So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Home Theater: Lighting

By Marion Jones

Light fittings are things that not many people think about very often. However, the lighting in a room can cause us to feel a certain mood or enhance the atmosphere we want to create in that room. There are many types of light fixtures, fittings, bulbs, shades and stands to suit all areas of the home. That means both indoors and even outdoors where you might want to emphasize some special landscape feature.

Are you planning to remodelredecorate a room? In this case, I know it concerns a home movie theater room, because my friend, Owen Jones, asked me to give some advice. I definitely think that you should consider light fixtures as one element to change. For instance, you could start by altering the central, overhead incandescent bulb or tube light for sure.

My suggestion would be to install four or even six small wall-lights; these are not expensive and come in hundreds of colours and sizes to suit any pocket. The only drawback with wall lighting for your home theater, is that the wires would really have to be chased into the wall so as not to appear unsightly.

However, you could avoid this by using standard lamps. These are also available in a myriad of designs, but they come with two drawbacks: namely trailing wires and a higher cost. They are moveable though. Small, table lamps is a sub-class alternative, but you may need more electrical points.

Once you have decided on what you want, have each lamp dimmable either in unison or separately, up to you. You should probably keep one fairly powerful light at the business end of things in case the equipment needs seeing to, but it too could be on a dimmer.

The effect can be really stunning. And all from just changing the existing light fixtures and fittings. You could even go the whole hog and have an exit sign over the door or a few speciality lamps higher up out of line of sight, so that they are not distracting, say, an old 1970s style lunar lamp and a fibre-optic lamp, for amusement or as a talking point while waiting for the film or snacks to be got ready.

So, whatever style home theater lighting you are thinking of, contemporary or old style traditional, you will find dozens of options to choose from. From different colors to different sizes and styles, there are many. You can find them online or in home improvement shops. I have made a link to one of my online favourites below.

And, when you do make the changes, you will notice that your home theater has taken on an ambiance all of its own and it will " guaranteed " enhance your home theater experience. It may be these subtle changes, room by room, that make you see your home in a completely different light.

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Enjoy The Good Things In Life By Arranging A Remortgage, Secured Loan Or Homeowner Loan.

By Liz Moir

Secured loans otherwise known as homeowner loans can be used for almost any purpose as can remortgages. All these three forms of secured homeowner loans can be used for almost any purpose.These purposes can be fom anything from the purchase of a car or caravan to any form of home improvements right through to debt consolidation, school fees or even to buy a second home in the sun.

You can even use a remortgage or a secured homeowner loan to treat yourself to the holiday in New York that you always promised that you would take with your partner.

Imagine using a little of the equity tied up in your home to take a five star trip to say New York. Stay in luxury in such hotels as The Four Seasons or The Waldorf Astoria.

Go down to Central Park and enjoy all it has to offer, as you watch people of every nationality skate boarding and jogging in this famous New York landmark. Gaze into each others eyes as sunset approaches and feel a little of the romance that you thought had gone forever.

New York is home to wonderful restaurants which offer food from every corner of the globe. So whether Chinese is your food of choice or Indian is more to your taste there is sure to be a restaurant to suit you. Italian restaurants abound in the Big Apple, and as there is big Italian population most of these are owned by people from the old country and as such they are in general very good.

Ther is bound to be a Mario's on one street or the other and all these restaurants may offer regional cuisine from different areas of Italy. If seafood is your favourite food it will be more possible to find mouth watering sea food in a Neapolitan restaurant. Enjoy the langoustines, oysters, squid, etc served with delicious pasta often black with the ink from cuttle fish giving a more intense taste of the sea all washed down with the best wine in the house. There is no need to economize on the food you choose as your remortgage or homeowner loan will pay for it all, and the repayments are affordable.

A gentle walk along Fifth Avenue will take away the affects of all the calories before taking a cab to Broadway to see your favourite actor or actress tread the boards in the flesh instead of gazing down on you from the cinema screen in your local cinema.

Life really does become more enjoyable with a little help by way of a remortgage, homeowner loan or secured loan.

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Repossessed Cars, Trucks and Boats - Auto Auction Buying Tips

By Gabe Killian

Repossessed cars, trucks, SUVs, boats and other various vehicles are being purchased at police auctions and various other auto auctions every day. Often times these vehicles are bought anywhere from 95% of the market value. This can be a great option for someone on a budget or who wants to get in the car flipping business. But with great return, comes great risk. If you are considering buying a repossessed car, truck, SUV, boat or any other vehicle seizure from an auction, you'll want to follow these basic steps so you don't end up buying a lemon that costs you thousands!

* Consider identifying the easiest problems first. Check the tires, look at the body, check for rust, look at the battery, alternator and the belts, check out the interior. Look at all the various things that may cause you future problems. This may sound rudimentary, but this is extremely important.

* Bring a mechanic! Or bring someone who is experienced enough with vehicles to help you identify possible problems with the repossessed vehicle you are considering. Having such a person can provide you with a second opinion and great insight on possible problems that may exist in the vehicle you are choosing. This will save you a whole lot of trouble when buying a repossessed car, truck, SUV, boat or any vehicle you could be looking at. At most, you could pay someone $50 for their time, doing this could save you $5,000 at the auto repair shop!

* Look at the vehicles reputation. Generally, by looking online, on forums, magazines, and other forms of media, you can find reviews on different makes and models of the repossessed car, truck, SUV or boat you are considering bidding on. From automotive magazines to online reporting services, you can find various information about the vehicle you are interested in.

* Find out why the vehicle you are interested in is at a repossessed police auto auction. Ask questions, look up its history, find out why its repossessed. By asking these questions you can get clues as to what, if anything, may be wrong with the auto.

* Go with your gut instinct and watch others who are interested in the various repossessed cars, trucks and other vehicles. If people are staying away from a certain car, truck, boat or other vehicle, you have to ask yourself, "Why?" If you have a bad feeling about a certain repossessed vehicle, then go with your gut instinct. You'll be happy you did!

Buying repossessed cars, trucks, SUVs, boats and other types of vehicles can save you tons of money, especially if you find that perfect deal! Just remember when buying repossessed vehicles, buying a lemon could be extremely costly so you should avoid doing so at all costs. Be prepared, do your homework, and you find the repossessed car, truck, SUV or boat of your dreams!

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Flokati Rugs: Greek History

By Holly Nunez

Flokati area rugs, just like many other rug styles, have their origins rooted deep in the mists of time. It is said that these were originally worn by warriors, shepherds and travelers in ancient Greece to protect them from the cold during the long winter months. Later on they moved indoors and were found to be the perfect floor covering - warm in winter and lush in summer. As such, husbands-to-be often received one along with the dowry of the intended wife. Since then Flokati rugs have become renowned across the world and, in many cases, remain a prized possession.

Many Flokati rugs are still made in Greece and are made by hand by knotting wool through a stout backing material (sometimes woven wool). And if you are lucky, then you might just find yourself one that has been put through the ancient water ripening technique. This basically consists of washing the rug in a fast-running stream. The result is that the wool is treated in a way that can not be duplicated, giving it ultimate softness and durable strength.

With the developments in their production, Flokati rugs have gone beyond the earth colors and widened the color's selection. The styles also vary from short and thick knots to the long and unruly look.

So is that all with regards to the Flokati rug? No, not quite. You see, in addition to the elegance of them and the fact that it is the ultimate in retro chic, they further have the advantage over some other styles of area rugs due to the material it is made of. Seeing as the knots are made out of wool (usually from Greece or New Zealand) as well as the backing, it means you have a rug capable of the following: absorbing 5 times it's own weight in moisture, which means that "dry" rooms will be adequately humidified while humid rooms will be sufficiently dried.

Flokati's fabric also allows it to resist static so they can be placed close to electrical appliances like your television, component and computer. It will be nice then to match one with your home entertainment system. Your den or family room will never look as good.

Are you now convinced of their worth as a permanent household member? I am! Perhaps I might not use a Flokati rug as a focal item in a room because of its simple design. However, I love the availability of earth colors that make for a nice backdrop and balancing accessory for my other decorations. Besides, I know I have so many choices with other colors and style in case I decide to go for a more upbeat look. I think I'll go for longer knots too.

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Indianapolis Shreds St. Louis To Remain Undefeated

By Ross Everett

Peyton Manning was unable to tie a NFL record with his sixth straight 300 yard game , but the Indianapolis Colts remained undefeated by ripping the lowly St. Louis Rams 42-6 at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday. Manning amassed 235 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions as the Colts made short work of the winless Rams. The Colts are now 6-0 on the NFL season, while the Rams are 0-7.

NFL betting devotees who backed Indy as -14 road favorites easily won their bets as the Colts improved to 5-1 against the spread. After dropping their first game of the year to the number, Indy has run off five straight pointspread covers. The Chiefs dropped to 2-5 against the spread with the setback. The 48 points scored went OVER the posted total of 45. Kansas City has gone OVER in four of seven games this season, while Indianapolis evened their NFL totals record at 3-3.

After the game, Colts' coach Jim Caldwell praised his quarterback:

"He functions pretty well within the system. He does a great job leading our team and being a field general. I don't think he reached 300 yards, but nevertheless he was very effective."

As has become his form, Manning deflected the praise onto his offensive line:

"I really appreciate the protection I've been getting. It's something I don't take for granted."

Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark gave kudos to the Indy fans that made the trip to St. Louis to support the team:

"We had a great following today. It was outstanding. When we were introduced it felt like a home game."

Rams' running back Steven Jackson sounded like a man out of answers:

"We have to learn to put four good quarters together. We don't know how to win a game right now."

The Colts will return home next Sunday to face a potentially tricky game against the San Francisco 49ers. Indianapolis has been installed as -11 point home favorites and the total set at 45. They'll remain at home for the following two games, hosting the Houston Texans the following week and the New England Patriots on November 15th. St. Louis will take on another one of the NFL's bottom feeders next Sunday, playing on the road against the Detroit Lions. The game is currently off the board while the Lions' quarterback injuries get sorted out. The Rams will have a much needed bye week after that before returning to action on November 15th as they host the New Orleans Saints.

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White Tea The Amazing Health Booster That's Even Better Than Green Tea

By Liam Nelson

If you have never tried it then you should really find out about the health benefits of white tea. More so than green tea it offers several life enhancing properties.

There are only a few white tea varieties available in the west but this in itself does not limit your choice too much.

There are only a few white tea varieties available in the west but this in itself does not limit your choice too much.

However, the benefits of this drink are unlike any other and researchers are just beginning to experiment with the different healing and medicinal properties of this tea.


Better Than Green Or Black

For starters white tea has a better mix of antioxidents and caffeine, more of the former but less of the latter.

Many think that this fact on its own is a good enough reason to move over to white tea.


Cancer Prevention

It is widely known that green tea may be helpful to the prevention of cancer, but the white variety appears to do a better job. In several studies it has been found that it seems to inhibit DNA mutations, which is what usually happens when some forms of cancer appear.

Research is always ongoing but a fascinating study is suggesting that white tea may help to inhibit the onset of colon cancer. It is early days of course but this exciting link would be a great step forward for natural medicine.


Helping To Fight Obesity

Fighting obesity is a big problem in the west and white tea can offer a helping hand.

You may have read recently that researchers upon injecting a tea extract into fat cells then observed them breaking down. There is a fair way to go before this is proven to happen just by drinking tea but progress goes on.

With supply of white tea varieties improving all the time hopefully you will soon be able to avail yourself of its extra health benefits. If you already drink green tea then you will not find any unpleasantness at all in the taste, it should be an easy switch to gain the benefits of white tea.

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Wildfire Pepper Spray Really Is For Someone Like You

By John White

There are probably thousands of different, yet effective self defense products available around the world. Just about all of them has its beginnings in some type of military or police application and most are still being used by these organizations today. If they find these types of products that useful, shouldn't you also? Wildfire pepper spray is a very popular choice in this market and has the strength to back up its claims.

Pepper spray can be classified as the most popular form of personal protection there is. These products use oleoresin capsicum from cayenne peppers to become an effective form of self defense. Measuring in at around 2 million SHU, this spray is hot! The habanero is only about 300, 000 SHU and you probably thought it was too much to handle right?

One tiny blast from a pepper spray canister, directly to the face, will result in a shortness of breath, chocking, coughing, severe pain and temporary blindness.

Wildfire pepper spray is one of a very small portion of the market that contains over 10% of that nasty stuff that causes these side effects. It actually has close to 18% of the stuff, making it a logical choice for anyone. With 2 million Scoville Heat Units, you can't go wrong!

It also comes in five sizes to fit any need. These include. 5 oz, 1. 5 oz, 4 oz, 9 oz and even 1 lb. Ranging from small enough to fit on your key ring all the way up to sizes big enough for the SWAT team to carry, there is a size that fits every need.

Because this stuff is so volatile it is perfect for use in the home, office, vehicle or even outdoor setting. It could very well end up being your first and last line of defense in case of an emergency.

Remember, though, that even though pepper spray is legal nationwide there might be some states that have restrictions on its use. It's always safe to check with your local police station about pepper spray law first.

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Which Video Strategies Can You Use For The Automotive Industry

By John Harvey

You can show off all of your dealership's new model vehicles with video! It's a great way to get attention for the latest models and makes that just recently arrived on your lot. And it's the perfect opportunity to entice potential car buyers with the best of the best as soon as you get it, increasing the chance that they will learn about the new models first from your website and hopefully come to your dealership when they want to buy.

Used Car Inventory: The used inventory is the bread and butter for most dealerships these days. Many dealerships actually don't even focus on the new inventory and shoot mainly videos featuring used cars from their car lot.

Specialty Cars: These cars are attractive because of their uniqueness. Those vehicles can actually be a real crowd pleaser and a crowd magnet. So it's always good to put a car like these in the video mix as it might draw a lot of attention on the internet.

Videos can be designed as a report on a specific vehicle. This type of video would include a show and tell of all of the vehicle's special and unique features. It can also really zero in on the highlights that would make potential purchasers really like this vehicle.

On the other hand, you could also create a video that showcases several different vehicles. Perhaps all the vehicles would be made by a particular manufacturer and show their list of new offerings. Or the video could compare and contrast similar vehicles-i.e., sedans or sports models-produced by different manufacturers. This can really help consumers reach wise decisions about the vehicles they most prefer prior to coming to your dealership.

Walk-around video-single person. With a personable personality, you can create a unique video that presents a vehicle to the consumer. You could start out showcasing what it's like to get in the car and drive it and how wonderful it is to drive the car. Or alternatively, you could showcase the car by giving the consumer a look under the hood.

Similarly, you could also do a multi-person walk-around video. This would involve a similar presentation delivered by several different people at the dealership. For instance, the sales person could take a test drive of the vehicle while the service manager could talk about the great warranty the vehicle comes with and a mechanic could focus on what a powerful motor the vehicle has under the hood. The finance manager could even talk about how simple and easy it is to apply for financing and get an answer the same day.

Introduction to the dealership: Video is a great way to tell folks out there what your dealership is about. You can give details about what you offer in terms of comfort, refreshments, service department, entertainment for the kids.

Invitation to special events: Special sales events or other promo strategies can also be advertised through online video. Just make sure you take those videos are down after the promotion has ended.

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If You Are Unable To Be There But Want To Show You Love Them Then Send -