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Auto Dealerships – The Sales Dept Sells the First Car, Service the Rest

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In the automotive and automobile industry it’s a well-known fact that sales, the salespeople and sales department sells the product – the car, truck or sports utility crossover vehicle. Yet its the service and the service department that sell not only the rest, but every other additional car and product which that buyer – as well as their friends and family – buy at that dealership.

All said and done, good service as well as professionalism from the staff at any auto dealer or set of dealerships will ensure that a buyer or auto buyers will come back yet again and return for more purchases of said vehicles. This can be for their service needs or at that point in time when that vehicle, which they initially purchased, needs to be replaced or upgraded. Remember as well that sometimes this is a gradual and planned process. Yet in other cases and situations said replacement may be the result of a mechanical failure necessitating the costs of large repairs or perhaps an automotive collision, which is of course unplanned. Regardless in those two above cases that previous auto buyer is back again yet again in the market for a reliable replacement vehicle. You want your dealership to be top of mind – foremost in that customer or their family’s mindset. It’s a matter of having of done your work along the way with good and consistent service support levels. It’s not a case of simply running a newspaper ad, or even creating a Facebook page. Real customer loyalty is earned over time and consistent effort. Sure there are those that will tell you that most customers have little loyalty in 2012 and that its all a matter of that for most customers the dollar is their only friend and vital consideration. Two points here. First of all for those fickle customers who grind you down? You should not base your business and its foundations on those customers.

They are fickle and will leave you in a moment. You can view them as bonuses add on not the foundation of your dealership’s cash flow and profit. Secondly real customer loyalty is earned over time and effort. There are no short cuts. It as simple as that.

Your staffs have to be taught that they are providing a real service not a come-on. If a customer has their car serviced – that vehicle should be inspected. Tires are bald – advise the customer. Wiper blades are worn – have them point this out to customer honestly as a service. Otherwise your dealership and staff are not doing their job – neither for the customer who comes for proper service and maintenance in order to have a reliable and safe form of transportation. Next in line is that by not providing these extra services level your service techs are robbing your dealership of not only sales and resultant profits but also the creation and maintenance of the fine reputation of your auto dealership and its service department.

After the entire first car is sold by the sales department of a dealership. The rest are sold by interactions with your organization first and foremost your service department. Loyalty is earned honestly with hard work, honesty and virtue over time.

There are no shortcuts to success or dealerships auto sales figures as well as bottom line profits.

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Source by Rymond E. Coast

Motorcycle Accident Attorney On Your Side

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Any motorcycle accident attorney will tell you that the bike is one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road. Since the year 2000, deaths from bike collisions have increased in an appalling 78%. This means that the motorcycle is a more accident-prone vehicle compared to an automobile. It also means that this is a serious problem; people love to drive motorcycles and even if they are experienced there is a big chance that accidents will happen.

Here are a few facts about motorcycle accidents:

1. 10% of bike riders who end up in a collision have no helmets or eye protectors.

2. 95% of motor accidents are attributed to human mistake.

3. 5% of road troubles are from motorcycle crashes.

4. 80% from that 5% figure above die instantly on the spot or suffers grave and permanent injuries.

Safety precautions are not scarce but people feel invincible when on a bike. They feel that they are untouchable until something happens to them. They come knocking on motorcycle accident attorney doors to ask for help but the damage has been done.

Effects of a Motorcycle Crash

Nobody wants to be in an accident. But it happens to some. It will be considered a blessing if the driver is alive but what if the crash has caused the driver’s death? This is a suffering for the loved ones left.

There are no doors or windows to protect the body when a collision occurs. When hit, the body is in direct contact. It can be car, another bike, a tree, a wall, a gutter or whatever hard surface. It can leave a person with broken ribs, fractured bones, dislocated jaw and concussion. And this is not a grave problem, imagine that!

One other thing that people often forget is emotional trauma. Sometimes when all the physical wounds have healed, the mental condition of the person who was involved in the bike accident is not yet in normal functioning mode. With a person like that, how can he move on with life?

Why Look for a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

If you are the victim, you have rights. These rights will be enforced through your motorcycle accident attorney. He or she will defend your legal rights and claim whatever it is that you need from the other party, the company involved with your accident (if there is) or both parties.

If you are in a hospital with a head injury and casts all over your body, can you work on the legal documentation and filing on your own? You will not be able to protect yourself and filing for a suit involving crashes is a complex move. You need someone who is skilled in the art of suing.

How to Choose your Motorcycle Accident Attorney

You can ask for referrals or better yet, search online for reputable firms who possess a successful motorcycle accident attorney. What are the requisites? Experience in the field, previous cases won, claims (in monetary unit) received by his clients and reputation – with this you can make an informed judgment. Do this as soon as you can after the accident and do not prolong anything if you want to be compensated accordingly.

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Source by Shane Hester

Why Does Cold Air Fall and Warm Air Rise?

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Cold air falls and warm air rises. Why? Discuss!

Many of us experience the effects of falling cold air and rising warm air on a regular basis. It is happening all the time in the air above and around us and is one of the components in our weather systems. You may notice that when there is no heating or air conditioning operating in your house, the rooms upstairs are slightly warmer than those downstairs. Another example is the hot air balloon that works precisely to this principle. By heating the air inside the balloon, the craft will be lighter than the surrounding air and will rise. This is actually the result of cold air gushing downwards around the balloon at the same time as it is rising.

So why does cold air fall? That is simple: it is heavier than warm air. And why is it heavier? That is slightly less simple, but only slightly. As with any gas, the air (a generic term for the mixture of the gasses in our atmosphere), contains molecules that move (or agitate). This movement (or agitation) is greater as the temperature rises. The molecules move in ever greater orbits, taking up more space. This causes the mass of the air to expand. Although the total mass of a lump of air has not changed, the mass is more spread out and so any given cubic area of it will be lighter. An analogy is found with popcorn. A half pound of popcorn before being popped may fit into a cup. After popping, the same corn would fill a large saucepan. Its total weight will be more or less the same half pound that it always was, but if you filled up the original cup with the popped corn, it would weigh less than the unpopped corn as the rest of it would no longer fit into the cup. Expanding hot air is similar. A cup of cold air would weigh more than a cup of hot air.

As we are playing the why game, let’s continue. Why do the molecules move about more when it is warmer? They absorb energy through electro-magnetic waves that smash into the molecules. In short, this is energy transfer by radiation. So we have a collection (several trillion, lets say) of molecules that are very agitated and another collection which are far less agitated. The agitated collection is spread out and thus light. The collection that are less agitated is heavier. The heavier stuff falls downwards, while the light stuff rises.

As well as being the main process behind hot air balloons, the movement of air according to its temperature is a critical factor with the weather. Forecasters must ensure that these movements are factored into their modelling systems in order to produce a decent weather forecast. Air conditioning

designers and must also take these factors into account as must architects. In order to preserve valuable heat, warm air must be prevented from escaping through the top of a building. As well as conserving heat, the movement of colder air downwards must also be considered when designing refrigerators and refrigeration systems.

If you have a few minutes, try this experiment. Firstly make sure nothing has been put into your refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Then, leave a thermometer inside the refrigerator, making sure it is placed at the bottom and then close the door. After 10 minutes, open the door and straight away and note the reading on the thermometer. Then place the thermometer on the top shelf and close the door. After 10 minutes, take the reading as soon as you open the door. You will notice a difference – perhaps as much as 1 to 2 degrees. This may not be such a big issue for us at home most of the time. For commercial kitchens, however, this difference maybe critical when ensuring food is kept at an optimum temperature. Commercial fridges are often fitted with a fan that evens out the colder and warmer air, thus negating the tendency for cold air to fall and warmer air to rise.

If you take large freezer stores – the ones that hold thousands of boxes of stock – the movement of air around the facility is an extremely important factor. The fans that blow frozen air into the store are always situated near to the ceiling, allowing it to diffuse downwards. Eventually, of course, the goods in the freezer store will need to be taken out and moved to another location, typically loaded onto a truck. If frozen goods are loaded onto a frozen truck this is no problem. Occasionally though, only a small quantity of frozen goods may be needed and the use of a large truck whose temperature is set at a frozen temperature would be wasteful if only a few boxes were being dispatched. This is where insulated pallet shrouds or roll cage covers come into play. These enclose the pallet or roll cage, protecting frozen goods for up to 8 hours within an ambient environment (they also protect ambient goods such bakery products and bananas in a chilled or frozen environment). When a roll cage is used, the insulated roll cage cover works at its best when the cage is full of products. When it is half full then – you guessed it – the cold air falls to the bottom. This is fine at first (assuming the goods are in the bottom half), but after a while the warmer air that has risen to the top will start to affect the top layer of goods. This is where a temperature insulated divider must be used to make a seal and protect

the goods in the half full roll cage.

So now you know the whys and hows of cold and warm air and now you also know why your feet get cold in winter!

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Source by Vernon Stent

Leather vs Cloth Seats – It’s a Personal Preference

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Leather vs cloth seats is a choice each driver must make when purchasing their next vehicle. The choice of the interior comes down to cow versus manufactured cloth and can sometimes be a difficult choice.

This is because each offers benefits and pit falls.

Some of the benefits of leather…

Leather offers a soft, supple feeling while driving down the road. It is a comfy fit for your bottom.

Additionally since leather is a more expensive choice, it is often a sign of prestige and luxury. For those whose car is a reflection on their being or their status, leather offers a sense of class to the driver.

The additional cost of leather upholstery you pay up front can be a benefit when it is time to sell your vehicle.

Typically, leather brings a greater resale value.

Oh! And there is nothing better than the distinct rich aroma of new leather interior in a car, truck or SUV.

Yippee! Rawhide!

The downside of leather…

It requires more maintenance to keep the leather conditioned and supple. If leather seats are your choice, you should regularly clean them and put a leather conditioner on the interior so that the leather does not crack.

Another drawback is the comfort. In extreme heat, the seats can be almost too hot to handle. The opposite is also true, in extreme cold weather the seats take quite a bit of time to warm up. So with leather, prepare to have your buns toasted or frozen depending on the weather.

Also because leather seats may be slippery, take caution when entering so that you don’t find yourself under the dashboard!

Now, let’s take a look at the benefits of cloth…

First, there is the affordability factor. Cloth seats will cost you less than leather and will yield a slightly lower resale value than its counterpart – leather.

With cloth, you can avoid some of the haphazard while trying to enter the car. Because cloth is a more breathable choice, it typically stays the same temperature year around. No burnt or frozen buns with cloth. As well, you have a better chance of entering the car and remaining on the seat as you round corners.

Now, the pitfalls of cloth…

Your cloth seats may not earn you the same respect you would get with leather seats. If you are looking to impress, leather would be a much better choice.

Cloth tends to get dirty easier and absorb stains more easily. Likewise odors can be easily locked into the fibers of the cloth. Smells such as pets or smoking tend to make themselves comfortable in cloth interiors. This can negatively affect your resale value as well.

Now that we have discussed some of the aspects regarding leather vs cloth seats, it is best to look at your own personal situation. Consider the use of the car, the mileage you travel each month and the ability to maintain the car’s interior. The final decision is yours.

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Source by Mike Reitz

How to Properly Insure Your Concrete Pumps

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The business of concrete pumping comes with many challenges, one of them is being adequately insured when something goes wrong. Many concrete pumping companies have pumps and assume they’re automatically insured under their general liability policy, unfortunately they are not.

Trailer concrete pumps should be insured under what is called an inland marine floater. This type of insurance policy provides comprehensive coverage for your pump, insuring it from perils such as theft, vandalism, and damage you may cause it in the event of a car accident. This is similar to the coverage you may have on your car.

Just like any other trailer, liability coverage is automatically extended from the vehicle to the trailer it’s towing. For example: If your trailer sideswipes another vehicle, your auto policy will provide liability coverage to repair the vehicle you damaged. Repairs will only be provided up to your policy limits. Keep in mind if the auto policy your truck has does not include business coverage the insurance company will most likely deny your claim. Make sure you have a proper commercial auto policy before you tow anything for business use.

What about concrete pumps you can drive, how are they insured? Because these type of pumps are self-propelled they would need to be insured under a standard commercial auto policy. Make sure to mention any custom equipment you have to your agent. Just like on any auto policy custom equipment should be stated as such and endorsed into the coverage limits. Custom equipment can include any aftermarket stereo systems, hose reels, ladder racks, etc.

Always provide the replacement cost you’d like if your pump is stolen and ask for it to be stated in your policy. This way you’ll be sure you have enough to replace the pump in the event of a loss. Some carriers provide the actual cash value for your pumps unless otherwise requested. This means you’ll get the replacement cost minus depreciation to compensate you on your pump. Actual cash value may not be enough for you to buy another pump if yours is damaged, this option is not recommended.

Always consult your insurance agent before making any final decisions on your insurance policy. Each concrete pump is different and may have specific needs. Keep these points in mind when shopping for your insurance policy and you’ll be well on your way to protecting your business in the event of a loss.

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Source by Andrew M Moyers

Welding Jobs And Low Pay: (And 3 Things Can You Do About It Now)

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The average welder is now 56 years old.

Young people are not becoming welders because the welding shop in school has been replaced by a computer room (which is crazy, because welding is the glue that holds our world together).

At the same time, a real and sustained boom is beginning in the USA for many reasons – a boom that will last 20 years – a boom that will be screaming out for (and paying big bucks for) welders. Why will the boom happen? What can you do to make $100 an hour? Why are welding wages still so low? Get the answers here.

What is good about welding?

Welding is one of a few crafts or trade crafts that can be utilized in a long list of other trade crafts and locations that don’t normally come to mind. For example: I started welding at 13 to repair motorcycles and cars.

At age 19 I was building gates (gates that are still there and beautiful 40 years later). I became an industrial electrician and welded as an electrician. Artist use welding.

Injection molds used to made plastic parts, are repaired by welders. Stainless piping in food grade factories are installed and repaired by welders. And there are some welders who make $100 an hour doing these and other specialties in the welding industry…

Why are the prospects better than ever for welders?

The boom is under way. It is the oil and gas boom – oil is being extracted by new technologies is such large volumes, the USA is once again the # 1 world producer.

Manufacturing is coming BACK to the USA.

The 3D Printer and other new technologies and the cost of labor in China: it is driving manufacturing home for good. By 2020 the hourly rate for a Chinese worker will be $6.43 an hour.

China will soon more expensive than the USA for Manufacturing.

Few people understand that American workers are 3 times more efficient than Chinese workers. Add in the cost of shipping to the USA and it is easy to see why the U.S. will add 2,000,000 (two million) manufacturing jobs by 2020.

What 3 things can you do to make sure you are a highly paid welder?

Highly Paid Welder Action One:

Start or upgrade your welding career by mastering the hardest and oldest welding process FIRST. Stick or SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) is about 100 years old and is the hardest process to master. It came into it’s own during World War Two because it was adapted to ship building – it allowed Kaiser Steel to build a new ship every 3 days – no wonder the Germans lost!

In some circles, stick welding is considered to be a Dinosaur. Don’t listen to that! It is easy to set up and very portable. It is extremely durable because it is simple. It can be used in a light breeze – most other processes cannot. It can weld just about anything. And you will have more opportunities to earn more money.

Highly Paid Welder Action Two:

Discover welding pipe with stick. Pipe welders are the king of the hill in welding. They make the most money – and they do it for the least work. Don’t get me wrong, pipe welders work hard. However, good pipe welders don’t prepare pipe. They don’t grind. There skill is valuable enough that they often sit in the truck until the next joint is ready. They can’t be risking injury doing anything less than welding pipe.

Highly Paid Welder Action Three:

Get your own rig. A welding rig is a truck with a welder on it. A good rig includes all the supporting tools, cable reels and more. A welder with a rig is a rig welder. A rig welder will make more money because companies will rent your rig and employ you at the same time. Rig welders generally earn $65 to $150 an hour.

Being a rig welder is also a flexible move.

Think about it – a welder without a rig (welders without a rig are called a “single handers”) can also accept work as a single hander – they just park their rig and weld with the company welder if that is how the job is structured. However, when a company needs to rent rigs, a rig welder is the best solution – and the welder who owns a rig can fill the bill. The opposite is not true (obviously). A single hand welder who does not own a rig cannot take a job as a rig welder.

What is the other advantage to becoming a rig welder?

Managing a rig (maintenance, repair and care) starts any welder into the world of “You Inc” – into thinking logistically and strategically about welding – almost like a business. Why is business management a benefit?

A welder who can manage him or herself (as well as a laborer or two and a welder’s helper) can contract on any federal installation (such as a military base). No contractor license is required. It is not uncommon for a welder who is contracting to make $1,000 a day.

WHY is the pay so low for so many welders?

The low pay many welders experience is associated with MIG welding. MIG is often utilized in factory situations where trailers or lifts or custom construction trucks are made (for example). Why is the pay so low for MIG welders?

Here’s why: If you walk into a factory and apply for a job and you interview well – and they have a vacancy for a welder – they may train you to be a MIG welder in one day.

Typically, any skill that can be learned in one day will not pay well.

With that said, I don’t want to run down MIG or MIG welders in this article. MIG is an awesome process. The low end of the MIG pay scale involves a welder making the same simple, non-critical welds over and over (and you can see why the pay is low).

Conclusion:

A certified structural MIG welder is worth more money than a person welding after a day of training in a factory. Sadly, even the skilled and certified MIG welder will not earn a lot of money. Stick pipe welding must be mastered – and when it is, a welder can earn $74,346 to $200,000 or more a year.

What should you do next?

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Source by Scott R. Linden

Acetylene and Oxygen Cutting Torch – OSHA Says Oxyfuel Safety is Part of Welding Safety

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Two Oxyfuel Safety Horror Stories – and one of them could have been a tragedy.

Story #1

A worker was returning from a lunch break and preparing to complete his task of cutting a truck u joint with an oxygen acetylene torch.

He turned on the Acetylene valve and then proceeded to open the valve on the oxygen tank. The oxygen regulator exploded which then saturated his shirt with oxygen. His shirt ignited and burn him severely on his torso. The cause of the accident was determined to be Regulator Burnout or RBO caused by the worker not bleeding down the pressures when he left for lunch.

Story #2

A worker was preparing for July 4th festivities by filling latex gloves with an oxygen and acetylene mixture. His plan was to be the hit of the neighborhood by lighting these latex glove bombs later that night. As he was carrying an armload of the explosive latex balloons, a static spark from the latex rubbing together made them all explode. A burned chest, some permanent hearing loss, and dislodged kidney stones that he wasn’t even aware of were the price for stupidity that day. Had they ignited in the trunk of his Camaro, which is where he planned to put them, he would probably not have survived.

Oxyfuel equipment is dangerous.

Story #1 is understandable but entirely preventable by using known oxyfuel safety principles

Story #2 is natural selection at work. There is no excuse . And yet I sometimes see YouTube videos of people filling balloons with oxygen and acetylene and I think to myself “Holy Crap, they are all going to Die!”

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Source by Jody Collier

Troubleshooting Common Skateboard Problems

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Not getting the performance you want out of your skateboard? Chances are that there’s something wrong with it. The good news is that in most cases, you don’t necessarily have to replace parts of your skateboard. Usually, a little cleaning, or a little tightening will help do the trick, and your skateboard will feel brand new once more.

In this article, we’ll talk about troubleshooting common skateboard problems. Why do you want to do this? For one, you’ll save a lot of money doing the simple stuff yourself rather than having a pro repairman do it for you, or even replace parts that still work perfectly well.

If you’re ready to solve the common problems with your skateboard, then read on.

1. Skateboard wheels don’t spin freely. This sounds like a case of dirty skateboard bearings. You see, the bearings help your wheels turn smoothly. However, dirt accumulates in your bearings over time, making for a rough ride.

Usually, all you need to do is clean your bearings. Just pull them out of your wheels and apply a cleaner, and re-lubricate. However, if your bearings are around 1-2 years old, then, chances are that the bearings have already worn down. In that case, no amount of cleaning will make them spin freely anymore. You’ll, then, have to buy a fresh set of bearings.

2. Wheel bite. A wheel bite occurs when your wheels grind against your deck, either because of a hard landing, or if you make a difficult turn on your board. Wheel bites can be a serious matter if you ride often. They could cause your wheels to suddenly stop turning and throw you off your board.

To prevent a wheel bite, you can either use smaller wheels or put risers on your trucks. Doing either of these options provide more clearance for your wheels to move, and thus prevent them from grinding against the board.

3. Something feels ‘loose’ with your skateboard wheels. If you feel that something’s about to come loose off your skateboard, or if riding your board feels rickety, then something probably is indeed coming loose. It’s, therefore, important that you check the screws and the nuts on your board before riding it. If there are loose nuts and screws, tighten them first. It can be pretty embarrassing-and downright dangerous-to ride a board that’s falling apart.

Learning how to troubleshoot common skateboard problems helps you save money by doing easy repairs yourself. However, if you are not confident about your repair skills, it would be a better idea to leave it to the hands of an expert skateboard repairman. It costs money, but not as much as you would spend on new parts if you break them due to your unsuccessful attempt at repairing your board.

More importantly, check your board regularly. Have a close look at every nook and cranny before riding it. Doing so would ensure that your board is in good shape and would last longer. Some people call it preventive maintenance, and you’ll be doing yourself and your board a favor by doing it.

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Source by Andrew Heathercole

Homeless Tips: Surviving the Streets – What To Know And What Not To Do

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Homeless tip 1: Know the difference between being a bum and being homeless! I’m homeless but not a bum! I have drive, ambition, dreams, and determination! A bum has none of these things. A bum has settled into his life on the street and is fine with it. A bum is the same guy you see every morning sleeping in the same bus stop day after day…… because he doesn’t move far. A bum might even have a house and job! Anyway you slice it… if you are on the street know what you are. Are you homeless? Or are you a flat out bum? Knowing that difference is important.

Homeless tip 2: Do not buddy up! Very bad idea. And stay away from other homeless people. Do not look for skid-rows, homeless camps or any other place where homeless people “squat”! The only time you should ever be around anyone homeless is when you are in line at the soup-kitchen. THAT’S IT! The reasons are simple…… Its a quick way to get hurt or stolen from. Not to mention that these people will do nothing but hold you down and pull you back. They don’t want to see you make it and will do anything to hold you back and slow you down. You are on your own and you MUST stay that way. Don’t let anyone get in your way. Its never fun being homeless and lonely but this is not time in your life to be trying to make friends. And simply put a friendship of this mature will never work for you. Just stay away from them. you are better off!

Homeless tip 3: Travel light! You wouldn’t believe how many homeless people I’ve seen with everything they own it seems. Having lots of stuff is not worth it on the streets when you have no home. I once meet a couple. A husband and wife team. The story they has was that he was a truck driver and she lived in the truck with him. They lived like that for some time over a full year. The whole time they spent money on crap they didn’t really need in the first place (“what-nots” I call them). So they had no money. One day after a truck run that ended in Santa Anna, California the husband was fired and told to leave the truck where it was. I don’t know how that’s legal but they where stuck. And they had everything from that truck with then. Makeup, cloths, books, and a whole bunch of other stuff. These two seemed to have bag after bag of stuff. When you are on the streets you need as little as possible. Think 50 pounds in weight. This is what you absolutely need: – clean clothing -hygiene products -a phone (even if it is shut off) -a resume (because you never know) -2 or 3 garbage bags -and if you like to read……. the Bible!

Homeless tip 4: If you are caught in the rain and have one one garbage bag do not but holes in it and where it like a rain coat. Instead, cover your shoes and feet! If you can keep your shoes and feet dry when use it as a rain coat. Any homeless person will tell you this: when you are homeless the most important part of your body is your feet. Wet shoes and feet do not mix. If your walking around with wet shoes you will get blisters and sores. It will be the worst pain you feet have ever felt do to rain. Every step you take will be a nightmare waiting for you. Besides, rain will rot your shoes faster. And the last thing you need is to be homeless, with blistered feet, and no shoes. If you do get cough with wet shoes get them off ASAP and dry them out. Like I said…. any homeless person will tell you this, that I promise!

Homeless tip 5: Stay clean!!!! As much as possible! Its not easy but you must! Staying clean gives you access to things you will need and trust me when I say…. you will need! I know its not easy tho! My advise is to take full advantage of every public bathroom you can, to the fullest. Use the sinks and soap. brush your teeth and wash your hair. The trick here is to be fast and unnoticed (so you can use it again). Try not to make a lot of noise. Wash the parts of your body that need it the most first (armpits, feet, private parts) and wash everything else after if you have the time. Do this as often as possible. A clean pan-handler with make more then a dirty one (I’m not down for panning, that’s just a good way to make my point on this). And remember the more private the bathroom the better, look for locks and cracks on the door. A solid door, one person bathroom, with a lock is the bast. Just be fast about it.

Homeless tip 6: Outlets…… find them! Remember I said you need your phone with you? You need it rather it has minuets or not. Your phone is very handy. It has all your friends numbers in it, you can also store new number if you need to, its an alarm clock (which you will need), its your calender, and your clock is always handy. Your phone is a must have, dead or alive! But you must keep it charged. Find outlets! They are everywhere, just look for them. You can find a lot of them in front of stores, around phone booth, and other random places. When possible use then in fast food restaurants like McDs or Burger King. If you have the money bye one item off the dollar menu and spend a long time eating as you charge your phone. Try no to just go into a place just to do it. And avoid sitting right in front of the workers. Usually they wont bother you anyways, but no need to draw attention. If you are using an outside outlet just try not to get cough. Sit in front of it and do your best to make like you actually have a reasion to be there. Do what ever you can to keep powered up. My I power my phone and computer mostly at McDs. They know people are gonna use the free WiFi here. I buy one double cheese burger and a drink and spend a few hours charging my phone while I blog and do other things that I hope will get me off the streets. Stay charged any way possible!!!

Homeless tip 7: Reorganize often! Once every 3 days or so I take 30minuts out to go through all my stuff and reorganize. It helps keep me sharp, fast, and feeling better about my living condition’s. Even homeless people collect garbage over time. Get rid of it! You don’t need it! I have about mmmmmmmmm 12 pockets on my backpack. I know whats in every single one. If I need my chap stick….. there it is. You never want to have to shuffle around and take out your stuff to get what you need, ever! Its embarrassing and it lets everyone know what you have and how you are (someone living out of a bag). So, keep it clear and keep it light.

Homeless tip 8: “The homeless credit card”! What? LOL, let me tell you1 One night a few years ago I was scoping out a “spot to squat” (that also is another tip). It was kinda dark out and I was very tired. I keep noticing this woman watching the same spot. After some time she came over. She know I was homeless…. because she was to. And she know we where both doing the same thing. We got talking a little and decided to share the same spot for the night. Usually I wouldn’t do this but I gave in this time, we where both in need and she seemed nice. We did not have sex or do anything like that. We just both needed the same place for the night. We shacked up for the night! Inside the spot she told me her story. She was a bum! She had been on the street for about 20 years or so and had no drive or ambition to to leave. She was kind of a hippie I remember thinking to. NOT that being a hippie had anything to do with it. Well, being a bum and surviving 20 years on the streets you can believe she was a wealth of knowledge. After she told me a story about how she once ran into Will Smith and his son she told me about “The homeless credit card”. “The homeless credit card” consist of two things. A black sharpy, and I piece of cardboard. I know what your thinking “I’ve seen this several times”. I’m sure you have. But I doughty you have seen as many as the kind she had. She had an approach. What she would do was write on the cardboard EXACTLY what she needed. She NNNNNNNEEEEVVVVVEEERRRR asked for money. Why? because she didn’t need it. What she did need…. toothpaste. A sleeping bag, a hair brush, shampoo, even a cheeseburger. And she always got what she asked for. Every time! People are feed up with the homeless asking for money all the time. With this recession things are ever worse and people are even tighter with money. But, people are kind hearted (I believe that very much) and are willing to help someone in need out. They just don’t want to toss away there money. As a homeless person you just have to understand that, understand that quickly, and move on. No one is going to hand you a woad of cash (unless you get very lucky, don’t hold your breath).

My friend for the night understood that. And on every card she made she was very specific about what she needed. If your in need you should be to. People will help!

I never saw her again. Through out the night I seemed to grow on her and I think she was starting to like me a little. The next morning she asked me to wait for her while she want across the street to a hotel and got us some free coffee. Me, following one of my major rules……. left!

Homeless tip 9: Know your surroundings. When you are homeless and on the move it is very easy to wind up in the wrong neighborhood. Always be aware. If someplace you just walked into makes you feel unsafe…. get out! trust your gut and avoid the risks. I didn’t always follow this tip myself. And I had to learn to trust my gut a little bit. But now I know. I once had a friend that lived in a very bad neighborhood. She was new there herself and told me several times it was bad. However she was helping me. I wound up going through this place about 5 times. Three of those times was in the day. During the day it wasn’t so bad but I still had a bad feeling about it. But the two times at night I was scared out of my mind. People where everywhere. And by “people” I mean drug dealers and gang bangers. I’m a white, and I was clearly in a place where white people weren’t living. I’m not resist by the way but safe is safe…. and I was not safe! Now, the last time I want through I got stopped….. by about 5 cops! They where just standing around on the side of the road. They stopped me when I walked bast them. They patted me down (with my hands behind my head), got my i.d and other info, want through my stuff, and let me go! They where asking me questions like what I was doing there and had I been “taxed”. I had to ask him what that meant because I told him “yes”, “I get taxed every day”, LOL! These cops where the only ones that gave me any hard time at all. Now, I never want back there because they told me not to (at least not at night) and after I left and had a second to think about it all I figured they where right and I shouldn’t. Not because of the gangs on the street, but because those cops exposed me. You see, when I was walking through this place no one messed with me. The reason was because they didn’t know me and didn’t know what I was doing there. I just walked straight through and got to where I needed to go. Without relieving what I was doing….. I tricked them. I didn’t act scared. I didn’t “eyeball” anyone. I simply want about my business. And that’s what you should do in this situation. If you find yourself in a bad spot do NOT panic. Do not talk to anyone, that will expose you. Simple walk out! The cops exposed me. Had me standing on the corner,in front of everyone, and let me go. What that told the people of those streets was that I was a guy that was not into trouble, had nothing to hide, and didn’t belong there. I asked myself what I would have done if I had been stopped by someone out there. What I would do is this: quickly ask him (or her) where I could get 300$ worth of crack, and ask him (or her) if they could meet me there in 30 minuets while I ran home (around the corner and down the street I don’t know because I’m new there) and got some money together. I would then ask for a phone number (in case I get lost on the way back) and walk away like I’m on a new mission in life.

Homeless tip 10: Scope out your spots. Do this from a distance and make sure no one knows what you are doing. Watch for people going in or around the spot. Watch for cops. Watch for anything that gives you any idea about how early you need to be up in the morning. Look for resources that you might be able to use around the spot (sink, charger, things of that nature). Find security in the spot. How well lit is it? Will anyone see me? Is there any kind of lock? Will I be safe? will I be worm? Ask yourself these questions. Sometimes you might get a good spot. Sometimes you might have a bad spot. Safety should always be your first concern. Scope it out and ask yourself these questions then make a decision. And remember, have more then one spot! Intel you actually win the fight you will need as many spots as you can! Homelessness is not an easy life!

Homeless tip 11: I tell you all the time the image is everything when you are homeless. And I also tell you all the time to stay away from other homeless people (unless you are pumping them for info, homeless people are a wealth of information about resources). But somethings you just plain run into homeless people that know you are homeless. DO NOT BEFRIEND THEM. But its OK to be cool with them for a minute or two in passing. Its kind of good for you. It keeps you on a train of thought that says “hey, your not the only one”. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one. Its easy to stand on a street corner watching the cars go by and say to yourself “why me”. That will bring you down and as a homeless person you cant afford to think like that. And besides “who cares” “why you”? It happened and that’s all there is to it. Just remember that you are not the only one out there on the streets. I still stay stick to yourself. I’m heavy about that. That’s for survival reasons. But there is no shame in lifting someone else’s spirits and saying “ya man, I’m like you! Just trying to get bye. You are not alone”.

Homeless tip 12: Don’t take what you don’t need! This woman in the blazer was not gonna give me money. But she know I wasn’t going to take it as well. This whole thing was about a minute long. Inside that one minute I earned her respect and possible changed her view on homeless people. “How could a homeless person not except what he and I both know he wants, rather he needs it or not”? Truth be told, I did want money! But I had some and know that nothing she gave me was gonna make my night better. That’s why I wasn’t going to take it if offered. The respect I earned from her was priceless anyways! Respect will probably not get you off the streets. But the affects of being respected by others is worth wild.

I don’t talk about being homeless. Ive gone long periods of time being homeless with large groups of friend that never know. I hide it very well. I’d rather do things the hard way. How can I maintain something that was given to me when I couldn’t maintain the same thing when I earned it before by myself?

So, Don’t take what you don’t need just because you can. And earn respect! This will help you feel better about being homeless. Homeless people often feel they are being looked down on. I don’t feel that way. I will be respected! I will stay focused!

Homeless tip 13: Never invite another homeless person into your spot. As much as I’d love to say “hey man, I know a better place! Come check this out” I know that will only lead to trouble. Every time I leave a spot I clean up my stuff. I do this because I don’t want anyone to know I was there. I check and check and check to make sure that my time there is erased completely. I leave nothing behind. When you invite another homeless person into your spot basically have to tell him (her) the house rules. And watch over them. Now you have to double check they didn’t leave anything behind. I”d set some rules like this:

1) Don’t go there before 10:00 pm!

2) Don’t smoke!

3) Don’t tell anyone!

4) Be gone by 5:20 am!

5) pick up your stuff

Simple, however I can promise you that within two week you have this: You show up at 10:00 pm on the dot and there is already 3 other people there. They are all drinking and smoking. Its like a little homeless party. The place is trashed with spilt beer and ash. You friend you told first doesn’t know what to say to you. No one is listening to you. It smell, and you knows that not just a cigarette they are smoking. Now you see flashing lights. Now you are all arrested and going to jail. You lost the spot. Never invite anyone into your spot. Its one thing for you to get into trouble on your own. But its another for you to get into trouble because of a bunch of other homeless people!

Homeless tip 14: Have fun in your down time. I know this sounds funny but I do believe it is something you must do. Time for homeless people is a little different then the time of an average person. However, homeless people to wind up with free time (usually on the weekends). And I say there is no harm in doing something for you as long as its not going to make your situation worse. Read a book! Go to church! Maybe see a friend or family member if you can! Make a phone call to a loved one! Hit the beach if possible! What ever it take to free your mind from the stresses of being homeless and makes your free time go faster for you.

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Source by Robert J Rashford

How to Get the Best Gas Mileage by Becoming a Hypermiller – Top Tips to Get the Best Gas Mileage

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Have you heard of the latest craze to get the best gas mileage from your car or truck, its called “Hypermilling”? To be a hypermiller involves the use of any tip or trick, (and sometimes even a complete change in driving style) to squeeze every last MPG out of your vehicle. And not surprisingly with the ever increasing gas prices, it’s catching on in a big way.

Hypermillers have certainly been the subject of discussion in car and driver forums across the internet, and they have had a fair amount of publicity in the media. So is this Hypermilling a new idea to get gas mileage improvements, or is it just a re-hash of all the old tricks for saving on gas we have all heard before.

Well it seems that a lot of these tips go way back to the 40s and 50s when gas was in short supply and being rationed due to the effects of a world war. Some of those tips and techniques that were tried back then are now standard ways to make gas mileage improvements and have become well established, and a lot of these tips are now just common sense.

For instance a heavy car that is loaded down with excess weight is going to use more gas than one that is running lighter. With the minimum amount of weight being carried around in the form of useless baggage the gas mileage improvements can be considerable. Even by removing things that you will not need on a daily basis such as a heavy bag of golf clubs from your trunk could save you a few cents a gallon.

If your car has cruise control then use it, as this is another way to improve your fuel economy. A 2005 study carried out by the Automotive Website Edmunds.com showed that using cruise control at highway speeds could give you on average a fuel economy saving of 7%.

If you are a fast driver or one that accelerates quickly and then has to break just as quickly then you are going to use a lot more gas than a driver who is a steady Eddie. Keep to the speed limit, accelerate and break smoothly and don’t rev your engine while stationary (at red lights etc) just letting it idle as it should will save you gas.

Keeping your car well maintained and in a good running condition will also give you good gas mileage improvements. Have your car serviced at the recommended intervals as an engine that is running in tip top condition will use far less fuel than one that is coughing and spluttering just because it is in need of a simple inexpensive tune up.

Other thing are just a matter of common sense, things like making sure that your tires are properly inflated will not only save you gas, but will also give you a safer ride, as under inflated tires are a safety hazard.

These are just some of the tips and tricks that you should be using to be a hypermiller and get the best gas mileage from your car, added together they will give you some definite fuel savings.

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Source by Mike Legg