Benjamins Yarn


February 28, 2009

Tracking and Stolen Cars

Filed under: Automobiles — admin @ 3:55 am

The newer generations of car manufacturers offer many car theft systems with their cars. Yet, if your car gets robbed, your vehicle tracking system will assist the police to furnish details to help to get your car tracked and recovered.

  1. The most popular system for tracking in the UK is Lojack. It isn’t equipped with a GPS feature and hence doesn’t come with a monthly fee tagged to it. It has a receiver and a transponder which helps you catch hold of the thief when your car is stolen.
  2. There are many anti theft systems like Teletracer, etc. Like the Lojack, even this vehicle tracking device does not employ GPS. However, it sends out signals that are received by a receiving station. This requires you to pay them a monthly fee.

A Global positioning system can help you track your car through a map on the central monitoring station. Although such systems are not cheap, they are the most reliable systems for security today.

In the same manner that a mobile handset has recurring costs later, even buying the car theft tracking product has with itself, a monthly service fee in order to use it’s its vehicle tracking service.

A1 auto is one of the many car insurers who give you a discount on the premium if your car has an anti theft system installed.

February 26, 2009

Chocolate chip cookies!

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 9:11 am

Warm, delicious, soft, chewy, mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies are a treat that everyone loves. Who’s not tempted by the scent of chocolate chips and cookie dough combined to make one of the most loved and sought after treats available. Children just love chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk, and what adult hasn’t snuck into the chocolate chip cookies jar for just one more.

When selecting chocolate chip cookies be sure to keep in mind that only quality ingredients will do. Real chocolate chips, quality flour and sugars are all necessary to help you enjoy a warm, delicious cookie with a glass of milk.

Whether you like your chocolate chip cookies hard and crunchy or soft and chewy, you’ll savor the moments when you can sit back and relax with just you and your delicious, luscious snack.
Chocolate chip cookies, dipped chocolate, candy, soft candy, chewy candy and fruit candy are all available today over the internet at great prices.

I hope you enjoyed this information on chocolate chip cookies. I recommend that you only deal with quality makers of chocolate chip cookies and candy who use the finest, freshest quality ingredients and that are offered at reasonable prices.

About the author:

Mike Yeager
Author/Publisher
http://www.a1-candy-4u.com/

February 25, 2009

Backpack Safety - What Are The Basic Rules

Filed under: Recreation Center — admin @ 9:08 pm

Most kids carry backpacks to school everyday, and pediatricians, physical therapists and parents are reporting increasing numbers of schoolchildren complaining of back, neck and shoulder pain, along with tingling or numbness in their arms and hands. This is being attributed to children carrying heavy loads of schoolbooks in backpacks and often not following backpack safety rules and using the bag improperly.

However don’t scrap your child’s backpack and run out to buy a sling bag, or briefcase type book bag. Evidence exists that says these are even more harmful than the backpack. So what is a parent to do? Backpacks if made correctly, worn properly not over packed and packed correctly, are fine. A back friendly bag will have wide padded shoulder straps, a padded back, and a waist belt.

This takes care of most of the problems. The straps, on this type of bag, avoid the pinching of the shoulders by narrow unpadded straps on other backpacks. The waist belt and padded bag help to reduce the bouncing of the bag on the back. This reduces repetitive impact injury. Some backpacks even have a chest belt, and side straps to stabilize the load.

This type of backpack is obvious the better choice, because it uses the back and abdominal muscles, the two strongest muscle systems in the body, properly. A heavy backpack, incorrectly worn, can pull the child back, so the child leans forward to compensate for the pull. This can compress and possibly damage the vertebrae, causing back and neck pain.

This leaning forward also tends to cause the child to roll her shoulders inward. This with the forward lean can also compress the lungs and cause problems for asthmatic kids. The best backpacks are made of sturdy material, have padded wide shoulder straps, padded backs, waist and chest belts. These extra belts help to put some of the weight bearing on the legs and hips. You have the right backpack, now you have to make sure your child knows how to use it properly.

First teach her how to pack it properly, heavier items like textbooks should be placed closet to the back, don’t over-pack, and don’t pack anything you do not need for school, Now see that he lifts it properly, and that he uses both shoulder straps, the waist belt and any additional belts.. Before purchasing a backpack check on line for results of product testing and ratings, by reliable consumer protection groups, of any backpack you are considering.

Be aware that price is not always an indication of quality, nor does lower prices necessarily mean a poor product. You must do your homework. Also look on line for wholesale dealers in backpacks .We found a top brand backpack that has all the proper padding all the belts and a mini frame to help support the load for just a thirty dollars more than the average mid-range back pack.

More important than the price is that you get the right type of backpack, and that your child uses it because the best most expensive ergonomically sound backpack in the world, is worthless if she doesn’t follow the backpack safety rules.

About the Author
Elaine Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of School Backpacks,
Backbacks,and more! her numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

February 24, 2009

RV Fuel Economy

Filed under: Recreation Center — admin @ 9:27 pm

I for one am not going to let sky rocketing fuel prices change my plans for using and enjoying our RV. So, with that said and a motor home that averages 7 to 8 miles to a gallon I am forced to find ways to save on fuel rather than waiting and hoping that fuel prices will go down. After a little research I was surprised to learn how easy it can be to improve our fuel economy. Whether you’re towing a trailer or driving a motor home there are many ways to improve fuel economy. By performing some simple maintenance procedures and changing our driving habits a little we can save a significant amount of fuel.

One shocking discovery was that for each 5mph you go over 60mph is equivalent to paying 10 cents more per gallon. So if you’re traveling down the Interstate at 75 mph add 30 cents to the price on the pump! Wow, that can add up quick. If fuel prices drop to $2.65 a gallon you’ll still be paying $2.95 a gallon.

So how can we improve our fuel economy?

  • Talk to other RVers that have a motor home or tow vehicle and trailer similar to yours. Compare gas mileage. If there is a significant difference compare notes and try to determine what makes the difference.

  • Something as simple as a clean air filter can improve your fuel economy up to 10%.

  • Checking and adjusting your tire pressure to the proper pressure can increase fuel economy by 3%, not to mention preventing premature tire wear and failures or blowouts caused by over or under-inflated tires. Tires can look normal when they are seriously under-inflated. Use a quality air pressure gauge and check your tires when they’re cold, before traveling more than one mile.

  • Excessive idling wastes fuel. If you’re going to be sitting still for more than a couple of minutes shut the engine off.

  • Using overdrive whenever you can saves fuel by decreasing the engines speed.

  • Using the cruise control whenever possible saves fuel because it keeps the vehicle at a constant speed rather than variable speeds. This applies when you are driving on a relatively flat surface. Keep in mind the over 60 mph rule applies here too.

  • Keeping the vehicle tuned up and in top running condition saves fuel. A poorly tuned engine can lower fuel economy by 10 to 20%.

  • Poor emissions and / or a faulty oxygen sensor can cause a 40% reduction in fuel economy. Can you believe that? A 40% REDUCTION.

  • Following the recommended service and maintenance schedules will save you fuel.

  • Using the recommended grade of motor oil will increase fuel economy by 1 to 2%.

  • Using synthetic oils will increase fuel economy by 2 or more percent.

  • Speeding and rapid acceleration reduces fuel economy anywhere from 5 to 33% depending on your individual driving habits.

  • Added weight that you don’t need reduces fuel economy significantly. We’re all guilty of this one!

  • Only using the dash air conditioner when it is absolutely necessary will save a significant amount of fuel.

  • Use regular gas unless your owner’s manual specifies a higher octane gas. You’re just throwing money away when you pay the extra money for premium fuel.

We may have no control over the prices at the pump, but as you can see we have total control over getting the most out of the fuel we put in our tank.

Happy Camping!

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk, owner of RV Education 101

Mark Polk - EzineArticles Expert Author

About the Author:

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America’s most highly regarded series of DVD’s, videos, books, and e-books. Sign up for your free “RV Education 101″ Newsletter http://rveducation101.com/email/
Mark Polk is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. In addition to owning and operating RV Education 101, (based in North Carolina) since 1999, Polk also has a very extensive RV background working in RV service, sales and management.

Polk has a degree in Industrial Management Technology and his 30 plus years of experience in maintenance includes working as an RV technician, a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic, an automotive maintenance technician, Battalion and Brigade level Maintenance Officer, an RV sales manager and also in the RV financing department as the Finance & Insurance manager. http://www.rveducation101.com/

February 23, 2009

Superb Winter Holidays in Bessans

Filed under: Athletes Den, Recreation Center, Travel Tips — admin @ 10:45 pm

Bessans is one of the greatest resorts for much fun and repose. Bessans is an idyllic spot and offers the holiday maker hiking, windsurfing, paragliding, markets and other activities for everyone to delight in. As the first snow begins to engulf the pines and mountain peaks, and the ponds start to freeze, Bessans transfers its look from summer reds to glistening white with bright blue skies. Bessans abounds winter fun ” winter luge, ice climbing and monoskiing. If you normally look for luxury chalets in Chamonix then why not check out here?

Bessans has been called the best skiing mountain in the Alps year after year by skiing publications and keen snowboarders. It rises a majestic 2100 metres into the air, it has 95 slopes, the best being 7 miles, and there are 650 kilometres of skiing. There’s slopes for novices and reasonable skiers, and 40 runs for advanced boarders. Bessans’s lift systems handles 22000 skiers an hour therefore there isn’t any wasting of fun time queuing to get skiing. You are able to pick the cable car for a first-class view of the mountains and the surrounding resorts. And for the ravenous visitor, there are numerous mountain restaurants which provide hot chocolate and rum and goulashes, sandwiches or complete meals.

February 19, 2009

Hawaii Camping on Oahu: Try Ho ‘ omaluhia Botanical Garden for Hawaii Budget Vacation or Eco Travel

Filed under: Recreation Center — admin @ 5:53 pm

Camping on Oahu has its challenges. Unlike the other islands in Hawaii, many of Oahu’s campgrounds have litter and/or roudiness issues. However, you can find a few very nice, clean, quiet, safe and scenic places to camp on Oahu. The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens in Kaneohe is one of them.

Ho ‘omaluhia Botanical Gardens lives up to its name, which translated to English means, “to make a place of peace and tranquility.” This is a very peaceful environment. And rules are very strict about noise; for example, even in the middle of the day, radios and CD players must be kept low enough to not disturb camping neighbors.

The gardens meander through 400 acres and are back dropped by the green, castle like peaks of the majestic Ko’olau Mountains. Plants from tropical regions around the world are grouped here geographically, and special emphasis is placed on conserving plants native to Hawaii. The Hawaiian garden here like many of the others here has some very nice tent sites, along with clean indoor restrooms and showers.

You can camp here free of charge from 9 a.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday, except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. There is no camping on the other days of the week, but this is a nice place to stay for the weekend. While it doesn’t have 24-hour security, everyone I spoke with said it is very quiet.

The gate to the gardens closes at 4 p.m. and those camping there will be given car passes so they can use the later gate that is open from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Considering all this, and that it is a mile hike from the gate to the first campground, this takes it off the list for “party spots.” Since it doesn’t have beach access, it’s not a place where big extended families gather with good Hawaiian music and food either. People come to the gardens to enjoy the flora and fauna and the peacefulness.

While there’s no beach here, there’s a trail that will take you to a wonderful spot for watching the sun rise over the ocean.

Tent sites are on the lawns and include fire pits and picnic tables. You must bring your own firewood and grills.

The staff members we spoke to in the garden’s Visitor Center were warm, generous with their time and very knowledgeable. The center features an art gallery with cultural exhibits and a botanical library. You’ll also find a network of trails and a lake (catch and release fishing; no swimming).

Ho ‘omaluhia Botancial Gardens is located near several wonderful sightseeing, water play and other destinations including the Byoda Temple tucked away in the Valley of the Temples and featuring a larger than life Buddha statue, meditation garden and pond with 10,000 koi; Kaneohe Bay with its white sandbars appearing as tiny islands in azure waters at low tide; the cities of Kaneohe and Kailua with several shopping and dining opportunities; the country and very Hawaiian town of Waimanalo where horses still roam free and the beach is one of the best on the island; and Kailua Bay, the quintessential water playground of the Windward side that offers a long stretch of white sand and protected waters popular with beginning boogie boards, kayak paddlers and windsurfers.

A variety of programs are offered at the gardens throughout the week such as orchid growing, weather making, and botanical drawing to name a few. Some of these have fees, while others are free of charge. For a current schedule, use the contact information above and request one.

Hawaiian ecology is emphasized in these programs. Day use and camping programs can include ethnic, craft, botanical, horticultural and environmental activities. Free guided nature hikes, covering topics such as local birds, cloud watching and medicinal plants, are offered at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. on Sundays.

The catch to this free and peaceful campground in a garden? It’s in a rainforest. So remember to bring a waterproof tent and gear. It will still be warm though, so something light-weight, like the poncho that fits in your pocket or a light-weight jacket will work best. You may also want some mosquito repellant, although I wasn’t bothered by them. You will find picnic tables here and campfire rings. If you want to use a tarp, bring poles because they don’t allow tying anything to the trees. A small camp stove or hibachi might also be useful.

You can get a detailed map with hiking trails in the Visitor Center or on the Website. However the Website’s map doesn’t include a legend, so if you use it just know that the hiking trails are shown by dashes, and the H-3 Freeway is shown by bold printed dashes. Distances aren’t shown on the map but the Visitors’ Center can answer you questions.

Excerpt from THE HAWAII ECO BUDGET VACATION GUIDE TO OAHU. To learn how to vacation on Oahu for $60 a day (including everything except airfare) and to learn more about Oahu’s budget priced yet nice and locally run accomodations from yurts and B&B’s to hotels and condos, as well as budget and eco activities, restaurants and more, visit Hawaii Budget Vacation

Located at Coconut Roads an eco travel guide to Hawaii, its culture, plants and animals, language, music, and more.

February 15, 2009

Overseas Sports Gaming Keeps Betting Afficionados Surfing the Web

Filed under: Athletes Den, Great Gambling Stuff, Lucky Lotto — admin @ 8:53 am

Internet based gaming webpages are by and large modulated via 3 agencies. These are designated the OSGA (the Offshore Gaming Association), the IGC (Interactive Gaming Council) and finally the Fidelity Trust Gaming Association FTGA.

The Offshore Gaming Association is in fact an unbiased body that supervises the modern overseas gambling industry in an effort to also present sports betting buffs the facility to easily select honorable internet enterprises to play betting games with. It works to defend client’s rights, not to mention they don’t levy any affiliation dues. The Offshore Gaming Association are a competent not to mention unprejudiced third party administration that gives non-biased judgments, suggested by your responses, impartial studies, phone chats, tips also dispenses industry information.

The Interactive Gaming Council is a nonprofit council. The administration was founded to allow a platform for involved participants to discuss points also to encourage progress in the domain of collective matters in the multinational interactive gaming trade, in an effort to establish unbiased and also competent trade protocols and practises that aim to raise client trust in net based gambling products and utilities, and to be of assistance as the sports gambling industry’s universal practise defender and the Interactive Gaming Council also functions as an information clearing house.

The IGC have built up a distinction for stimulating reliability, stability and in addition sincerity on account of the uncompromising ethical code it presents, also its appeal to businesses of good standing. The Interactive Gaming Council monitors overseas gambling via promoting a characteristic 10-point working code and in addition bills gaming websites a license fee for featuring the council’s logo. Unhappy gamers can also state any of their conflicts to the IGC.

online sports book wagering

The FTGA has been established in a venture to compose a standard to reform the standards of machine-accessible gaming web sites. The Interactive Gaming Council proposerealize that by carrying on business entirely with credible sites, they are able to mold a coalition of the fairest and most expert overseas gambling companies worldwide. So, in brief these are governing bodies which regulate the dealings exercised by online sports gambling and which should function to assuage any trepidation due to the insecurity held by cynics. On-line betting sites are entirely free from pitfalls, in that personal data shouldn’t be required also the payouts not to mention the odds are mainly just as balanced and reasonable as a standard Vegas-type sportsbet. They cut back on the traveling costs, but nevertheless maintain the basic character, however nowadays you are able to gamble in your house.

February 14, 2009

A “Potential” New Year's Resolution

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 1:31 am

It is often said that all of us come into this world on equal footing, with nothing in our possession. Certainly we are born with equal value in the eyes of our Creator, and we don’t enter the world with any material possessions. Yet we do not begin life empty handed.

The moment we are born, we each have in our possession the most amazing gift! It is the gift of pure untapped potential, unique and different for each of us.

A person might have the potential to heal illness, invent, create art, teach, write, solve complex problems, or alleviate suffering. He or she might have the potential to inspire others with amazing courage or accomplishments in spite of extreme disability or misfortune.

Our challenge is to discover and develop this amazing potential. It often presents itself as a recurring interest or idea we can’t shake, or a special talent. It might appear as a meaningful coincidence that brings us face to face with an opportunity disguised as a problem.

When we come to realize this amazing inner potential, we are able to set realistic goals to make the world a better place. Then we must visualize those goals in detail, and hold them in the front of our minds daily to keep our actions on course with our objectives.

Rather than struggle with a long list of difficult new year’s resolutions, I would like to suggest committing to one that could truly make a difference in your life and the lives of others.

Once each day, think about the potential you were given, how you have used it, and how you could use it to benefit others. Visualize yourself using this gift to create a better world with your unique talents. Imagine how you will feel when you’ve succeeded. After you complete this brief exercise, you’ll feel confident, energized, and ready to go into action.

Resolve to continue developing your unique potential each day. You might be surprised to see many of your past struggles resolve in the process. Best of all, you’ll have the joy of knowing that you’ve truly made a difference in your life, and in the lives of others. You will have made the world a better place to live.

Steve Brunkhorst is a life success coach and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivation, and inspirational thoughts that can help you reach a greater level of achievement. Find many great achievement resources by visiting Steve’s website at: http://www.AchieveEzine.com

February 13, 2009

CAN SPAM ACT SPAM Reduction; There Goes the FTC Tooting Their Own Horn Again

Filed under: House Of Net Resources — admin @ 6:53 pm

In my opinion the Federal Trade Commission is a complete waste of money. For them to say that there little bureaucratic effort reduced SPAM is a silly notion indeed. That little pathetic agency could not sue their way out of a paper box filled with their own press releases to the media to save their next year’s budget.

Indeed it appears their press releases are written on toilet paper these days as they spew their crap across the Internet? That worthless and disgusting agency must need an arm brace every year from injury, as they are so busy patting them selves on the back. I can see the circle jerks now lined up in a circle of law school low performing lawyers who could not make it in the real world, patting each other on the back for their great work in the CAN SPAM Act. When the facts are it was free enterprise and people like Bill Gates and the other great companies who helped figure out how to curb the growth of SPAM. Free Enterprise? Ever heard of it at the FTC? Apparently not!

The Federal Trade Commission is a complete waste of taxpayer’s money and a bizarre excuse for an agency associated with the Justice Department. They make the DOJ looks stupid and incompetent. In my opinion some needs to put forth a bill to reduce the FTC’s budget by half this year and half next year and then another half of what’s left the year after and close that ridiculous faade of an agency before they do any more misrepresentation on consumers. Think on it, this is your government at work?

Lance Winslow - EzineArticles Expert Author

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

February 12, 2009

Calling All Singles - Cooking for Busy Lives

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 12:51 am

“If you have the lifestyle where you eat out or order take-out every night, you can really get tired of it and it’s so expensive”, says cooking expert Marybeth Gregg, “so why not learn to cook with ease, and actually enjoy it?” “There is more to life than pizza and popcorn. Be a little adventurous. With just a few simple secrets, you can create a great meal for yourself and others.”, say this active business owner who offers tips to making cooking easy for a single person or smaller household. Many people with active lives think that cooking for one, or two, is just not worth the time, or they simply don’t know how. Be a little different - your skills may make you stand out in the crowd!

Marybeth, owner of Cook-with-Confidence Cooking School, has found out that there are major benefits to cooking - you eat healthier, it costs less and you get to actually create something on your own. Many people with hectic lives usually snack, skip meals or grab a quick fast food or other take-out meal. Skipping meals or eating high-fat foods deprives your body of energy and can make you feel tired. And a lot of people are in jobs that offer little creativity so cooking is a wonderful way to jump out of the box and be inspired and use their imaginations for a change!

So what’s a body to do? Marybeth offers some tips and techniques for making eating alone an easier, more enjoyable experience by learning to shop and cook quick, delicious meals for one or two people.

There are a few strategies are essential for smaller quantities.
1.Plan ahead - using a written or mental menu. You don’t have to cook everyday! Just start with one or two times a week - select an easy menu, organize your ingredients and shop on the weekend when you have a few extra minutes. Organize your list by stores (grocery, specialty Italian, etc.)

2. Food Shopping - Make a list and stick to it. It may be difficult to resist the temptation to buy more food than you need or frozen ready-made dinners. But keep to your plan.
Ask the produce manager to halve heads of lettuce, or other produce to meet your needs. Just but one leek, not a big bunch of three.
Buy smaller cuts of meat or ask the butcher to cut beef or chicken into pieces big enough for one meal.

Look for foods that can be portioned with ease into smaller serving sizes such as rice, pasta, or fresh vegetables like a broccoli crown or pre-cut carrot and celery sticks. Buy fruits and vegetables by the piece, not by the package.

3. Time to Cook -Cooking need not be a dirty word and cooking for one has many solutions.
Cutting Recipes or Freeze It - Many recipes serve 4-8 as a rule. So you can either reduce the quantities, if they lend them selves to division, or make the whole recipe and freeze it. I recently invested in one of those vacuum- sealer appliances, and find it really useful. I put in a smaller quantity, seal it, mark it and freeze. You can also use those zip-lock bags which work just as well. This way you can also have a great meal you can thaw out in the microwave - make sure to remove the food from the bag when you do nuke it- and then just sit down and eat a fine meal after a tough day at work.

Invite guests when making a large meal - they can help you cook and then you can divide leftovers into smaller portions, enough for one meal and have 3-4 meals ready. Make it into a mini-party.
Save leftovers and create new meals by adding rice, pasta, vegetables, or a different kind of cheese.

4.Your well-stocked pantry - this is key to cooking with ease. Use some wonderful ingredients in your cabinets so that you can come home and just throw them together. Roasted peppers, tapenade, fig balsamic vinegar, capers, a great extra-virgin olive oil, a variety of spices, walnuts, almonds or pecans, all ingredients that can help you make a piece of plain chicken or fish into a delicious and fast meal and in barely more time than making a sandwich, or waiting in line for take-out.

5.The Niceties of Life -
To make your meal more of a treat, rather than a chore, remember the table. The ambiance often make the meal, even when eating alone. Vary the color of your foods - a meal of foods that are all the same color is dull. Choose multi-colored foods and use your nicest plates and place mats. Maybe even place some flowers on the table. Make it fun to cook and eat for one. Make a recipe you’ve been wanting to try so that you can use it for entertaining. Why not?

And you know you can always invite a friend to dinner. No matter what your age, company is really important to making us feel good. Sometimes the only socialization people get is at work or with family. Company during meal times can make a difference in what and how you feel about eating. It doesn’t have to be a fancy meal. A simple menu, using only the fresh ingredients, will go a long way.

So do something different and just enjoy a home-cooked meal for a change. You surely don’t need to cook every night, but when you do, you will get great satisfaction, and your body will love you for it! Have fun in the kitchen- it can be done.

Visit her at www.cook-with-confidence.com and ontact her with any thoughts or questions at: Marybeth@cook-with-confidence.com

About the Author

Marybeth Gregg has been cooking, entertaining and giving cooking advice for almost 20 years, is well-known for her wonderful cuisine, great parties and started her successful cooking school several years ago. She has been featured in several newspapers, is currently working on cookbook, a dvd’series of cooking lessons.