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How to Make A Cheap and Easy Chocolate Lover’s Gift Basket

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Gift baskets will always be popular and a great idea to give as a gift. People love to receive gift baskets. Making your own chocolate lover’s gift basket is cheap and easy.

You can fill it with a variety of inexpensive items and there are lots of choices.ou can easily customize each chocolate theme gift basket to your recipient.

I’ve put together a few great ideas for making a chocolate lover’s gift basket, complete with instructions on how to make them. You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive gift baskets depending on your budget.

First make a list of your recipient’s hobbies and interests. List everything you can think of.

Suggestions: sports, books, television shows, in-house hobbies, outdoor recreation, camping, workshop, enjoy working with tools, golf, fishing, computer-related, environment friendly, golf, and tennis.

Also relaxation, food, wine, spa, bath and body, fruit, cookie, crafts, gardening, etc. You can tie in any interests into your chocolate theme. These are just a few ideas.

You can find many inexpensive items for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets, at ‘dollar’ stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores, etc.

For gift containers you can use: any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, plastic container, toy dump truck or other large toy truck, purse, tin, Christmas tin, seasonal container, large tea pot, large upside-down hat, or plastic storage container-put lid underneath.

Other items might be: extra-large coffee mug, boot, potted plant holder, wire basket, large pasta bowl, large popcorn bowl, cooking pot, clay pot, tackle box, colander, small wagon, skillet, antique trunk, champagne bucket, hamper, Asian-style trunk or picnic basket.

For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, diapers, baby blankets or fabric pieces.

For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.

For items in the container it’ll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket – in this case Chocolate! With chocolate it’s best not to include any fragrant items, unless they are wrapped in such a way that they don’t give off any fragrance. Here’s a small random sampling to give you some good ideas:

Gift certificate for massage or spa visit, gift certificate to favorite store, gift certificate for restaurant, loofah, CD of nature sounds, favorite artist CD, DVD of newer release movie, how-to video or CD, handwritten poem, watch, framed photo, inspirational book, spa pillows, bath pillows, spa supplies, or a small fluffy towel.

Also flavored teas, green tea, specialty tea, herbal tea, biscotti, tea infuser, healthy snacks, fancy chocolates, boxed chocolates, chocolate bars, hot chocolate mix, specialty coffee mix, homemade chocolate chip cookies, homemade brownies, chocolate fudge, and Ghirardelli chocolates.

Or chocolate covered raisins, chocolate covered strawberries, Hershey chocolates, dark chocolates, white chocolates, chocolate bars, chocolate covered cherries, Belgian chocolates, chocolate mints, and chocolate covered pretzels.

How about miniature or giant-size chocolate animals, gourmet chocolate candies, Tootsie Rolls, nuts, homemade chocolate-based cookies, pre-packaged chocolate food items, brownie mixes,and chocolate chip cookie mixes.

And wooden spoons, your best chocolate chip cookie recipe, your favorite hand-written chocolate recipes, chocolate dessert recipes, chocolate fudge recipes, hot chocolate or cocoa mixes in fancy packets, coffee mug for cocoa, movie tickets and cinnamon sticks.

You can use as many chocolate items as you like. You can make your basket with all chocolate items or mix in a few non-chocolate items.

For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or I like to use cellophane wrap. You can buy it in large rolls. Look for specialty packaging outlets where you can buy it wholesale.

Tie off the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it. For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bows is easy and the best if you can do it. Use a large or huge bow.

Assemble all your gift basket items, tools you need, etc. Now line your selected gift container. Now stuff the selected filler into the gift basket to give added height to your items. Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front.

Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc. Also you can use ‘picks’ of artificial flowers to fill in space.

Place your cellophane or other wrap under the gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and or a beautiful bow! Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors. Tuck a card in the ribbon and that’s it!

You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco– especially in the fall prior to Christmas but often throughout the year in some stores. You can shred paper in a paper shredder. If you’re going to need a lot of cellophane you can purchase it wholesale through the packaging specialty stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found in craft stores.

General tips: Try to use non-perishable items. Use freshly packaged food items, because even packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months. You can find filler flower ‘picks’ at garage sales for pennies. If you buy wholesale they are usually around a dollar each.

Also there’s nothing like learning how to make gift baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over again and share with your children, other family members and friends.

You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business if you so desire. In any event, making a chocolate lover’s gift basket is cheap and easy and will be thoroughly appreciated by the chocolate lover recipient.

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Source by Helen Hecker

What is a Front Lip and Why Would You Want One?

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What is the reason for all of the interest in this part of an automobile?

There are two key reasons. One is practical and the other one is cosmetic.

From a practical standpoint a vehicle moving through air sometimes acts like an airplane. That is, the air flow under a car or truck travels a slightly shorter distance than the air flow over the top of the vehicle. This difference causes a pressure differential, with the low pressure at the top of the vehicle.

This means that there is greater pressure trying to lift the car up, than keep the car on the road. The weight of the car is enough in most circumstances to overcome this tendency to lift up. However, move the car fast enough and thereby increase the air flow and interesting things can happen. Just like an airplane taking off, enough speed equals enough lift and you are air borne.

What is good for an airplane is disaster for a car. If you ever watch pictures of car races, you might see a picture of a fast moving race car suddenly lift up in its front end and sometimes completely flip upside down.

The front spoiler or lip or air dam, is designed to stop this dangerous air flow, on a race car or an exotic car which is capable of very high speeds.

The second reason these devices are added to cars is for styling. People like to feel they are driving a fast car. They want the appearance even if they will never push the car to speeds that require an aerodynamic device like this. If you look at most new cars, you will see some type of extension below the front bumper. It’s there for the design and not to hold the front end of the car down.

Since not all cars come with this look, there is now a large aftermarket which designs and builds lips, spoilers or air dams for people who want to dress up their pride and joy.

Is it all positive? No. There are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, this is additional weight on the front end of the car. It should not make a difference, but if you add a very heavy weight to the front end you can change the handling characteristics of a car. Second, you have now lowered the distance from the front end to the pavement. On a level road, there should be no problem. However, hit a dip, or a tall parking block, or even a steep driveway and you may find your front end is dragging on the ground.

The last caution is installation. Most aftermarket products like this require a certain amount of expertise to fit it correctly. If you do not have this experience, find a professional for the installation.

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Source by Dennis Dater

Mobsters in America – The Murder of Joe Rosen Sat Louie Lepke Right Down Into the Electric Chair

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Joe Rosen was a legitimate business man, who never broke the law in his life. But when he was killed in 1936, on the order of Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, it was the first link in the chain that sat Lepke right down into the electric chair.

Joe Rubin, from Brownsville in Brooklyn, had finally hit the jackpot. Through sweat and hard work, he had started a small trucking business, that catering to non-union, tailoring-contact customers in the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area. These were solid accounts and they bought Rosen a partnership in the New York & New Jersey Truck Company. But Louie “Lepke” Buchalter, from the same neighborhood as Rosen in Brownsville in Brooklyn, had other ideas. Lepke was a founding partner in Brooklyn’s infamous “Murder Incorporated, but his pal and sometimes partner Max Rubin controlled the Amalgamated Clothing Worker’s Union. In 1932, Rubin and Lepke approached Rosen and demanded that he stop delivering to non-union tailor shops in Pennsylvania.

“But if I lose the Pennsylvania business, I lose everything,” Rosen told them. “I’ve been in the clothing business all my life and now I’m being pushed out of it.”

Which was exactly what Rubin and Lepke did. But as a consolation prize, the gave Rosen a job as a truck driver in Garfield Express, a trucking business that Lepke owned 50% interest in, with his partner Louis Cooper. Eight months later, Cooper fired Rosen and Rosen was out of work for 18 months. He used borrowed funds to open a small candy store in Brownsville, but Rosen was a loud and unhappy camper. Special Prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey was a fierce investigator, concentrating on the labor rackets, and he began making noise about Lepke’s involvement with the Amalgamated Clothing Worker’s Union.

“This is bad,” Rubin told Lepke. “Joe (Rosen) is around complaining he’s got a family and he doesn’t have anything to eat. We got a desperate man on our hands.”

Lepke, in a display of sheer generosity, told Rubin to give Rosen a few bucks, but in return, before Dewey caught a whiff of what he was saying, Rosen had to split town immediately. Rubin met with Rosen in his candy store and said, “Here’s two hundred dollars. Lepke wants you to go away and cool down. You better do what he says.”

Rosen did as he was told, and he holed up with his son, who lived and worked as a coal miner in Reading, Pennsylvania. Less than a week later, Rosen’s wife contacted him and told him his mother was sick. Rosen was sick too; sick of Reading, Pennsylvania. So he hopped on a bus and hightailed it back to New York City. He was back working in his candy store the very next day. This did not please Lepke too much. Lepke usually insulated himself from any direct connection to the scores of murders he ordered. Instead he had a small group of lieutenants, including Rubin, whom he gave orders to, and these orders were passed down the line to the eventual killers. Albie Tannenbaum was one of his killers, but not one of his confidants. Unfortunately, Tannenbaum was in the next room when Lepke blew his top about Rosen.

“I’ve seen enough of this crap,” Lepke screamed at Rubin. “That (expletives) Rosen, he’s going around shooting his mouth off about seeing Dewey. He and nobody else is going any place and doing any talking. I’ll take care of him.”

On September 13, 1936, a band of Lepke’s killers, led by Harry “Pittsburgh Phil” Strauss, sat in ambush as Rosen opened his candy store at 7:30 am. In an extreme example of overkill, the shooters rushed into the store and emptied seventeen bullets into Rosen’s body; the last four pumped by Strauss after Rosen was already dead.

For the next four years, Murder Incorporated committed hundreds of murders, but not one of them could be traced back to Lepke. Dewey was on Lepke’s trail for slews of other crimes, so Lepke lammed it somewhere in New York City, which is is easiest place to hide, with eight million people milling about, minding their own business.

In 1940, at the urging of his partners Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky, Lepke tuned himself in to FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover, thinking the fix was in and he merely had to do a few years in the can for his crimes. But he was double-crossed by Luciano and Lansky, and also by Albie Tannenbaum and Max Rubin, who had been pinched too, and were looking to make a deal. Both rats agreed on the witness stand that Lepke had ordered Rosen’s killing. After Tannenbaum quoted Lepke verbatim about taking care of Rosen, thereby confirming Rubin’s account, Lepke’s goose was cooked. On November 30, 1941, it took the jury a little over four hours to return a guilty verdict on Lepke for murder.

After several appeals were turned down, on March 4, 1944, Lepke was fried in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison, and it was the murder of Joe Rosen, a poor nobody, who just wanted to live a decent, hard-working life in peace, that put him there.

To this day, Louis “Lepke” Buchalter is the only mob boss ever to be executed by the government.

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Source by Joseph Bruno

How to Start Your Own Trenching Service Business

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You can be in business for yourself, and be your own boss, if you start your own trenching business service, and work for yourself. Trenching, is basically like digging a long thing hole, maybe 10 inches wide, and 2 feet deep, for 100 yards. That would be a big job, to complete with a shovel.

A trenching machine, is like a big chain saw, a trenching machine digs up the ground to a certain depth, and certain width. Most notable, trenching would be needed for constructing of footings, irrigation lines, cable lines, pipes, underground utilities, water lines, gas lines, pool lines, and more.

Some do it yourself home owners, like to put in their own sprinkler systems. But, when they learn they have to put the lines all underground, it would take forever to use a shovel, and do it by hand. It would be an almost impossible task, so it needs to be trenched. That’s where you come in, and make money with your trenching service. You can offer trenching by the foot, or by the job. You can network with other landscapers, stump grinders, tree cutters, gardeners, tractor service operators, bobcat operators, dump truck drivers, nursery outlets, and more.

You should have a sign on your vehicle, saying the name of your business, and how they can get a hold of you for work. Some trenching machines can be put in the back of a pickup truck or pulled on a trailer. You can also rent a trenching machine from a local equipment rental dealer, until you can get your own.

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Source by Vince Stead

Resetting the Dodge PCM

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Some jobs can easily be done at home. All you need is a bit of guidance. Resetting the powertrain control module (PCM) is one such task.

So what exactly is a PCM? A PCM is basically an ECU or electronic control unit which is commonly used in a motor vehicle. Most often the PCM is a combination of an engine control unit or an ECU and the transmission control unit. The PCM controls more than five operations in a truck or car.

Let’s take the case of the PCM in a Dodge Durango. You will find the PCM on the passenger side or the right side of the engine. This is the SUV’s circuit board computer and it has been made to tolerate extreme climate changes.

The various components in the transmission, engine, powertrain and other functional areas transfer information to the PCM. If a malfunction is detected, the error indicator on the instrument panel lights up.

The point in question here is whether there is a need to reset the Dodge PCM and when, if at all.

Here’s how you reset the Dodge PCM. Once the car’s hood is opened, you will see the battery inside. You will have to disconnect the battery’s black wired negative terminal. Put the ignition onto the crank/on status for half a minute and then turn the ignition back to the off mode. Connect the negative battery terminal. Close the hood and then start the vehicle and let it idle. Now check the status of the error light on the instrument panel.

There are other methods to reset the Dodge PCM. You have to scan and clear the error codes which acted as the trigger for the malfunction light. There are some special tools for this purpose such as the scan tool or code reader-eraser. These tools are not easily available.

In addition to this, after the battery has been disconnected and the PCM has been reset, the PCM will need time to relearn. This is what Dodge mechanics and technicians have been debating about.

Whether the PCM has been reset of if it has not; the PCM has to relearn. The time taken to reset and relearn vis a vis the time taken to replace the component and relearn is about the same. So the only time the PCM should be reset is when the component which set the error code jangling has been repaired or replaced. Otherwise the same component will trigger the malfunction indicator light on the dashboard.

If you need to replace the Dodge PCM computer for van, truck or car there are a number of online stores where you could pick up what you require. Make sure that your read the fine print before you sign on for a PCM or any other part for that matter. You can get yourself a top quality re-manufactured PCM computer at rates which are much better than what dealers offer. Most stores offer a lifetime warranty on these re-manufactured PCM computer. This way, you can replace and drive off.

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Source by S. Doss

Basic Car Maintenance: What to Do During a Tune-Up

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Some people wind up with a car that seems to run perfectly for five years while other individuals remain discouraged because their car seems to break down every two years, and they wind up buying another one. To go from the second group into the first, it’s important to remember that car maintenance is the key to keeping a car running wonderfully for many years to come. One of the most important things is to guarantee that a car receives a regular tune-up.

Most people that have their own mechanic or know a few basic things about cars choose to do their own tune-up. Making sure that these things are changed during a tune-up will drastically improve the performance of any car, and help prevent problems down the road.

NGK Spark Plugs

NGK Spark plugs do not always need replaced, and there are a few ways to check to see if they can go for another 30,000 miles or so. First, if there are no problems because of bad NGK spark plugs, they may not need replaced. To double check, vehicle owners are encouraged to ensure that the gap is what it is supposed to be, and to visually check NGK spark plugs to see if they appear to be worn.

Vehicle owners that are not sure as to whether they should replace NGK spark plugs are encouraged to replace them. Getting a new set will not hurt the car, and it may improve the performance of the vehicle.

Double Check Safety Options

This is the time when everything should be double checked, including but not limited to: windshield wipers, headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and the horn. These parts of the car are a necessity to making sure that everyone riding in the car is safe, particularly in dangerous weather. Headlights can determine whether a driver sees another car coming down the road or not, and may prevent a fatal car accident.

Brakes

The brakes do not automatically need to be replaced, but it is a good idea to take off the tires and give them a quick look while performing maintenance on the car. If the brakes show an excessive amount of wear and tear, and it looks like they may be close to the indicator, it is a good idea to replace them at the time and get it out of the way, although it is not necessary.

Oil change

Every car needs an oil change some time, and this is the one thing that most people neglect. Instead of getting an oil change every 10,000 miles as recommended, some owners never get an oil change. If this isn’t being done on regularly, at the very least vehicle owners are encouraged to get an oil change when they are doing their own tune up. The oil can become gritty and then it will not lubricate the engine properly, resulting in a wealth of damages later on down the road.

Fluids

All fluids should be checked on weekly, or, at the very least, monthly, but most vehicle owner’s ale tend to neglect this important part of maintenance. If this isn’t done regularly, it’s that much more important that it be done during a tune-up. If there is a problem, it should be fixed along with everything else.

Properly maintaining a vehicle is vital to making sure that a vehicle lasts longer than average, and to making sure that everyone in the vehicle remains safe. Simply installing new NGK spark plugs can improve the performance of a vehicle, and making sure that the horn works properly can prevent a car accident, and possible save a person’s life.

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Source by Samantha Jones

Abiding By The Rules Of Driving

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There are a lot of rules that a driver needs to learn about and abide by. Even if you are an expert driver, you need to stick to the rules set by the government while driving. These rules are mainly related to traffic keeping in mind the safety of the drivers and the pedestrians as well. The driving schools provide handy information about on road safety while driving, speed limits that need to be maintained as prescribed etc.

Speed limits are of the highest concerns all around the country. Young drivers often get overenthusiastic and cross the mentioned speed limits for different lanes. They need to understand that the speed limits are set according to the type of vehicles that ply on the respective lanes, streets and highways; these limits prevent accidents on highways and busy traffic lanes.

Driving lessons not only include how to drive but also to train and teach the learner to abide by all the traffic rules. Changing lanes unnecessarily lead to traffic mishap thereby causing huge traffic congestion and most of the times even accidents that can be fatal. The driving schools provide thorough information about the traffic signal and road signs. The road signs for instance a left arrow indicates a left turn ahead, a cross mark on the alphabet P means no parking.

Drivers should keep their eyes open and look out for all these road signs and abide by them. In a no horn zone a driver should never blow horn because it could possibly be a school or a hospital nearby.

Besides, other rules include No drinking and driving. This has been causing a lot of accidents all around the country. A certain study has shown that most number of on road accidents occur due to drinking and driving. It is completely against the law and order of the country and the driver not following this rule can be punishable by the law which can lead to life time imprisonment. Deadly as it is, drunk drivers often tend to lose control over the speed and generate a blurry vision which is extremely dangerous for him, people in the car and the pedestrians outside.

These rules fall under driving lessons as well; some institutions teach their learners about the various rules and their importance as to why they should follow them, their consequences if not followed. These are of utmost importance when it comes to driving. Being a little careful can reduce road accidents thereby saving thousands of innocent lives on the streets.

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Source by Steven Andrews

Party Decorations – How to Avoid Common Mistakes, Part II

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In “Decorating Your Party: How to avoid common mistakes: Part I” we talked about some of the selections you can consider in order to enhance the look of your party (such as, colors, size of the room, height of the ceiling). This time, let’s talk about some of the technical details party decorations and what you can do about them.

1. Production time.

You should be aware of when your room becomes available for your party. Many times, it is only two hours in advance. Make sure to let your decorator know about this at the beginning of your conversation. It does not mean that you can not use extensive balloon decorations! But it should be taken into account. There are several ways to go about it:

a) Sometimes the place where you are renting the room (whether it is a hotel or a community hall) can provide a back room for production of party decorations and then only the installation needs to be accomplished in the two hours.

b) With the help of your decorator you can choose party decorations that are fast to produce and still look astounding.

c) The decorator can get extra help, but may also charge you extra because of the time constraint.

d) The decorator can rent a truck and brings bits and peaces to be assembled on the spot quickly. This also might cost extra, as it is due to the time constraint at your location.

2. Ceiling Sensors.

Some venues have sensors on the ceiling so if a balloon goes up, an alarm sounds and fire truck shows up 20 seconds later. Costly for the owner and may be for you.

Don’t panic! You can still use balloons. Almost any party decorations that can be done with helium filled balloons (the type that flies) can be done with air filled balloons on a frame and has no need to be anywhere near the ceiling.

3. Doing it the day before.

If, for some reason, you have to do balloon decorations the day before, keep in mind that regular (11″ round) helium filled balloons will be half-dead by the morning and on the floor by the middle of the day.

If all you need are simple balloon bouquets, you can ask the decorator to use high float. This substance keeps balloons from deflating much longer. If you have more elaborate party decorations – use air filled balloons on a frame instead, as I mentioned in the previous point.

4. Transparent balloons.

Just keep in mind that they look great at the first moment, especially if you have bright balloons inside, but in a few hours they will be less transparent, kind of dim and will become more and more opaque as party goes on.

5. Balloon lights.

This is a very effective technique for low-light parties!!! For the regular light or daylight parties they are hardly noticeable. If this is the case, one has to use much stronger lights with larger balloons, cluster the lights together and so on.

6. Centerpiece bases.

Bases for the centerpieces, as well as floral long-and-low centerpieces sometimes are creations of art, as well as a noticeable part of your party decoration budget.

One thing though: they sit on the tabletop together with food. In some cases, the caterer puts so many plates on the table; the food is so colorful and plentiful, that the bases are lost. Actually, the smaller the base, the easier it is for the caterer and the less it gets in the way of your guests and food.

So, when you plan to spend money on the bases of balloon bouquets or other centerpieces – talk to your caterer first.

7. Balloon ceiling (balloons with ribbons on the ceiling)

Things to keep in mind:

a) If the ceiling is a rough surface, many will pop during production, many more during the party.

c) One balloon takes less than a square foot. So, if you are in a large room, you will need a substantial budget to cover the ceiling completely. If you do, it will work, though I would check the alternatives for the money. If you only cover the ceiling partially, the air conditioner or fan will blow the balloons around and will rub them against the ceiling. In most cases this will kill a large portion of them.

8. Balloon Drops

The perfect party decorations for the theatre – type room. That is, a room with a very high ceiling and a, relatively, small floor area. Then balloons on their way down “have time” to fly in all directions and cover everybody in the room.

In a regular-sized room we’ll be lucky if we can cover the dance floor. In addition (and this is a matter of a personal opinion) the hanging net full of balloons does very little for decorations, as well as letting everybody know what is coming. On the other hand, if someone is not looking in the right direction at the moment when the balloons are released, they can miss the whole thing.

One solution to these problems is the so-called “explosive balloon”, also known as “popping balloons”.

Relax! There are no real explosive used! All it is a large (3-foot or larger) balloon, stuffed with smaller balloons and sometimes with confetti (check your contract with the venue!!! It might be a big “NO-NO”!) or even lottery wins. One or several of these balloons are placed on the ceiling and when the time comes, they all pop with the push of button.

You can distribute these balloons all over the room if you want to cover everybody, or use a few in a strategic spot if you choose. No more heavy hanging nets and not a single person can guess at what is coming!

Here, it is worth mentioning that one can put these balloons together to make a wall and then explode the entire wall… Let us talk about it next time.

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Source by Mikhail Liberman

Dead Car Battery FAQS

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You should think of your car battery as the heart of your vehicle. It is its power unit. You would think the engine would be a better metaphor, but your car battery is what essentially gives your vehicle power. Just like you wouldn’t want your body to go without a beating heart, you wouldn’t want your vehicle to go without power. Otherwise, you’ll end up getting stuck somewhere because of a dead or defective battery. The best method for maintaining a functional and reliable unit is to have your vehicle serviced professionally at least twice per year.

If you are concerned about your “power unit”, or simply wish to learn more about them, continue reading for some frequently asked questions about dead batteries, as well as, their answers.

How Do I Know if My Car Battery is Dying?

There are several signs that indicate it’s time to service or replace your car battery. These signs include but are not limited to: slow engine crank, weak engine power, dashboard lights illuminated (even if it seems unrelated), check engine light turns on, low fluid, dim lights (interior and exterior), sluggish car start, bloated casing, smell of sulfur or rotten eggs, and more.

Why Did My Battery Die?

The most common cause for a dead battery is drainage. If you leave your headlights or interior lights on all night by accident, you may wake up to find that your car power is dead. A simple jump-start will fix this issues in as little as a five minutes. Other circumstances that can cause power drainage include not closing the visor or glove box all the way, leaving a stereo on, leaving a door ajar, and leaving the dome light on. After several hours, it will drain entirely, even sooner if it’s old or close to replacement.

As for other reasons why your car battery might have died, things like parasitic draw, defective cells, low fluid, and more can all play a role. It is best to have yours inspected by a trained mechanic for accurate and professional assistance.

How Long Do Car Batteries Last?

The typical lifespan for a standard lead-acid car unit is between 3 to 5 years. For those who drive often or long distances, change out your batteries closer to the 3 year mark. This is recommended for older vehicles as well. Keep in mind that although this is the standard lifespan, there are several factors that can shorten the life of your car battery.

How Can I Tell the Age of My Battery?

The age of your automotive battery is easy to locate. The manufacturer date is always stamped on a label, which is usually on its side. The information on the label will provide the date it was sent by the manufacturer. The first two characters of the label represent different pieces of information. The letter represents the month it was made, while the number represents the year (i.e. JAN=A, FEB=B, 9=1999, 1=2001, etc.).

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Source by Sarahbeth Kluzinski

Benefits of a Towing Service During an Emergency

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Nobody knows when something bad may happen so it is always best to be prepared as well as possible for any emergency. When driving, a roadside assistance plan is the best way to be prepared for any emergency while on the road. One of the top reasons for needing roadside assistance is when your vehicle is disabled through mechanical or electrical malfunction. More times than not, you’ll need a towing service to make sure that your car is not stranded and possibly sent to the impound lot. So what are some other benefits of a towing service?

Speedy Response Time

When your vehicle breaks down, it never seems to happen when you’re out for a fun drive or when you do not need to be anywhere important. Instead, it never fails to break down when you’re late for work, picking up the kids from school or when you have an important meeting to get to. Having a great towing service on hand, through a roadside assistance plan, means that you get a faster response time than simply calling the first tow company you come across. Most roadside assistance plans offer tows within thirty minutes of getting your call so you know you’ll be taken care of quickly.

Care for Your Vehicle

With a roadside service plan, you can be assured that the tow company has your best interests in mind and that they will take the best car of vehicle possible. Some tow companies only look at the bottom line and don’t really care how they handle your vehicle, they just want to get it to its destination as quickly as possible so they can move on to the next call. This means that you could end up spending more money do to their negligence or poor care of your car.

Guarantee of Proper Licensing

Each state requires a certain licensing for any tow trucks that are on the road but not all tow truck companies follow these rules. If you do not know the tow company you are dealing with, you could end up having your vehicle damaged with no recourse to be compensated for the damage. A good roadside service company only deals with those towing services that are fully licensed and that meet the standards set for tow companies in your state. This means a higher quality of service for not only your car but for you when you are at your most stressed.

Most cities have a plethora of towing service companies but they are not all created the same and they may not have the same ideals concerning customer service. Many companies are only looking out for their own best interests which is making money, not taking care of your car. Only those that offer top notch service are used by quality roadside service companies to offer their clients the best tow options possible. This means quicker response times, a company that cares about your vehicle and the proper licensing for your state.

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Source by Adriana Copaceanu