Pony Of Prey Blog

This article briefly talks about fuel saving tips
Regular vehicle maintainance and modified driving habits can reduce fuel consumption and lower vehicle emissions.

The following maintenance, driving and consumer tips practiced together can make a noticeable difference in your monthly fuel bill.

Perform regular maintenance A poorly maintained vehicle can increase fuel consumption by as much as 50 per cent.

Change the engine oil every 5,000 km or six months unless you regularly do long distance highway driving, then change it at a maximum 12,000 km intervals. Use an energy-conserving oil that is suited to the season. Check tire pressures at least once a month and watch for signs of unusual tire tread wear that might indicate an alignment problem. An under-inflated tire has a greater rolling resistance. A 20 per cent drop in pressure will increase fuel consumption by about 10 per cent and reduce tread life by 15 per cent. A faulty cooling system thermostat that doesnt allow the engine to quickly reach or maintain its correct operating temperature can dramatically increase fuel consumption and affect the performance of an electronically controlled engine.

Make fewer and more efficient trips Combine tasks into a single trip rather than making several trips throughout the day. And, because an engine also consumes more fuel during its warm-up period, try picking up groceries and the dry-cleaning on your way home from work instead of making a special trip.

Drive smarter Dont warm up your car unnecessarily. Driving the vehicle slower and keeping the engine speed low until its normal operating temperature is reached, is a more fuel-efficient way to warm up your car. Look ahead and adjust your speed. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, about 50 per cent of the fuel consumed in city driving is used during acceleration. When accelerating, do it gently and steadily and never exceed posted speed limits. Driving on the highway at 90 km/h rather than 120 km/h can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent. Lighten the load, and avoid carrying non-essential heavy items such as tools and skis. Remove roof racks when they are not being used. Use air conditioning sparingly. Shutting off the air conditioning and rolling down the windows will save fuel in city or low speed driving. Reduce wind resistance. Open windows at highway cruising speeds will substantially increase drag (wind resistance) in todays aerodynamically efficient vehicles, and cause an increase in fuel consumption. Avoid excessive idling. Leaving a car running unnecessarily (i.e., in a ferry line-up or while chatting with a neighbour) is wasteful. Shutting off and re-starting the engine generally consumes less fuel and emits less pollutants than allowing a car to sit idling for long periods of time.

Shop wiser Purchase gas from companies that offer loyalty programs that best suit your needs. Taking advantage of rewards is one small way to offset the cost of gas. Dont pay extra for something you dont need. Most cars run on regular gasoline, and dont require higher cost premium grade fuels. If unsure, check your owners manual.Visit http://venturemall.tripod.com for autoparts and accessories.

About the Author

Ajay Patole is a qualified management professional working as sales manager and runs a site ‘Venturemall’,a cool hangout to play money games,buy and sell in auctions,date and photochat.It is available at URL http://venturemall.tripod.com and newsletter to rediscover true colors of life at http://www.topica.com/lists/venturemall.Also he runs a community ‘Venturecon’, for entrepreneurs which is available at URL http://groups.msn.com/venturecon.

The first snow blower was built in 1925 to clear snow-covered roads in rural Canada. Designed by farmer and road contractor Arthur Sicard, this first snow blower resembled a wheat combine, with two rotating blades on the front and a long chute that hurled the snow to one side. Variations on this first machine eventually proved it to be a vital implement for all road contractors, airports, and railroads around the world.

In 1951, Toro introduced the domestic push snow blower, cementing the machine’s place as one of the most important back-saving devices ever created. Today, even the smallest, lightest, and least expensive domestic snow blowers can effortlessly clear 300 pounds of snow per minute and throw snow 20 feet away. A strong man with a good shovel would no doubt collapse under such competition. Even a top-of-the-line snow blower can eat snow at the rate of almost two tons per minute along a three-foot path and launch the snow a staggering 45 feet!

No job is too small or too big for a snow blower. From the humblest light powdering to the heaviest blizzards, there’s a machine designed to clear the way. There are two types of gas-powered snow blowers: Single-stage and dual-stage.

Single-stage snow blowers are perfect for clearing flat surfaces such as walkways, paved driveways, and patios. Their rubber-faced augers reach ground level, clearing away every last bit of snow. They’re usually smaller and lighter than dual-stage machines and easier to maneuver in tight spaces.

Single-stage snow blowers rely on one, high-speed auger to both scoop and throw snow. The auger’s curved blades spin parallel to the ground, carving out a section of snow with every rotation and moving the snow towards the machine’s centerline. Snow is then forced up and out through the discharge chute in one continuous motion. Single-stage snow blower technology can’t clear as much snow or throw snow as far as dual-stage machines can. However, dual-stage units can’t fit into confined spaces like single-stage units. Also, dual-stage snow blowers cannot clear snow from flat surfaces as well as a single-stage snow blower can.

Dual-stage snow blowers are best for medium to large jobs where snow is deeper and heavier, and where the terrain might be gravelly or uneven. They employ a slow-rolling auger for scooping up snow and a fast fan, called an impeller, for forcing snow out. The auger often has two types of blades: Serrated blades for breaking up hardened snow and ice, and smooth blades for scooping and lifting the snow into the machine. The auger can often be adjusted up and down, depending on how uneven the terrain is and how close you want to shave it. The auger casing can also come with skid shoes for adjusting total allowed ground clearance.

Separation of snow-handling tasks is what makes dual-stage snow blowers so effective for larger jobs. For the smallest jobs, however, you’ll want something much more maneuverable such as an electric snow blower.

About the Author

Snow Blowers Info provides detailed information about electric and truck-mounted snow blowers, snow blower parts, and reviews of best snow blowers. Snow Blowers Info is affiliated with Original Content Web.

If you thought you would only get true-to-life resolution, definitive control and stunning output from an SLR camera, check out the Sony DSC-V1 Cyber-shot® digital camera. The DSC-V1 combines the control you prefer with extraordinary performance and a uniquely-compact design that is 30% smaller than its predecessor!

Designed to deliver a huge array of impressive features, the DSC-V1 includes a Super HAD CCD image sensor that delivers massive 5.0 megapixel resolution (effective) and a 4X optical/4X Smart Zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar® lens that gives you exceptional control. Other features include 5-Area Multi-Point AF (Auto-Focus), NightShot, NightFraming IR Assist, Multi-Pattern, and Program Shift, which lets you conveniently select Aperture/Shutter combinations while in the Program AE mode. It even features a lightning-fast USB 2.0 interface for high-speed transfer.

Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar Lens

Hologram AF Low Light Laser Focusing Assist

Multi-Point Auto Focus

Multi-Pattern Measuring

Slow Shutter Noise Reduction

NightShot®

Memory Stick® Media

Mega Pixel

• 1/1.8″ 5.0 Megapixel Effective Super HAD CCD

Super HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCDs provide excellent image quality by allowing more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise.

• Traditional, Yet Compact Design

A unique combination of performance and compactness, the DSC-V1 puts high performance imaging right in your hand!

• 0 - 4.0 Smart Zoom (at VGA size)

Smart Zoom intelligently uses the full CCD to let you zoom into the portion of interest by cropping the image sizethus avoiding the image degradation of Digital Zooms.

• Continuous Auto Focus

To maintain accurate focus lock with fast moving subjects, Continuous AF keeps focusing until the moment of exposure.

• 14-Bit DXP A/D Conversion

Sony’s 14-bit Digital EXtended Processor captures the range between highlight and shadow with up to 16,384 values, for extended dynamic contrast and detail.

• Manual Exposure Controls

Flexible Exposure control is provided with Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual Exposure modes. Program Shift lets you select aperture/shutter speed combinations for direct control of motion and depth of field, while still in Program AE mode.

• Auto Daylight Synchro Fill Flash

When the Multi-Pattern Measuring system determines the subject is backlit or in shadow, fill flash automatically fires to provide optimum exposure.

• Dynamic Flash White Balance

By evaluating the Pre-flash, white balance can be set to the color temperature of the flash for greater color accuracy.

• Live Histogram Display

The live histogram displays number of pixels at each luminosity making it easy to evaluate correct exposure.

• 5 Megapixel (2592 x 1944) Image Size

With its high resolution CCD, the DSC-V1 captures in 4 different image sizes, Fine or Standard JPEG compression.

• NightFraming System

To capture beautiful color images in low or no light, NightFraming illuminates the subject with the NightShot® system for proper framing, focuses with Hologram AF and lights the scene with flash.

• 1.5″ LCD Monitor

High resolution 123K pixel design and anti-glare coating help provide excellent nviewing and image playback clarity.

• Multi-Burst Mode

Captures 16 320×240 frames as part of a single 1280×960 image which plays back sequentially in the camera. Selectable 1/7.5, 1/15, 1/30 second frame intervals provide convenient motion analysis.

• MPEG Movie VX Mode

Captures VGA (640 x 480) high frame rate (16 frames per second) audio/video clips with length limited only by the capacity of the media. Video Mail mode captures smaller file sizes suitable for email.

• Hot Shoe and ACC Terminal

Connect Sony’s HVL-F32X flash or Remote Controls with ACC terminal, or synchronize other flash units or studio lighting with the Hot Shoe terminal.

• Rechargeable Infolithium® Battery

Provides reliable, long-lasting power for continuous shooting, without “memory effect”. AC-LS5 adapter/ charger provides stable power for USB transfer.

About the author:

Cyber-shot® Digital Camera
DSC-V1

Hotel Lasserhof is a 4 star hotel in Salzburg, located in Lasserstrasse 47

Comfortable 1st class privately owned, and family run hotel in the centre of Salzburg. The hotel enjoys a quiet position although in the centre of the town. Within easy reach on foot to all of the historic and interesting points of the city, e.g.:

Ever feel like you just can’t seem to get it all together? Maybe you’re caught up in the ‘thick and thin’ of daily life and somehow never feel like you’re getting to things that are really important to you.
Ever feel like you just can’t seem to get it all together? Maybe you’re caught up in the ‘thick and thin’ of daily life and somehow never feel like you’re getting to things that are really important to you. Like that big project you want to get off the ground or that note you want to send to your sick grandmother or those long-term career plans.

Or maybe it’s that most of your life’s dreams are still that…dreams.

You just feel that somehow things are not quite like you’d like them to be. Then it’s time to turn that around!

Plato said, “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”

So, let’s start at the beginning with your mission for your life. This is very useful to know. Remember, your life mission is already inside you, so you’re just detecting it, not creating it.

I first learned how to detect my life mission when I was at a workshop but when the speaker said, “In the next 45 minutes, you’ll be writing your life mission”, I thought, ‘Is this woman nuts? I can’t do that in 45 minutes!’ Turns out I was wrong. Nothing new here

Now there’s even an easier and faster way to do it online. It will take you less than 5 minutes! If you missed this in our last issue, it’s worth going to http://www.franklincovey.com/missionbuilder/index.html where you’ll find a short form and the rest, as they say, is history.

It’s not required that you do this to go on to my 4-step process but it does help.

For many years, I used my day planner only for work. Sure, I’d put a few personal things on it, like meet someone for dinner or pick up a birthday present, but I’d still end up feeling like I was not getting to other important things in my life.

Somehow, those important things in my life got pushed to the bottom of my ‘to do’ list. But now I follow a process that addresses all the key roles I play in my life and gets me to focus on what’s important EACH WEEK.

4 Steps To Help You Get It All Together

Here’s a 4-step process that I use that will work for you, too. You’ll never again feel like those really important things got lost in the details of daily life.

1. List all the roles you play in your life: These are ALL the roles you play in both your personal and professional life. Your list might include friend, spouse, mother or father, brother or sister, daughter or son.

Include your work roles. If you’re a web owner, break that role up in sub-roles: content developer, ezine publishing, president, administratrative, etc. Do the same thing if you work full-time for a company and, say, you’re in a manager job where your sub-roles would might be: staff development, marketing, administrative, etc. depending on your job functions.

Include volunteer and other personal commitments like: Sunday school teacher, PTA member, soft ball coach, pet owner.

Since you chose these roles in your life, they are important to you.

Try making your list now on a sheet of paper.

2. Select Goals On A Weekly Basis These are short-term, high-leverage weekly goals. This is NOT a task list. Your high-leverage weekly goals are those things that will give you the highest impact in that role.

Ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish in each role this week?”

For example, if you wanted to be a more supportive spouse, what could you do this week? If you wanted to be a better softball coach, what could you do this week? If you wanted to make a 6-figure income in your web business or job, what could you do this week?

The key is one, and only one, short-term, bite-size, manageable step that you can do this week in each of your significant roles. Baby steps, not big leaps, leads to success.

3. Scheduling Now it’s time to look at your day planner or whatever scheduling tool you use.

Secret tip: Schedule on a WEEKLY, not daily basis. Why? Because, otherwise, you’re just putting out fires. With daily scheduling, the minute something else comes up, you’re behind on your schedule. Ever feel frustrated by not getting to something on your calendar for that day?

No more, when you schedule weekly. Because now you know that you have the entire week to meet your short-term goals…and most importantly, in each significant role in your life. That’s what’s important: attention to all of your significant life roles, each week.

Weekly scheduling is not only more practical but you’ll find it saves a great deal of emotional energy. The flexibility of an entire week opens up time that you didn’t think you had. Try it and see for yourself.

4. Adapt Daily When you organize your roles, set short-term goals, and schedule them weekly, you’ll discover that you can respond to unanticipated events and surprises without throwing off your entire schedule. What a relief!

It’s a lot easier to make changes in any given day when you know that you have a plan that still works for the week and can be adjusted to meet your short-term goals for that week. This will give you peace of mind and it’s practical, too.

If you’re not clear on your life goals, see our free process “Goals For Life Planning” here http://peoplepoems.com/goalsforlife.htm or subscribe to our Free monthly newsletter “Just For You” at peoplepoems-subscribe@topica.com

About the Author

Joann Javons is a consultant and coach with a passion for helping people be all they can be. She is the owner of http://www.AttractClients.com, http://www.private-practice-marketing.com, and http://www.peoplepoems.com

The latest results from surveys mailed to downtown San Diego condominium owners show that the Meridian has been surpassed in resident satisfaction by The Metropolitan. The Metropolitan surpassed all other condo buildings in downtown because of its winning combination of great views unbeatable amenities.

The Metropolitan condos are located atop the Omni hotel, adjacent to Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres baseball team. The building is 32 stories tall with a hotel on floors 1-21. Metropolitan residents have two very special amenities that are not available anywhere else in town, maid service and room service, both from the Omni hotel staff and restaurants.

According to Mark Mills, Realtor, RE/MAX Real Estate Consultants, who has been conducting the residents surveys, the Metropolitan has raised the bar for true luxury condos. People looking for a total care free lifestyle in downtown should strongly consider the Metropolitan. It was a strong performer in all the rating categories and will continue to draw sophisticated buyers from around the world that want the best San Diego has to offer.

You can see the consolidation of the resident reviews on the web site: http://LiveAtTheTop.com, “The Source for Downtown San Diego Condos”

About the Author

RE/MAX Realtor and Economist focused on the downtown San Diego condo market.

An article in CIOInsight, http://www.cioinsight.com/article2/0,3959,940251,00.asp

Quoted some interesting survey results from companies that have gone offshore.”Of those companies that have gone offshore, 88 percent said they had gotten better “value for the money” with U.S. firms. That isn’t too surprising.

What is surprising, and what has to be worrying U.S. IT services firms, are some other results of the survey: - 71 percent said the “quality of the deliverable” was better than U.S. firms provided, and - 67 percent said “on-time delivery” was better. In other words, India’s IT services firms are outperforming their U.S. counterparts in three key areas: they’re producing better products and services; they’re doing it faster; and they’re charging less. That’s good news for CIOs, but bad news for U.S. firms.” - I know that there has been and continues to be “heated” discussions and debates about off-shore outsourcing in many forums.

Is off-shore outsourcing a “bane” or a “boon” for Virtual Consulting?

IMHO, the fact that at least some of these companies are able to successfully employ off-shore resources to produce quality products in an cost effective and timely manner, is proof tha Virtual Consulting really works!

Wouldn’t you agree?

In other related articles, they specifically note that India is experiencing a boom due to IT outsourcing:

Ref: “Growing trend toward IT outsourcing is a boon for India By Scott Leith sle-@ajc.com The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday, May 4, 2003″

Don’t you think that as companies see that they are able to allow work to be performed remotely / virtually, even half way around the world in India, that this type of Virtual Consulting is not only viable, but beneficial?

Granted I have also seen and heard of companies of all sizes and (supposed) levels of maturity (SEI CMM) fail when trying to outsource projects. But, IMHO, the cases I have heard about appear to be attributed to a lack of understanding of how to plan and/or manage these types of outsources / virtual / remote projects.

What have you heard about the success and/or failures of companies to successfully outsource projects? and why did they succeed or fail?

What do you see as the Risks, Issues, Opportunities, and/or Rewards of off-shore outsourcing relative to Virtual Consulting?

How might we turn this ongoing trend to our mutual benefit?

Again, IMHO, I actually see this trend of off-shore outsourcing as an opportunity for Virtual Consultants / Consulting.

Just think, if companies believe that you can design, manage, test, etc. a product / project being developed remotely and possibly off-shore, than why can’t you also perform your consulting, design, management, testing, etc. tasks remotely / virtually relative to the physical location(s) of the company?

Further, doesn’t this lead us in the direction where the objectives are to use the best, highest quality, most cost effective and time efficient resources for a task / project no matter where in the world they are performing the work? Doesn’t this tell us that we are starting to really deal in a true “Global Economy”? And isn’t this what Virtual Consulting is all about?

You tell me?!

About the Author: Michael S. DeVries is the Moderator of The Virtual Consulting Discussion List (http://www.TheVCF.com/vcdl.phtml) and Principal of The Virtual Consulting Firm (http://www.TheVCF.com). Learn more about Virtual Consulting and how to work from Wherever, Whenever by subscribing to The Virtual Consulting Discussion List for FREE and receive several FREE Gifts! at: http://www.TheVCF.com/vcdl.phtml

Source: www.isnare.com

Tanning beds were brought to North America by German scientist Friedrich Wolff in 1978 and rose to popularity in the mid-1980s. Since then, tanning beds have been a common way to tan without having to spend hours and hours in the sun’s unpredictable radiation.

Make no mistake: the ultraviolet light used in tanning beds is almost exactly the same kind of ultraviolet light that comes from the sun, and therefore comes with the same risks. But if you understand how tanning beds work and how to use them without abusing them, tanning beds can be a great way to get that perfect olive or bronze hue you’ve been yearning for.

All conventional tanning beds have lamps that produce ultraviolet radiation - both UVB and UVA rays. The UVB rays are accountable for stimulating production of the naturally occurring skin pigment melanin. However, minor overexposure to UVB rays causes burn, while major overexposure is linked to skin cancers. The UVA rays are the ones that oxidize the melanin, producing the golden brown color. The UVA rays account for the majority of rays originating in the lamps or bulbs in a tanning bed.

If you are using a conventional bed, first develop a base tan by tanning for twenty to thirty minutes, three to five times a week, for about four weeks. Then, maintain the tan by tanning two to three times a week thereafter.

High-pressure tanning beds are different, in that they utilize only UVA rays and no UVB rays. The term “high-pressure” refers to the atmosphere inside the lamps or bulbs, which are made out of quartz. The higher air pressure is what allows the lamp or bulb to filter out virtually all UVB rays - the rays that produce burn. The result is a faster, deeper, longer-lasting tan.

If you are using a high-pressure tanning bed, develop a base tan by tanning for ten to twelve minutes, three to five times total, over a matter of ten to fourteen days. Maintain the tan with only two or three visits per month.

Use a tanning bed lotion or “tan accelerator” to increase tanning speed and quality. Apply tan accelerator all over your body before and after your tanning session, since melanin oxidization and production continues long after you’ve been exposed to UV light. This will keep your skin cool, comfortable, moisturized, and just generally healthier.

Always wear tanning goggles while inside the tanning bed. Simply closing your eyes or wearing regular sunglasses is not enough protection from UV light.

About the Author

Tanning Beds Info provides detailed information about home, commercial, and wholesale tanning beds for sale, as well as tanning bed lotion and other products and accessories. Tanning Beds Info is the sister site of Sunless Tanning Web.

Advice for singles on how to evaluate if they, or someone they are dating, has a commitment phobia. Offers advice on how to address this relationship stopper.
We hear it all the time. “He just won’t make a commitment.” “She just wants some space right now.” “I’m not sure if I’m ready for a serious relationship.”

What does having a fear of commitment really mean? Actually, it means basically what it says. For SOME reason you, or someone you are involved with, isn’t ready to take this relationship (or any relationship) to the next step.

So how do we know if we or our (hoped for) partner are truly afraid of commitment? How do we know that it’s not something else? Is there any real difference between these two anyway?

Do these excuses sound familiar? “I’m just under a lot of stress right now.” “It’s not you, it’s me.” “I can’t focus on a relationship right now because of my overloaded schedule.”

Very often, we want to accept these reasons because we fear the real truth. Other times, we are just very confused by our feelings and the often mixed messages from the other person.

So, how do we evaluate our ability to make a long-term commitment? How do we know if he/she is really ready or willing?

There are only two real issues here to examine.

The first issue involves looking at a true fear of commitment itself. If this is the problem it’s important for the person with this fear to ask themselves a few key questions.

Are you concerned about the idea of forever? Do you fear you could make a mistake in who you choose? Do you fear a loss of your freedom/autonomy? Are you afraid of a bad marriage- like your parents for instance Do you fear you would be a bad mate?

If you answered yes to any of these, it would be a good idea to begin working to understand where these feelings come from. Once you understand them better, you can choose to address them.

Perhaps you need more time or emotional growth before you consider making a long-term commitment.

If you’d like to deal with past relationship feelings, I have an article on this at http://www.consum-mate.com/02jul.htm.

If you are unsure if you are relationship ready, check out my article on this at http://www.consum-mate.com/03jun.htm

If lack of self-awareness is an issue, check out http://www.consum-mate.com/02aug.htm

Greater self-knowledge will help you to overcome this block to building a lasting and satisfying relationship.

The second issue is the inability to make a commitment to a PARTICULAR relationship. This may not be the right one. Perhaps there is a sense of this but it is written off to being a “commitment -phobe” in general.

Focus on the true level of involvement with each other. Is there a genuine connection? Or is there a vague feeling of something missing? Evaluate the quality of your intimate relating. This does not mean how often (or even how good) the sex is. This is about how open, sharing and real you are in your interactions with each other.

Does any of this sound familiar?

It seems like we are only killing time? He/she doesn’t seem to want what I want. We seem to be off and on in our level of contact/affection. I/they are still not over a past relationship. I/they just don’t seem to know what I/they want.

Remember to focus on the involvement or lack thereof between you. If either person is disengaged in any way, it’s time to address the real issue of; “Is this the right relationship for us?”

Exploring your ability to make a lasting commitment should be a first step in your plan for building a healthy and lasting relationship.

About the Author

Toni Coleman is a licensed therapist and relationship coach in private practice in McLean, Virginia. She specializes in working with singles that want to create lasting, intimate relationships. Toni has over 20 years of post-masters experience in relationship counseling and coaching with singles and couples. She is the founder and President of LifeChange Coaching and Consum-mate Relationship Coaching. She developed and teaches the Creating Lasting Relationships Training, a tele-workshop designed to help singles to define, implement and fulfill their life and relationship goals. She has also written numerous email classes for singles on all aspects of meeting, dating and relating. She is the author of the email newsletter, The Art of Intimacy, which goes out to thousands of subscribers monthly

Good for 3-4 servings

Ingredients:
1/3 cup of cocoa powder
3 cups of milk
2 or 3 sticks of cinnamon (optional)
1 tsp. of vanilla extract
1/4 cup of sugar (optional)
1/4 tsp. salt

directions
Pour milk into saucepan, add cinnamon sticks. Blend in cocoa powder, sugar, salt and vanilla extract, stir until chocolate is very hot. Do not let it boil, serve and enjoy.
Note: Cinnamon can be replace with whole cloves or nutmeg you can also mix nutmeg, cinnamon and whole cloves for the ultimate spicy flavor.

About the Author

Kenia Morales is the publisher and owner of weekly online magazine ” For Every Aspect Of Today’s Woman”. To find a variety of women related issues and topics visit http://www.kpatra.com
info@kpatra.com