide to the game in 50 AD. The game was extremely popular before being prohibited by the Empire in an attempt to control widespread Backgammon gambling. Tabula play is recorded in the annals of the Byzantine Emperor Zeno as being a game that included the present-day Backgammon strategy of bearing off checkers.

From here, Backgammon spread to Asia, including India, China and Japan, as the Persian game Nard, which is how Persian Backgammon is still known in Persia today. It is believed that the Nard version of the game is responsible for inspiring a symbolic and poetic explanation of the Backgammon set up which reveals that the game is designed to represent the natural cycle of time where the Backgammon board stands for one year. The 12 points on each side of the board represents the 12 months of the year; the 30 checkers are the 30 days in the month. The total number of points is 24, symbolizing the hours of the day, and the 15 light and 15 dark checkers are day and night.

Gene Marshall specializes in articles about online backgammon and backgammon board set up. Supplementary readings and articles that were written by Gene Marshall on the topic of backgammon can be accessed online. Internet backgammon authority Gene Marshall writes for a few different distinguished backgammon web sites.

By Gene Marshall

Children's Books How to Add More Style to Your Writing Part 2

Baby Stroller Reviews

One way of deciding if a particular stroller is right for you
and your baby is to test it out. Another way is to look at
reviews of the baby stroller to see how it stands with those
who have already used the same model you are looking
at. The reviews of four different stroller types will address
the pros and cons of each particular stroller.

The Graco Duo-glider - Metropolitan Standard Stroller is a
multiple stroller and definitely has more pros than cons
however, the decision is strictly yours to make. The seat of
this stroller lies flat, it has a great price and great
accessories, and it folds small for its size. The extras are
nice, there is a five-point harness, and it strolls nicely.
There is a huge storage basket under the seat, it is easy to
open and easy to get in the car.

The cons of the Graco Duo-Glider is that the basket cannot
be reached when the seat is lying flat. The seat sides
need more support. The cup holder on the front seat must
be removed to shut the trunk of the car.

The Per Prego Duette MT - Black Sable Twin Seat
Standard Stroller is durable, has full suspension, and
reclining seats. This is an easy to push stroller and it has a
smooth ride. The seats can face each other and they both
recline. It is narrow for shopping. It??s design is high quality
with lots of leg room and a five-point harness. There is a
roomy seat area.

The complaints about the Per Prego Duette MT are that it
is large and heavy. It is expensive. it is hard to fold. It takes
up a lot of room. There is no storage basket and this
stroller does not collapse all the way.

The Evenflo Cititour Silver Star Twin Seat Standard Stroller
has a comfortable rear seat. This stroller can handle up to
forty pounds in each seat. It has soft and padded material.
There is a toddler drink and snack tray. This stroller steers
rather easily and there is easy access to the basket.

Complaints about this stroller include the fact that the
parent tray falls down. The front wheels squeak and
wobble after about two weeks of usage The front canopy is
too small for a toddler. It is difficult to open and close. The
fabric has a tendency to catch in the joints of the frame.

Let??s take a look at the Graco Quattro Tour 7411 LV -
Travel System Stroller is said to be sturdy. It is easy to
clean and use. It has great features. This is a very safe
stroller. It is a complete traveling system which includes a
stay in the car base. The car safety seat detaches from the
base and is attached to the stroller frame. The car safety
seat also can be an infant carrier. It is an excellent snug-
ride infant seat with a useful base. It has a large storage
basket. It requires only one hand to fold it.

The complaints about this particular stroller are that the
company needs to produce more girl colors. This stroller is
very bulky and heavy. It is a pricey model. It is oversized
and again very heavy.

The only positive statement about the Combi Tetra TS
Crimson Standard Stroller is that it has cool colors. The
wheels don??t turn properly and the basket is inaccessible
when the seat is recline. There are three reclining
positions only two of which work. It unfolds but doesn??t lock
which poses a serious risk to you and your baby and the
frame is made of cheap plastic.

About the Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of baby cribs, His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information. http://www.1st-babies.com

London Is Gearing Up For Land Prices Boom

London land for sale prices are set for quantum leap on the back of rising demand due to upcoming London Olympics.

Many land agents have suggested that the price of land in London could rise soon. According to Dan McLeod of estate agency Atkinson McLeod Almost overnight any land that can be developed will go. This is the best news for the property market in this area for years, he added.

This price rise in consonance with rise in land for sale prices during Olympics in cities which have hosted this game earlier.

According to BBC Barcelona, Sydney and Athens all saw house prices rise by more than 50% in the five years before the games but as UK property market is already suffering from severe housing shortage thus trend is expected to be more marked in London.

Investment in land for sale market in and around London is thus becoming an increasingly lucrative option for common investors.

Following types of plots of land for sale are available across London -

Brownfield Land: Brownfield Land is the common term used for previously developed land i.e. land that is or was occupied by a permanent structure. This land is often smaller, resulting in High Rise Development e.g. old petrol station and factories.

Greenfield Land: Greenfield Land simply refers to land that has never been used for development eg Farmland.

Greenbelt Land: Greenbelt Land is largely undeveloped or sparsely occupied land, which historically has been set aside to contain development, prevent towns merging and provide open space. Greenbelt boundaries can change in response to the requirements for additional housing in a controlled manner.

There are a number of companies serving smaller investors select plots of land to buy, and investments typically start at about $10,000.

While there is some opposition against moves to grant planning permission to builders on greenbelt and greenfield land but keeping in view the acute mismatch between expected demand for housing and the amount of land available for planned development these moves are unlikely to succeed. Government is implementing housing development programs which will effectively force local authorities to meet strict new housing targets.

Thus it is high time for any enterprising investors to start thinking about investing in property in and around London.

Stephen Brewood
Land For Sale in the UK

Choosing the Right San Diego Realtor for YOU!

Whether buying or selling a home, it is one of the largest financial events that happens only a few times within your life. That makes choosing a realtor just as important and a crucial decision that can add to the stressful event or make it smoother and easier. So, choose your realtor as carefully as you would choose your doctor or attorney.

The first step in choosing the RIGHT realtor is to ask your friends, neighbors, acquaintances and business associates for recommendations. Ask them why they liked the realtor, what kind of service he/she provided, and would they use him/her again? Do not consider recommendations of their relatives ? it is doubtful that you are getting an accurate perspective on the realtor.

If you did not get several truly exemplary recommendations, then drive throughout your neighborhood and check the ?for sale? signs, especially those with ?Sold? stuck across them. Note the realtor names. Also, check out real estate, display and classified advertising in your newspaper and local neighborhood paper. Which realtors have the most listings? Which have the largest or most display ads with photos of the homes? Note the realtor names.

By now, you should have a good list of potential realtors. It is time to check them out. Attend at least one open house for each realtor you are considering. Observe them in action and judge their expertise. Are they professional ? or do they come across as a ?used car salesman?? How familiar is the realtor with the property he/she is selling? After you leave, make detailed notes of your observations and how you felt about the realtor.

If you only used the recommendations of others, now check the advertising in the newspaper and neighborhood media for the realtors in which you are interested. Do the drive through of your neighborhood to see how many sold signs these realtors have. Make notes of how visible these realtors are and their marketing efforts.

Next, choose your top three realtor selections. It is better if they are from different companies, ensuring they will work harder for your business. Call all three and set appointments. For sellers, make the appointment in your home and let them know you would like an estimate of your home?s market value. For buyers, let them know you would like them to determine how much you can afford to pay for a home. Be sure they know that you are meeting with two other realtors and will not make your decision until you have met with all three.

During each interview, take detailed notes on the realtors? presentations. Note any thoughts you have. Ask the following questions, along with any you may have:

?For sellers

oHow will they sell your home? What are their marketing plans? Are they customized to your listing?

oHow many years have they been a full-time realtor? In your area? You want someone with experience, who will be giving your listing his/her full attention.

oWhat is their sales record? This includes their production level, rating, closed rate, expired rate on listings, and average time listings have been on the market before selling within the last year.

oAre they single-proprietorship realtors, work as a team, or part of a company? What prominent company are they associated with, and what resources does the firm provide the realtor that helps him/her do a better job for you?

oWhat level of technology will they use to promote your listing ? web sites, virtual tours, online photo galleries, and so on?

oWhat services do they provide from the time of listing your home to the end of the closing?

oWhat are their communication procedures with you from listing through closing?

oDo they provide working relationships with local inspectors, appraisers, and real estate attorneys?

oWill they help you ?stage? you home for showing. This is a walk-through of the property, suggesting things that should be repaired, renovated or changed to improve your pricing for the home. It also includes things that would ?show? the home better. For example, too much furniture adds a clutter affect, making rooms look smaller. The realtor may suggest storing some of your furniture until after the sale.

oHow did they arrive at the results of their marketing analysis? Ask for the actual addresses of any homes they used for comparison.

?For buyers

oWhat services do they provide from the time you contract with them through the closing?

oHow many years have they been a full-time agent? In your area? You want someone with experience, who will give his/her full attention to finding you a home.

oAre they single-proprietorship realtors, work as a team, or part of a company? What prominent company are they associated with, and what resources does the firm provide the realtor that helps him/her do a better job for you?

oWhat are their communication procedures with you during your search for a home through closing?

oWhat level of technology and research methods will they use to locate potential homes for you to view?

oWhat is their production level and rating? How many satisfied buyers in the past 12 months?

oDo they provide working relationships with inspectors, appraisers, title search companies/attorneys, and real estate attorneys for contracting and the closing? Can they suggest mortgage lenders, if you need one?

oDo they network with other realtors in the area? Sometimes, such relationships may afford you a viewing before a property is ?officially? listed, giving your first view.

Tell the realtors that you will make a decision and contact them in the next day or two.

After all interviews are completed, note the following:

?Who gave you the most usable information?

?For sellers, the market value for your home should be in similar ranges for all three realtors Note if someone is unusually high. They may be only trying to get your listing with the idea of talking your price down later. Also, drive by the homes they used for market value comparison. Which realtors compared apples to apples, and which compared apples to oranges?

?For buyers, your buying potential (what you can afford to pay for a new home) should be in the same range for all three realtors. If a realtor is much higher or lower than the others, note this. You may even call him/her to inquire about the difference and how they arrived at the amount?

?Who answered your questions with genuine sincerity?

?Who genuinely appeared most excited about your home and its sale?

?Who truly listened, and who did not?

?Which realtor seemed to be the best fit for you?

Choosing a poor realtor can turn an already stressful event into a nightmare with ramifications that you must live with for years to come. Choosing the right realtor can make the experience a dream come true and a totally satisfying event. Selling or buying a home is stressful enough. Be sure you do not choose a realtor that is going to add to that stress.

John Harris is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations. For more on San Diego Homes for Sale visit http://www.twtrealestate.com

Iowa Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in Iowa

Maybe you?re buying your first home in Iowa, or perhaps you?re relocating to Iowa from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on Iowa home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you?ll need to know before buying a home in Iowa:

The median home value in the state of Iowa is $82,500. Current interest rates in Iowa are above the national average, and job growth rates are below the national average.

In the state of Iowa, purchase transactions on sub-prime loans are subject to a $30,000 minimum. Additionally, if you live in Iowa and file bankruptcy, you do not necessarily have to forfeit your home. If you have been current on your payments and continue to be, state law does not require you to surrender your home.

If you?re buying a home in southern Iowa, you qualify for state FHA loans through the Southern Iowa Home Ownership Program. First-time home buyers qualify for loans with below-market interest rates and down payment assistance. Borrowers must meet certain income requirements and specific guidelines, and must purchase a home in a southern Iowa county: Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren Wapello, or Wayne.

These loans are revolving, so there are only a specific number that can be given out at any period of time. When a person with a FHA loan through this program sells their home or refinances it, then their loan is made available to another qualified applicant.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Iowa Mortgage Rates and Loans .

Consumer Reports Baby Swings

Designed for indoor use, baby swings typically consist of a seat suspended by a pair of arms attached to a frame with wide-standing, tubular-metal legs. Swings come in windup and battery-operated models. To make a windup model swing, you crank a handle at the top or side of the frame, which provides 20 to 30 minutes of movement. Battery-operated swings are driven by a motor that generally uses four D batteries. Such models emit a low churning noise with each passage of the swing. Most of the swings on the market today are battery-operated.

With either a windup or battery-powered mechanism, swings are lightweight and can be easily moved from room to room, although some are more maneuverable than others. Standard-size swings eat up a fair amount of room, so they may not be for you if floor space is scarce.

Some parents of colicky babies swear by swings. Other parents say they get by just fine without one. You may find that a swing comes in handy if your baby needs to sleep in a semi-upright position due to a cold or stuffy nose (although a bouncer seat may do the trick as well).

SHOPPING SECRETS

Decide whether you want a windup or battery-operated swing.
A windup model may be perfectly adequate as long as it's stable and has a well-padded, reclining seat that affords easy access. Battery-operated models usually have a sleeker design plus more features, such as speed controls, baby-sound activation, and toys attached to a front play tray. However, many parents find the motors noisy. If possible, try display models in the store (with batteries) or double-check the store's return policy. Then, test the swing as soon as you get home so you'll have the option of taking it back within the time allowed.

Try your baby out in a friend's swing or bring baby to the store with you for test runs when you're shopping. Keep in mind that your baby may not like the motion of a swing at first, although that could change after a few tries. Your baby's reactions may help you decide on one brand over another, or whether you're even a candidate for a swing in the first place.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

The major brands of baby swings are, in alphabetical order: Fisher-Price, Graco, J. Mason, and Kolcraft. Prices for windup swings range from $40 to $65. The price range for battery-operated swings is $70 to $100.

FEATURES TO CONSIDER

Crotch post. A built-in crotch post prevents a baby from sliding out of the seat--an extra safety measure. There should also be a safety belt, which most models have.

Frames. Swings without a top crossbar make it easier to put your baby in and take him or her out again. At the very least, look for a swing that has a wide, sturdy stance and folds or dismantles for storage.

Seat cover. Look for plush padding that's machine-washable.

Seat settings. Multiple reclining positions can help you find the most soothing posture for your baby, which is especially important if baby likes to nap while swinging (a common combo).

Speeds. Some battery-operated swings give you up to eight speeds, but more than four is overkill. The faster speeds may annoy rather than relax your baby.

Swinging motion. Some swings have two swinging motions: side to side and front to back. That's nice but not essential.

Timer. Some models feature a time-remaining indicator that can help you keep tabs on the action.

Toys. Many swings come equipped with toy bars or trays, which is an option your baby may enjoy. But make sure they're within reach so your baby can actually touch them. Also check that they're safely attached and have no small parts that might cause choking.

Nice but not necessary extras include a front tray, with or without attached toys; sound (classical music and lullabies), which may or may not be soothing to little ones and grown-ups; a light display; storage baskets on the side to hold toys and accessories; and a remote control to activate the swinging action, music, or both. Some swings try to sense when baby needs comforting and respond automatically. A built-in sound sensor hears baby's sounds and responds by swinging and/or playing music.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Look for a swing that has a sturdy, stable frame with strong posts and legs as well as a wide stance to prevent tipping. The bottom of the legs or frame should not protrude so far that you're likely to trip over them, however. Examine the seat. It should be well padded and have a crotch post (if it's not a travel version) to prevent your baby from sliding out. It should also offer a partially reclined position for snoozing. You'll also want a secure safety belt.

If you buy a model with a cradle or bassinet attachment, make sure it's well mounted underneath, with no potential for breaking loose. If you opt for a battery-operated swing, come equipped with four C or D cell batteries to test products in the store and hear the sound of the motor (a deal-killer for many parents). As a rule, swings don't come with batteries included.

Copyright ? 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

Find More
Baby Swings with Easy Deal at
ShopNdeal.com

About the Author

Drawbacks Of Double Baby Jogging Stroller

One drawback that many women face when they have children is weight gain. It's an inevitable part of becoming pregnant and

for a lot of women, the extra pounds stick around long after the baby is born. Getting back to working-out can be a challenge, especially if you don't have someone who can watch your children for you. With a double baby jogging stroller you can simply take the kids with you. They get to enjoy the view while you get to enjoy a nice, brisk jog.

The age of your children will be one of the factors you'll want to carefully consider before choosing a model. Some double jogger strollers are fashioned so the children sit next to one another, while others accommodate two children, one behind the

other.

If your kids are the same age, the side-by-side design might be most appropriate. This allows the children the chance to interact and it also distributes the weight very evenly. Many people who have twins decide to purchase this type of double baby jogging stroller. They are designed to accommodate children from birth through five years of age, so you can expect to get lots of use out of them.

A traditional tandem stroller is often a better choice if your children are a couple of years apart in age. The older child can sit in the front of the double baby jogging stroller while the back is best suited for a baby. In some double jogger strollers, the back seat can even be reclined so that a small baby can be placed flat for comfort.

Many moms and dads who use these as part of their work-out routine look for a model that can hold a few essentials including

water bottles, snacks for the kids and a cell phone. A double baby jogging stroller with a pouch in the back is a great choice. Some even come equipped with a special holder designed for either a water bottle or a baby's bottle.

Long jogs will obviously require some extras including items for changing a baby or toddler. If this is a consideration for you, a double baby jogging stroller with a basket underneath that can

accommodate these things will work well. As the children grow you can use this space for snacks, sunscreen and picture books.

There's no reason for a parent to not get out and walk or run, even if they have small children to tend to. The fresh air will be good for everyone and you'll love getting in shape while sharing time with your kids.

About the Author

AllHealthCareArticles.Com provides readers with the latest reviews,

articles,commentaries and write-ups on all double baby jogging stroller, distributes the weight, brisk jog

Save Money on Student Property Investment

Share the Risk of Purchasing Student Property and reduce the costs

As students eagerly await exam results parents are seriously considering how they will help their children to cover the costs of a university education. With property prices rising all over the country many parents who had previously thought about buying a property for their children are now wondering if this is a viable option. Rent differs between different university sites but most students can expect to pay ?2,000 to ?3,000 per year on rent whether in the Halls or through a ?bedsit?. With the maximum student loan (outside of London) being ?4,195 most parents can expect to be asked to help out with some of the costs.

Many parents can no longer afford to take on a full mortgage in a University town (the average cost of a property close to the University of Sheffield, for example, has increased by 133% over the last four years) yet are loathed to ?waste? rent money for the three or four years their children are at University.

Could the new era of ?a co-buying network? be the answer to the student property quandary?

A co-buying network involves people from different areas, different backgrounds and different socio-economic levels jointly taking on a mortgage. Owning a property with other parents is a very real solution to the ?rental trap? problem and is becoming an increasingly popular approach.

How Does It Work?

Parents interested in co-buying property should register with UK?s foremost and most experienced co-buying network - www.youtoshare.co.uk. Within their membership profile they would make it clear that they are looking to invest in a property while their child lives in it. They would then specify the area they are looking to buy in and search for other potential co-buyers. Membership of the ?You to Share? co-buying network provides access to a ?Deed of Trust? which is a legal document specifying who is responsible for what payments and provides a ?get out clause? for each party.

This document, typically, will cost between ?350 and ?500 and is provided free through our preferred solicitor(s). Many mortgage lenders are happy to divide a mortgage between three or four individuals which means three or four sets of parents could benefit from their offspring?s time within higher education.

Example Scenario

Mr Smith?s son is going to study Engineering at the University of Leicester. It is a 4 year degree and if renting Mr Smith would be looking at paying approximately ?20,000 in rent over that period. The average price of a four double bedroom terrace house close to the Leicester University campus is ?160 000 as advertised through Keywest Estate Agents in July 2006.

Mr Smith registers with ?You to Share? co-buying network and learns that Mrs Andrews and Mr Ryan also have children about to start at the University and are interested in co-buying a property in the area. The three (or four) parents contact each other via the You to Share co-buying network and arrange to have financial and police checks conducted on themselves so that they can then share this information with each other. They, with their children, search for a property that will meet the needs of each of the students. In certain areas, council tax for students is either very low or zero rated.

You to Share would introduce the potential mortgagees to recommended professional independent brokers who would provide/arrange the most suitable finance deal within this structure. Based on 6% interest rates, the parents will be looking at a monthly interest repayment of ?800.00 which is equivalent to ?12,800 over four years. This compares with up to ?16,800 for deluxe rooms in Halls for four years, if available. (Current rates vary between ?96 and ?116 per week for up to 42 week contracts)

You to Share would arrange also for the parents to meet with a preferred solicitor to complete the formalities and also agree the necessary Deed of Trust, a binding legal document specifying what each co-buyer is responsible for and specifying how the agreement can be terminated. The You to Share co-buying network provides access to specially negotiated reduced conveyancing fees which can incorporate the Deed of Trust, free, within the package.

Following the completion of their degrees the students/parents will be the proud owners of a property that will have increased in value (currently at a rate in excess of 40%). They can decide between them whether to keep or sell it the property. Whatever their decision, each parent can secure a financial return on their investment during their child?s time at university as opposed to having ?given away? four years of rent. The profit on the property would then enable the newly qualified graduate to stay on the property ladder by using the ?profit? as a deposit for their first solo property purchase. A win-win situation.

?I wish the (?You to Share?) co-buying service had been available when I was at University,? says Julia Smart, mother of a soon to be University student. ?My parents

paid out so much on rent which they could have easily paid into a shared mortgage. I have joined the ?You to Share? co-buying network to try to invest in a small property

in Cardiff where my daughter is going to study ? it makes sense to me.?

Naturally there are compromises to be made when co-buying but many of these involve the actual living day to day with your co-buyer. Parents investing in student property are able to act as absentee landlords, secure in the knowledge that their children are coping with home sharing exactly as they would if their parents were paying rent for them.

Essex based PR consultant

Visit http://www.youtoshare.co.uk/ for more information.

Futuristic Web Design: What Does The Future Hold

It?s taken a decade of baby steps, but the Web is finally starting to grow up. We've banished the bleak days of brochureware back when companies thought that scanning their annual reports page by page into half megabyte GIFs was the way to build an online presence. We've woken up from the nightmare of building sites from nested tables that wouldn't make the IKEA reject bin, thanks to browsers that (mostly) handle style sheets without leaving coders compromised. And, thankfully, most people have got over their infatuation with Flash for its own sake, realising that two minutes of whirling geometrics is the closest thing to turning your entire front page into a Back button.

Call it a Renaissance if you like but the only way is up, no matter what you want to bring to the Web. Design mavens can now stretch CSS, JavaScript and even Flash to their limits, while maintaining clean, lightweight, elegant sites that embrace different platforms and even shrink to suit the mobile Web. At the same time, those more interested in content don't have to sacrifice good looks for textual brilliance, and can draw upon publishing tools that make it easy for others to comment, contribute and collaborate online. Today's bleeding edge sites are driven by the wishes and wills of both their creators and their visitors: they're flexible, accessible and open to customisation. Most of all, they're user driven: while it's always been true that as much ego goes into building sites as HTML, we're starting to see grassroots projects that offer distinctive personal visions, while embracing what their audiences expect from the Web and what they bring to the Web. The portal builders' vision of the 'Daily Me' is evolving into the Webloggers' 'Daily Us' and there's plenty to like about it.

From interactive to inclusive

One of the earliest goals of site builders, back in what you might call the Web's Stone Age, was to put a bit of life into static, read only sites. The arcane world of CGI was (and still is) beyond the reach of most HTML jockeys, meaning that any browser based techniques to add interactivity tended to be pretty lame. Reading back a visitor's IP address or building a scripted form to pop up 'Hello Dave!' when you enter your name isn't really the height of technology.

Even until recently, there's been a digital divide between the bargain basement interactivity available to most site builders, and the customisation of higher end sites backed by dynamic servers and databases. Now, though, with the advent of smart site publishing tools, that sort of dead end ?interactivity' can be tossed in the bit-bucket. Ironically, though, much of the personalisation offered by big portal sites has also proved to be a false dawn. While being able to pick and choose news stories or multimedia streams seemed a big thing in the Nineties, in hindsight it seems shackled by 'old media' expectations too much like buying a newspaper for the sports section or wielding the TV remote control. What's emerged in the last few years, then, is a redefinition of what interactivity should mean for the Web, which draws upon the various forms of online interaction that already thrive, i.e. email, newsgroups, chat rooms and instant messaging. So it's time to put aside notions of dumb push button Interactivity' that cast the Web as some giant videogame, and instead embrace a new era of ?inclusivity', in which sites are built to enable complex interactions but on a very human scale.

Navigating into the future

Just over a century ago, designers created innovative 'navigation' schemes that proved potentially deadly for users; that's because they were designing the controls for the first generation of cars. it took years of competition, countless accidents and plenty of bruised egos before a standardised layout emerged. Trying to visit Web sites with funky navigation isn't as dangerous as driving with the pedals back to front, but the same principle applies: people come to expect stability from technologies as they mature, even if the right way isn't always the best way. So while there's still tremendous freedom to come up with radical approaches to Web based navigation, forward thinking site builders tend to focus more on refining the well worn models of operating Systems and popular sites sidebar menus, horizontal tabs and clickable 'breadcrumb' trails so they work better, cleaner and more efficiently.

If you've kept away from the more arcane aspects of CSS, you'll be amazed at the power and flexibility now available to create stylish navigation elements, complete with tabs, rollovers and submenus, without recourse to image files, complex scripting, Java or Flash. That's not to say that Flash should be entirely off limits just be careful that you don't sacrifice basic usability, such as the ability to bookmark deep links of use the browser's back and forward buttons to cycle between pages. And remember that users with disabilities or behind proxies may be denied access. In short, it's best to avoid using Flash for primary navigation, and save it for special occasions.

While the look and feel of Web navigation may be stabilising, it's certainly not stagnating. That's thanks to the growth of user centred architecture, which tries to avoid the old habit of dividing sites into layer upon layer of sub directories. Whether mimicking a corporate hierarchy or the folders on a typical coder's hard drive, the multi layered approach too often leaves visitors not knowing where to look for information, of frustrated at having to dig so deep. Instead, user centred site building tries to anticipate the needs and questions of visitors, whether new to the site or familiar with its workings.

Plug-in participation

There are plenty of dynamic components freely available for personal and small scale sites, which can add some all-important stickiness that mysterious quality that encourages visitors to return for future visits. A simple way to get started is to add an opinion poll to your site. Another popular way to attract visitors is to include Flash or Shockwave games, puzzles and quizzes on your pages.

Care in the community

While you can take advantage of other people's generosity to add some sparkle to your own site, that should only be a starting point. After all, the stickiest thing of all is the promise of regularly updated original content. If visitors can't go anywhere else to get their daily fix of your wit, wisdom and creative sparkle, you can guarantee they'll come back for more! The ability to update sites on a regular basis, without elite design or programming skills, has transformed the Web in recent years. Allowing visitors to comment and contribute takes things a step further, creating a truly inclusive online environment. We're talking weblogs of course.

Many coders complain that the profusion of blogs has lowered the standards of Web design, creating a divide between those who care about the look of their sites, and those simply interested in knocking out a dozen posts a day and it's true that most blogs follow familiar multi-column layouts built on standard templates.

What's undeniable is that blogs are tuned to the way most people browse the Web these days: by putting the latest content up front and being simple to navigate, they're especially easy to track and bookmark. They also work especially well with Google by being rich in text based content one reason why Google bought Blogger. And there are enough examples of beautifully designed blogs, such as Loobylu to prove that you don't have to sacrifice graphical and coding skills to create a site with rich, original content that people want to visit again and again. If it's stickiness you're after, the world of blogging is like a giant vat of honey.

The biggest advantage of building sites around the blogging model is that they come with a vibrant Community waiting in the wings. This is most obvious with sites that make it easy for users to add pictures, mood icons and the all important commenting facility to their entries, and allow users to join 'communities' based upon common interests. Admittedly, many sites look a bit like your eccentric uncle's DIY projects, but there's plenty of room to tart up your design, and the site's publishing tools make it incredibly easy to become part of a community, or for other users to keep track of your individual posts and add their own comments.

The most vibrant community orientated sites right now tend to combine original content, collaborative authorship, user comments and plenty of external links, all wrapped up in clean, up front designs. While many community driven sites are backed by Weblogging tools, the old style bulletin board is still worth a look.

Building for broadband

Getting more adventurous, building for users with higher bandwidth allows you to offer background music and Flashheavy interfaces that capture the distinctive identity and purpose of your site. Right now, the best examples of this are on sites where 'old media' producers radio, TV and the music industry have adapted their work for the Web.

The blue-sky future

So, where does the future lie for the Web, as broadband becomes the norm and community driven sites become increasingly prominent? Is it to be found in the text rich world of blog based sites, or in sites that bring ever more layers of rich media to the Web? Well, it's safe to say that both will have their place. While Google remains the primary tool for most users in digging out the information that matters to them, the pre eminence it gives to blogs and similar content heavy sites will keep them popular. At least it will until Flash designers have the technology at hand to build sites that are as easily incorporated into Google's rankings as those working with simple HTML, or until Google or another search engine becomes sophisticated enough to classify and index the growing amount of Web content that's in audio and video format. That day may not be too far away. As the tools to create rich media content cease to be the privileged domain of top end professionals, thanks to the growing consumer market for sound and video editing tools, there's likely to be sufficient demand (and smart enough programmers) to start remapping the Web as something more than a world of text heavy pages. Instead, look for the capacity and influence of CSS to increase, as it provides both Google friendly simplicity and the potential for graphically rich user interfaces.

Looking back at the predictions made at the end of the Nineties, it's fair to say that the Web has developed less radically in the past five years than most designers expected. Many hyped technologies, such as XML and scalable vector graphics, have yet to catch on in a big way. This is due in part to the stuttering development of browser technology to adopt new standards, and in part because consolidation replaced innovation in the years following the dotcom crash. Now, however, with new attitudes developing towards site design and the technologies in place to implement them, we're likely to see a new creative spirit embrace the Web in which both the inclusive spirit of blogging and the convergence of rich media have a part to play, together with other interactive tools such as instant messaging.

Is this likely to mean that site builders in five years' time will need to be smarter and more creative than today? Perhaps. But the tools at their disposal and the space they'll have to work in will also have been transformed to make it easier to get their creative visions online. It?s already possible to update and contribute to sites through your mobile phone. We are now looking at uploading and accessing high resolution streaming video, or dictating and receiving site updates while on the move. Site interfaces will evolve to reflect that the Web is bursting out from being 'something that's on our computers', and becoming part of our everyday lives. Designing for that sort of online experience is going to be light years away from knocking together a menu bar for your personal Web site. Just don't be worried about being left behind. It?s the ambition, skill and imagination of site builders that has got us to where we are today, and it's those qualities that will transform the Web in the years to come.

About: www.magneticcode.co.uk is a small web design company based in Rochester, Kent, UK. Magnetic Code uses clean HTML and CSS to create sleek, and usuable websites. See www.expertfound.com for an example, including this page on computers and internet products.

Cheers to Housing Correction

Slowly the housing market is becoming a buyer's venue. Prices have been sliding downward. Finally it appears people are getting tapped out. Cancellation rates on contracts and price concessions have become an increasing pattern. Housing depreciation has hit for several straight months. Many will say this is a bad thing since the less people buy the less will be built and the less economic activity and all the rest. Well, good. It appears much of this market boom was built on a shaky foundation ready to come tumbling down. It was basically built on credit, credit, credit. The average American salary is roughly $40,000. Even with the wife working the cost of a house is a severe strain along with all the usual things to go along with it. Thus, all sorts of financial schemes have been thought of- along with low interest rates- to make an unaffordable house, well, affordable. Be it adjustable rate mortgages or virtually no money down risks, the housing market became a gamble.

As usual, many people keep betting their houses will just keep going up in value. In places like New York, California and South Florida, the price increases have been utterly outrageous. Some of the air is starting to come out of the fat balloon. The average price for a house is now about $225,000.

Predictably we see the old pig-out. People get a sense something is booming and then grossly overreact. Thus, we have around 4 million units of housing just sitting around due to over building. Buyers will just keep on waiting for things to come down a bit more.

States like Indiana and Ohio have seen their foreclosure rates go up since the auto industry did its workers in thanks to the joys of free trade. If you have no job or no decent paying job, well, no house to purchase. That is the heart of the problem, of course.

If there is no real money then the house of cards has to come crashing down the way it did during the internet boom. Shaky deals, weird lending policies, etc. can go on for awhile but like the old Wendy's commercial of Where's the beef? the money must be there. No beef equals a housing disruption. Really just common sense.

Most economists agree there is more shaking out to do. Good. If you don't have the money then you really have no business owning homes. Painful but true. If you have to get a deal where you put no money down or very little for a house that is too expensive for your budget and then you hope you can get the money back due to housing appreciation, well, good luck. Some get lucky on that one. But for the average person that is a stressful gamble. Better to pay what you can afford on traditional mortgages.

Of course, some people are gamblers by nature. But do not be shocked when your gamble turns to dust. That is nice if you are one of the big boys like Donald Trump or Steve Wynn or lesser known individuals with the financial means.

In the end it is very simple: Do you have the money or not?

Robert Carberry is a writer from New York

Dealing With the Insanity January 2007 Newsletter

The world has not gotten any saner in the last year. If anything, it has gotten more insane. That makes what you do here even more important, from many different perspectives.

Obviously, self defense can be a very useful aspect of what we do. No matter how good you get at self defense there are times when nothing can save you. That is part of our training too. Losing. Losing is not a bad thing, it just is. More important than losing is how you do it. What do you learn from it. All of us make mistakes. The whole point of losing is to learn to do things differently. Doing things the same way leads to the same results. If a way of doing things leads to a result you don't like, don't repeat that way of doing things. But even doing things perfectly can get you killed.

Which leads to my second point. In the end all of us will die. Death is not an issue. When and how is an issue. Most of us want to prolong it as long as possible and make it as pain free as possible. Preferably a death we don't see coming and one that we don't notice till we are through it. It doesn't always work out that way. As a matter of fact, it very seldom works out that way. Most of us will die with a great deal of pain and the knowledge that death is near. Historically, most of us have died with fear too. Fear of that impending death.

Dying is very important, but not something we can avoid. Sometimes perfect action still leads to death. Under those conditions it seems to me the important thing is the manner of our death. Did we die with fear? If we did die with fear, did we do the ight thing in spite of our fear? Did we face our fear and go through it? Did we die doing our absolute best to be and do whatever it was that we found necessary at that time? Did we die with honesty to ourselves?

Then again, when people die from violence they very seldom accept that they are dying. It just happens. They spend the last moments of their lives in great fear trying to avoid the dying. Trying to avoid pain. Most of them would do anything to avoid what is happening, including selling their conscience and morals. Try not to judge those folks as failures, it's our nature to try to stay alive. They are living and dying from their own particular space and perspective and it is not our place to judge them as failures. Only they and the creator know for sure.
Other than training in the physical means of self defense what are we doing here that would serve you well in those conditions? That is my third point.

We are trying to train ourselves to respond in an appropriate fashion to attacks. We use physical attacks by other persons for our training. In the Aikido classes, we try to respond to attacks without injuring the attacker. In the aikijutsu, injury is not avoided. In the weapons classes, injury is a given were the conditions real. All of them are dealing with attacks. And all of them are only dealing with you and your perceptions.

Sounds strange I know, but there ya go. All we are really doing is training to deal with situations that cause you stress and/or fear. We are using attacks and simulated violence to accomplish that goal. To deal with multiple roundhouse punches coming fast and hard induces stress and fear in most of us. And the same thing with a knife attack. And with jiyu waza, where we have no idea what will be coming.

None of what we do is attacking other people or imposing our beliefs on them. That is the way to the insanity that the world seems to be indulging in. None of that is conducive to having a world without that insanity. One of the phrases we use in the Aikido classes is that we are trying to deal with violence without adding to the violence. In our training here we don't want to add to the insanity.

So what are we doing that carries over into the world at large? Am I saying our training is to change the world? No, I have no messiah complex. What we are doing is trying to send each of the people who train here out into the world at large with tools to deal with the insanity. Both the insanity in the world around them and the insanity within them. Because we all have some in us you know. And the world that is so insane has sanity in it too.

Should you find yourself in a position during the coming year to be faced with that insanity on a personal level it is my hope that you have trained enough to be able to deal with it without becoming insane yourself. And if you face that insanity and it leads to your death or the death of your loved ones it is my deepest hope that you deal with it calmly and with adherence to your internal convictions. It is my hope that all of us have the courage to face our own fears and live free of them.

We can only be free of the insanity if we follow our moral convictions no matter what happens and allow others to do the same. And remember: life is not a dress rehearsal.

www.rosscroft.com

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