Differences Between Base, Package 1, Package 2 and Special Edition VW Jetta TDI – 2005 to 2007

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The base 2005 VW Jetta TDI included quite a number of luxury features which were not included on base 2006 VW Jetta TDI. Included features that were removed from 2006 base cars included automatic on and off headlights, automatic rain sensing wipers, automatic dimming center rear view mirror, automatic dual zone climate control (called climatronic),adjustable footwell lighting, trip computer, lights under the side view mirrors to illuminate the ground when you unlocked the doors, highline instrument clusters with full screen driver information system, and a homelink remote control in the sunvisor. All these features were removed for the next model year because customers found the cars too expensive. In reality, the car now had more features than the VW Passat. Customers walked into their Volkswagen dealership expecting to buy a Passat and walked out with a VW Jetta.

Therefore, VW changed the base car features and the packages. All base 2005 through 2006 VW Jetta TDI included amenities like vinyl leatherette heated seats, heated side view mirror glass, and LED turn signals in the left and right side view mirrors.

For 2005, package 1 included (in addition to base cars), a sunroof, the cold weather package (heated seats and heated windshield wipers), and 16″ alloy wheels.

For 2005, package 2 included (in addition to package 1 cars), leather seats, 12 way power adjustable driver’s seat with three memory settings, 12 way power adjustable front passenger seat, multifunction steering wheel with a trip computer, a manually operated rear window mesh sunscreen, a multi function steering wheel.and tamo ash interior wood trim on the dashboard, shifter, ashtray, and side door panels.

VW changed the packages for 2006. Package 1 included (in addition to base cars), a sunroof, and the premium seven brand satellite radio with an in dash six cd changer. They did not include alloy wheels since that was moved into the base package for 2006.

For 2006, package 2 included (in addition to package 1 cars), leather seats, 12 way power adjustable driver’s seat with three memory settings, multifunction steering wheel with a trip computer. They removed the rear window sunscreen, power passenger seat, and wood trim.

Because emissions standards were tightening, Volkswagen extended the production line all the way to the end of the 2006 calendar year for 2006 model year cars. These cars are called 2006.5 special editions. These are considered a completely different trim line. Base special edition cars included everything in base 2005-2006 and added a trunk spoiler, diesel edition badges on the front fenders, 115V household outlet in the rear of the center console, and a multi function steering wheel. Many of these cars also had an iPod adapter and tire pressure monitor sensors.

Article is copyright myturbodiesel.com, 2010

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Source by Ed Wang

16 Green Ways to Recycle Old Memory Foam Mattress Toppers

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Most memory foam mattress toppers have a lifespan of only 5 years. After that the foam loses the ability to regain shape and gradually start to sag. A lot of people change mattress topper after this period, that means there is quite a bit of waste out there. Instead of increasing your carbon foot prints what can you do something more eco-friendly? The most opted option is to recycle the foam as it can be 100% recycled. Some manufactures also take used toppers, so that’s another way.

But instead of just throwing them away I have some unique ideas that will convert your old memory foam mattress topper into something completely new and eco-friendly.

1. Stuffing for toys

Why not? They make an excellent stuffing material for toys. Cut them into small pieces and use them to stuff toys for your kids. Also you can make toys out of them and even sell on eBay or Etsy!

2. Bean bags

A bean bag can be made more comfortable by filling half of it with pieces of memory foam. Or you can sew a new bag and fill it completely with foam pieces, this will give quite a decoration for your living room.

3. Donate

Donate them to the homeless or shelter homes. Many of them do not have enough beds to accommodate homeless people, donating to them would be a good thing you do for the society.

4. Car seat pads

You can cut the foam and use it as padding for car seats. They can also be wrapped in fabric or leather and used as head support.

5. Wheel chair pads

Resize and give them to a person on wheel chair. They can be used as padding and help the person sit more comfortably.

6. Halloween costume

Your old memory foam topper can come handy during Halloween. A lot of costumes require bulges and this is an excellent choice for that.

7. Cushions for hardwood chairs

Not comfortable sitting on your hardwood chair? Make some cushions out of your ‘to be disposed’ topper.

8. Stuffing for pillows

They can be used to make pillows for your kids and pets. Cut them into small pieces and stuff them inside the pillow.

9. Dishwashing sponges

We use hundreds of sponges a year. Why not cut your topper into square pieces and use them as dishwashing sponges. That is a lot better than just throwing them away.

10. Sell on Craigslist

OK, this is not a DIY project. But definitely I have seen people selling and buying old mattress toppers on Craigslist, may be for their own DIY projects.

11. Floor cushions

Cut them into large square pieces and cover them with decorative fabrics. They will make great floor cushions.

12. Pet bed

I wonder why people often forget this. This is an excellent idea to reuse your old topper. Cut it and make a bed for your lovely pet. Cover it with a waterproof cover, the foam doesn’t go well with pee.

13. Headboard

It is an excellent material to be used as padding for a headboard. If you were longing for a headboard for your bed then this is the right time to get one.

14. Use as an outdoor day bed

Use it on a day bed in your garden or patio.

15. Packing, moving material

They can be used to keep things intact while packing and moving. Vacuum storage bags are a good way to keep them stored till needed.

16. Gardening knee cushion

Gardening is an excellent hobby but all that sowing and weeding can be a little tough on your knees. Your old topper will be an excellent choice to make a home-made knee cushion.

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Source by Mejason John

Super Bowl and Auto Insurance: The Safety Connection

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As football fans all across the nation eye the Sunday, February 5th date with excited anticipation, the insurance industry has the day marked heavily in red as well. While there certainly are plenty of sports enthusiasts among the companies and agencies, there’s another reason for the circled calendar date – and it’s as valid as they come.

“Sports fans everywhere are bound to participate in the nationally broadcast event. Whether in real time at the Houston, TX stadium or by watching the games together with friends and or family at parties, bars or restaurants, you can be sure there will be a lot of camaraderie, along with food and drinks – including the alcoholic kind. That’s where the worry sets in,” comments one car insurance specialist.

Of course what this agent and others like him refer to in regard to the big national football league playoffs is that sometime following a great deal of alcoholic beverage drinking, fans will be making their way back home, with many drinkers the ones behind the wheel and responsible for their own life as well as the lives of their passengers and other motorists on the road.

“Studies indicate that party-goers who drink are involved in many road fatalities, injuries and damages,” reveals the same auto coverage expert. “And not only is that bad news for those that operate all forms of vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles and so on, but also for those that write the policies that insure them.”

But with the bad news comes the good news!

Within the commercial world connected to the indemnity industry there is auto coverage that offers protective services for the insured motorist that does not want to or should not drive back home from a party. These free bonuses to policyholders include free taxi, car service or ride-sharing company drives back home for participating auto or auto/boat/homeowner bundled insurance members via payment compensation with a receipt.

With this amazing offer, come other ideas that vehicle drivers as well as party hosts would do well to follow.

Three Smart Tips for the Sports Event Party Goer and Party Host

• Fans who intend to drink alcoholic beverages at a sports gathering should be proactive with safety BEFORE participating in the social celebrations by appointing another driver who will not be drinking to do the driving and transporting back home.

• In general, those hosting the parties are not off the hook in regard to responsibility and liability. These hosts are advised to publicize the contact information of neighborhood taxis and car services, so that drivers have an alternative to getting home.

• Offerings at the sports or other such parties where alcohol is served should also include food and non-alcoholic drinks.

For more on insurance benefits that include taxi service home from alcohol-serving gatherings, contact an experienced independent insurance agent.

Oh yes, and after making the necessary arrangements, don’t forget to enjoy the game!

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Source by M Wyzanski

Three Things to Know About Using a Power Inverter

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The first thing you will need to know is what you are planning on running in this time of emergency. The fewer the items or the smaller the amperage, the smaller or least costly inverter will be needed. I will give a table of items and their average power uses below followed by a simple formula that will give you an idea of the size of inverter you will need.

Stackable Washer/Dryer: 2500 Watts

Electric Chain Saw: 1700 Watts

Electric Circular Saw: 1600 Watts

Full Sized Microwave Oven: 1400 Watts

Chest Freezer: 1200 Watts

Mini Microwaves: 1000 Watts

1/3 inch HP Submersible Pump: 920 Watts

Reciprocating Saw: 720 Watts

1/2 inch Reversible Drill: 620 Watts

Coffee Maker: 600 Watts

Portable Vacuum: 525 Watts

Electric Garden Tools: 475 Watts

10 Speed Blender: 450 Watts

Orbital Sander: 400 Watts

Home Stereo: 350 Watts

3/8 inch Variable Speed Drill: 320 Watts

20 inch TV/VCR Combo: 300 Watts

12 inch Three Speed Fan:200 Watts

Computer/Printer/Fax: 150 Watts

Quartz Halogen Spotlight: 100 Watts

Mini Stereo/CD Player: 50 Watts

Laptop Computer/8 inch TV: 38-45 Watts

Cell Phone/Camcorder Charger: 10 Watts

14 Volt Cordless Drill Charger: 8 Watts

If the appliance you are planning on using is listed in watts, just go ahead and use that number. If it is listed in amps you just need to use this simple formula: volts (120) X amps (listed on device) = watts. This will give you the amount of watts the appliance will be using. So if you had a 3 amp appliance, and you wanted to find the watts, the formula would be: 120 (volts) X 3 (amps) = 360 watts.

You would then total all of the watts that you will be using and come up with a number. Lets say your total watts usage is 500 watts. If that’s the case it would be a good idea to get a 750 watt inverter. Always get a larger size than what you think you will need, it may come in handy.

Your next step will be to determine where your power supply is going to come from. If it is for emergency purposes there is a very good chance that it will be coming from a battery hooked up to your vehicle, or you may be a little better prepared and have a bank of batteries hooked up in a parallel fashion. Since most people reading this are probably unfamiliar with creating a battery bank I will just cover running the inverter from the vehicle. The main thing to know is what type of battery you will be using. It is suggested that you have a deep cycle battery or those that are used for trolling motors or golf carts and that you get as many amp hours as your budget allows. A few years back I was able to go 11 days using a 750w inverter and a 120amp hour deep cycle battery attached to my car. I had to run the car for 10 minutes every 2 hours to run everything that I had hooked up which was a laptop, 13″ color tv, direct tv receiver, modem for the laptop, 40w light, and a small box fan. That doesn’t sound like much, but I thought I was staying at the Ritz Carlton compared to most of my neighbors.

The last thing you need to know is how long will your power supply (battery) last before it needs recharging. First you will need to know the wattage of all the appliances. Lets say we have 480 total watts of power being used, and we are running our inverter off of a 12 volt battery attached to the car. Next we have to convert this number so that we know how many amps are being used. We do this by taking the watts (480) and dividing it by 12 (volts of the battery) and come up with 40 amps. The formula is: watts / volts = amps. If we have a 120 amp hour battery we would divide 120 (amp hours) by 40 (amps) and get 3 hours before the battery is dead. It is recommended not to drain a battery below 50% of its capacity so you may want to divide the 3 hour in half giving you 1 1/2 hour before starting the car up to recharge the battery.

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Source by Dan Hahn

49 Signs Of A Cheating Partner – Read These Red Flags Now And Know If Your Partner Is A Cheater

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Lately things just aren’t the same with your partner. Something seems off, and you can’t help but wonder if there’s somebody else. Suspecting your partner of cheating can be tricky. The possibility terrifies you, but you’re also afraid of being wrong and looking like a fool who has trust issues. In a situation like this, it is wise to tread carefully.

Make sure that there are legitimate reasons for suspecting your partner, and that it’s not just your insecurity that is skewing your point of view. If you do have an overwhelming feeling that there may be infidelity in your relationship then read on for common signs of cheating, and compare them with your man or lady’s behavior.

1. Change In long held beliefs: You observe a shift in your partner’s attitude about relationships or love. It may be that your man used to condemn husbands who cheat on their wives and had strong opinions about infidelity. Suddenly, they seem more lenient with their thinking.

Maybe you’re watching TV together one night and there’s news of a celebrity couple breaking up because the man cheated. You are appalled, but he might shrug and say something like “Well, if she stopped having sex with him what do you expect?”

Pay attention to changes in long held beliefs that your partner had, he or she may be altering their view to accommodate their new thinking or behavior.

2. Trading in khakis for miniskirts: If you have known your partner for a while, then you might start noticing sudden changes in the way they dress or want to look. If your lady has always been very taken with her appearance, and she buys new clothes or changes her hair, it may not be a cause for alarm. However, if she used to dress like a frumpy grandmother to work and she’s suddenly wearing miniskirts and high heels, then you may have a problem.

3. Newfound body image issues: A sudden and unjustified change in body image is another major infidelity sign. If your partner has taken the decision to be thinner or more muscular for health reasons or has always been fit there’s probably no reason to doubt anything.

However, if your couch potato husband is not really concerned with his health, but suddenly starts spending hours in the gym because he is now obsessed with getting rid of his belly fat, then take a closer look. Also, if he refuses that you accompany him to the gym, or is presenting otherwise sketchy behavior regarding his body, he may be straying.

4. I want to be alone: Your partner suddenly wants to spend a lot of time on their own. The need for space is a major sign that something is going on especially if this request comes out of nowhere and with no valid explanation.

If you two had a fight and he or she is still resentful, then the need for space can be somewhat understood. However, if your relationship is stable and things are going great, and your partner suddenly wants to be alone, there might be someone else filling that void.

5. Picking fights: The man or woman in your life might also not only demand more space but do everything possible to create more of it. He or she might pick fights for no reason, and may make an issue of every little thing to create an illusion that you’re not getting along.

They do this to legitimize their wrongdoings and to feel less guilty. The way they figure is this; since you’re both always fighting, you are the unreasonable one and you are pushing them into another person’s arms.

6. Storming out of the house: On a related note, if your man or woman storms out after a “fight” because they just can’t take it anymore and say that they need some time to think, they may be using it as an opportunity to meet up with the other person. This technique has two major benefits.

First, it gives him or her more time on their own to cheat. Second, they can use the fights as a lever to gain the sympathy of the other person who they are cheating with. They want the other man or woman to stay in the deceitful relationship.

So they complain about their partner to demonstrate that they are being driven to cheat and so it isn’t their fault. So if every time you fight with your partner, he or she storms out there may be a good reason why.

7. Reverse psychology: When someone is cheating, he or she becomes a master manipulator. If you start noticing that your once earnest and direct partner is using reverse psychology and other weird techniques that they didn’t use before, then know that something is up. If he or she always makes it seem that you’re the one in the wrong no matter what happens. He or she may have something to hide.

8. On the defensive: If your man or lady has suddenly become overly defensive and can’t take any type of criticism, then you need to take a good look at what’s going on. If you ask him about a lady co-worker and he starts a fight, or he becomes furious after you ask him why he didn’t call if he was going to be late for dinner, there’s something there.

Ask your partner about it, maybe there’s a good reason for this newly found oversensitivity and short temper. A stressful work week or family problems may be to blame for this change in behavior.

9. Lying through their teeth: Cheating always involves lying. If you keep catching your partner in little lies, then something is up. If he said he was working late the night before at the office, then says that he was out with his boss having drinks another time, beware he may be cheating. If the little things he or she says just don’t add up, then ask them about it. If they avoid confronting the issue, you can be sure that there’s something going on that shouldn’t be.

10. Going the distance: If your partner is cheating, then he or she may deal by becoming more distant. He will avoid talking about serious subjects and only engage in small talk. He may avoid getting into conversations about your finances, work, and children if you have them or any future plans. He or she will always seem to have something on their mind and you can’t seem to connect with them on a deeper level like you used to.

11. Emotional detachment: Your partner might also disengage emotionally from your relationship. Your man used to be extremely affectionate and loving, but now you can’t get an “I love you” out of him. There might be something wrong. You’ll want to ask him why he has become emotionally detached.

He might be upset with you over something you did and is acting out, so talking about it is very important. If he just shrugs or refuses to even acknowledge his behavior or even blames you for being paranoid, something deeper might be festering under his aloof exterior and you need to be careful.

12. Loves being out alone, hates staying in with you: Does your partner seem upbeat when he or she gets home or when they are getting ready to go out, but seems gloomy while he or she is spending time with you? If you don’t have any problems in your relationship that may be causing this change in behavior, then it might be that your partner is excited about something going on outside the home, something like a juicy affair.

13. Affection overload: Some other cheaters act in an entirely different manner due to overwhelming feelings of guilt. They will shower their partners with affection, gifts and caring words. They might be even more romantic than usual and more attentive.

If this shift is sudden and you cannot find a logical or even an illogical explanation for it, then ask your partner what brought this on, they may be able to reassure you and give you a valid explanation. If you still can’t understand this behavior, it might be that your partner is cheating and using this as a decoy so you won’t suspect anything.

14. Chatter away: On a related note, if your usually silent partner suddenly becomes a chatterbox, then beware. Sometimes people who lie tend to over talk or give more information than was asked for to cover up other things. Observe this new behavior for a while, and bring it up to them if it bothers you.

15. Working a lot of overtime: One of the most obvious cheating signs is your partner keeps working overtime when this was never the case before. He or she suddenly becomes the most valuable and hardest working employee in their company.

This doesn’t always mean that your partner is cheating on you; there might be a special project that needs to be done before a certain deadline or it’s the end of the year and there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. However, if your partner seems to be the only one working overtime, and other employees don’t seem to know anything about it, then there might be something fishy going on.

16. Do not enter-work zone: If your partner used to involve you in his or her work life. Telling you all about work, inviting you to company events like picnics, having you over to meet them for lunch but suddenly starts cutting you off, something might not be right.

Maybe he or she doesn’t want you around their workplace because there’s someone they don’t want you to know about or there is something that they are hiding like all those extra projects they were working on late were fictional. If you do see any of your partner’s co-workers, they may act very uncomfortable in your presence. If there is no valid explanation for this, something might be going on behind your back.

17. Buddies no more: Similarly, if your man used to invite his buddies over for Sunday night football or Thursday night Basketball every week, and suddenly stops having them over, it may be because he is afraid that they will spill his secret or not corroborate his stories.

If he starts meeting with them outside more and more, he may also be using them as his alibi for getting out of the house. He may be keeping you apart from them because he’s afraid that they might accidently or intentionally divulge his secret.

18. Awkward friend situation: Also it may be that your man or lady’s friends keep avoiding you even though you all used to be very close. Your girlfriend or wife’s friends might do everything in their power to not see you because they can’t face you if they know of their friend’s cheating.

They might also be afraid of saying anything that would compromise your relationship and most people do not want to be a part of that. So they might avoid you all together so as not to find themselves in an awkward situation.

19. Bye Bye old interests: If your partner suddenly loses interest in activities which he used to love, then there might be something weird going on. If your man, out of the blue, starts to hate playing sports when he used to live and breathe soccer, or he stops spending his free time gardening on the weekends, then there might someone else in his life that is bringing on those changes.

20. Marriage blues: If you are married, and you notice that your husband or wife starts acting hostile or bored towards you, your children or your home life in general, there might be something fishy going on. He or she might start making references to how they misses being single or how hard it is to be married.

He or she might get rid of your children’s toys in the car or anything that demonstrates that they have a family. They may be cheating with someone and are lying to them about being married with children, and so they suddenly start rejecting their marital status.

21. Beware of the Lazy pants: If your spouse used to be active around the house doing laundry, feeding the kids, mowing the lawn, and suddenly starts becoming lazy and uncooperative, he or she may be feeling negatively towards the very notion of being married and sharing your home.

They don’t even want to try anymore, and this includes doing chores, planning family outings and vacations. They might not even want to attend important events such as holidays, anniversaries or birthday parties. This is especially suspicious if they never really had any issue with doing these things before.

22. Strange outings: Another sign that your partner may be straying is that he or she begins to go out to new places at strange times, and never has a convincing answer as to why this is. He used to hate food shopping, suddenly he insists on doing the weekly grocery shopping, and doesn’t want you to come along.

She used to deeply despise anything arty, and out of the blue, one Saturday has an outing to go to an art museum with friends. You know your partner inside and out, so if you notice changes in their favorite activities with no valid explanation, something is up.

23. Sneaking out like a teenager: If your partner is sneaking out, then he or she may have something to hide. The reason they may be going out behind your back is usually to avoid scrutinizing questions and wants to avoid lying to you. If he or she has nothing to hide then letting you know that they are on their way out shouldn’t be such a secretive matter, so beware of increased sneakiness and secrecy.

24. Is your partner an undercover agent?: You may find out that your partner has a new means of communication that you don’t know about. This includes a new e-mail address, a Facebook account under a pseudonym or nickname, a new cell phone and phone number. All of these are big red flags that you should immediately take notice of.

25. Financial infidelity: Another major sign of cheating is the odd use of money and/or credit cards. If you are used to sharing financial data between you and your partner, and he or she suddenly starts hiding credit card statements or disabling your access to an online checking account to hide cash withdrawals or other new spending habits, something weird is going on.

26. Is this my partner talking?: If your partner is having an affair, then he or she might start using different language than he used to. This includes telling more or less jokes, or using certain catch phrases. He or she may even adopt a certain way of talking or an accent that is inspired by someone else.

We tend to emulate people that we like and hang around with often. So if this is happening in your relationship, pay attention and ask your partner about it.

27. Your partner becomes jumpy and frazzled: Your man or lady might easily get disturbed or confused by mundane things. If you do something nice for him or her, they act strange. This is because they want to vilify you to justify their wrongdoing, and your nice behavior catches them off guard.

They might act disoriented and jumpy for no apparent reason. This can be a cheating sign because your partner is trying to sort out his or her feelings about your relationship but also the affair, and is likely to present erratic and unstable behavior as a result.

28. Country music anyone?: If your partner suddenly starts developing new taste in music or in food, then you might want to question him or her about it. It may be that they are dating someone who is fond of a certain cuisine or music, and they are beginning to take a liking to it. Developing new tastes out of the blue can be a revealing sign that your partner has found someone new to be devoted to.

29. What’s up with the Brazilian?: Another infidelity sign is a sudden change in personal hygiene and body grooming habits. If your man used to shower every morning and is suddenly taking several showers a day for no apparent reason, there might be something going on.

If your lady didn’t used to pay attention to her private parts being groomed, and begins getting Brazilian bikini waxes, she might be trying to impress someone else. He or she may also buy new underwear and use it, or may start putting on a lot of perfume or after shave. Pay attention to these little details if you suspect your partner of cheating.

30. Condoms away!: Another sign that there might be a sexual affair going is the increased use of contraceptive methods. Is she on the pill when you have gotten a vasectomy? Is he carrying out condoms when you are on the pill and haven’t used condoms since high school? If there is no valid explanation for this behavior, then this is a big red flag that your partner may be cheating.

31. Blue pill wonders: Another sign of cheating is that your partner is suddenly interested in purchasing medication for sexual performance. He may get erectile dysfunction medication such as Viagra. She might order breast enlargement herbal supplements or lubricant for herself. This is especially suspicious if it is done secretively through online ordering or he or she hides the objects once they arrive or takes them in secret.

32. The answer lies in clothes: There may be unexplained stains, smells or rips on your partner’s clothing. This may include the clichéd lipstick smudge on your man’s shirt, but also other types of stains and smells that just aren’t typical of your partner’s clothes. This can also lead to suddenly excessive laundry washing at weird hours of the day or night, unexplained purchasing of new clothes, or finding clothes in the trash can that your partner may have thrown away to hide evidence.

33. Knock knock, is anyone in there?: Your partner may be caught daydreaming or checked out at many times during the day, and doesn’t tell you what they’re thinking about and is unwilling to interact. He or she seems to be in another world, but denies it and can’t seem to be bothered to engage in activities with you. Your partner may just be absorbed by work or something else might be bothering them.

34. Are you more likely to reach President Obama on the phone than your partner?: Your partner suddenly becomes impossible to reach. When you call the office, they are always at a meeting or on another call with an important client. Their cell phone is turned off on more than one occasion, and the cell phone reception in their building is suddenly the “worst.” Your partner may not call you back right away, or claims to not have received your calls or listened to your messages.

Their assistant or receptionist is all of the sudden the most incompetent person on earth. In short, the fact that they have become inaccessible is everyone else’s fault but their own. All the flimsy excuses in the world cannot hide the fact that there is something sketchy going on in your partner’s life.

35. No, it’s mine!: With the advent of new technologies, there is a multitude of ways one can keep in touch with someone else. If you and your partner used to share phones and laptops, and keep them on in each other’s presence and this suddenly changes, there is a reason for that. You used to look at your man’s cell phone, read his text messages and he never even flinched.

All of the sudden, his phone has become so precious to him that he eve takes it into the bathroom. If you take a look at it, he accuses you of snooping. His laptop, which used to be your computer as well, suddenly has password protection. All of these are telltale signs that he might have something to hide.

36. Delete all: If he still allows you to touch or use his or her phone, or laptop, you find that he or she always makes sure that browser history and cookies are deleted, that their contact list is cleaned up, and incoming e-mails erased.

Maybe they’re just embarrassed of some pages they visited, but more likely, he or she may be hiding their online contact with a lover. Similarly, if his or her phone’s message list or call log is always empty, they just might be hiding something or someone from you. Look into this.

37. He or she becomes a night owl: Your partner might spend a lot of time on their computers especially late at night and after you go to bed. Sure, your man might be a porn addict, but he may also be contacting another woman.

On a related note, your partner might start talking more and more on their cell phones, and racking up huge bills. To sum it up, if there is a sudden, unexplained change in telephone or computer usage with your partner, there may be something strange going on.

38. Your opinion and advice don’t matter anymore: Another sign that your partner might be infidel is he or she stops seeking out your advice or your opinion about major decisions in their lives. They might make irresponsible big purchases or act impulsively without talking with you first. Maybe he went and spent all of his savings on a boat that you never knew about.

Maybe she decided to put up your house on the market without consulting you first. They may have quit their jobs and not even told you about it. This type of rash behavior is typical of a cheater who just doesn’t care about planning your future together anymore and doesn’t even care to ask what you think beforehand.

39. Your partner becomes a world champion nagger: A cheating partner may begin to constantly complain about you or your relationship and how unhappy he or she is. They may be overly critical of you, and suggest that things aren’t working out. He or she may pick more fights to prove this point and makes no effort to make things work. At this point, your partner may be having an affair but also thinking of ending your relationship.

Now, if you do have genuine problems between you that you are working on, then there is probably nothing to worry about. However, if everything is going fine in your relationship and you do get along; your partner may be fabricating a broken relationship to justify not only his or her cheating, but also their leaving.

40. Sex? No thanks: If your partner is cheating on you, he may suddenly lose interest in having sex with you. Even if he or she does, they’ll just go through the motions, with no shared feelings or emotions. If it’s there any sex at all, it becomes just physical. If your partner has always been a passionate lover and suddenly becomes detached or cold in lovemaking for no good reason, there may be somebody else.

41. Who are you and what have you done with my wife?: If on the other hand, your man or lady usually is usually more reserved and subdued in bed, and suddenly becomes an extremely attentive and passionate lover with exaggerated displays of affection, they may be overcompensating to deal with their feelings of guilt.

They may suggest you try new things in bed and become more adventurous. Ask them where they got this newfound fervor, and if there’s a valid explanation, then just enjoy. Otherwise stay alert. This change in sexual behavior might be a result of infidelity.

42. Extreme changes in feelings and behavior: Your partner may at times be very sexually engaged and at other times be completely withdrawn. Sometimes they shower you with affection, and other times they hardy want to talk to you and seem to avoid you.

Although, there may be good explanations for this type of unpredictable and erratic behavior, it is something to watch out for, especially if your partner used to be fairly consistent. It may be that they are cheating and are confused about their affair, thus taking out their mixed feelings on you.

43. He or she has become a complete downer: Has your partner been generally unsatisfied with their life lately even though they used to be happy? Is he or she much more negative than they used to be? This may be due to an exciting affair that they are having which has demonstrated to them how mundane their current life is. Have they become confused about their own sense of self? Maybe there is someone new in your partner’s life who is calling into question their identity and who they are.

44. Bungee jumping, here I come: On a related note, is your partner suddenly a thrill seeker when you could never even get them to go on a child’s water slide ride at your local amusement park? Does he suddenly want to get a motorcycle or a tattoo and signs up for mountain climbing classes? Of course, this might just be a mid-life crisis talking.

However, there’s always the possibility that there is someone else, perhaps somebody younger in your partner’s life that is instigating this transformation and inspiring this new attitude.

45. Low self-esteem: Another sign that your partner may be cheating is that he or she has increasingly low self esteem. This means that your partner is vulnerable and can fall prey to cheating because he or she cannot make themselves feel secure and worthy. If they believe that you are not providing them with enough approval or love and just aren’t getting satisfaction from their job, they might go to someone else from whom they can obtain the desired feelings of security and self worth.

Of course this doesn’t mean that if your partner cheats, this is your fault; your partner should have come to you first to resolve his or her issues, and low self esteem is no excuse for bad behavior.

46. Gonorrhea, herpes anyone?: A concrete sign that your partner may be straying is you have proof that they have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and it wasn’t from you. Maybe you got a call from your husband’s physician, or intercepted an email, or found lab results by mistake. You may even have seen the actual STD on your partner’s body.

If this is the case and he or she has only gotten the disease recently, then your partner is not only straying but might even have contaminated you. So get yourself checked. If you have also gotten the STD and you have not engaged in sexual relations with a new partner, then this only serves to confirm your suspicions that your partner has been cheating on you.

47. The “friend” you never got to meet: A tangible sign of cheating is that someone new suddenly starts taking up your partner’s time and attention. Whether it’s a co-worker, a gym partner, or a friend from way back, this person seems to come out of the blue and he or she starts coming up in conversations and in future plans all the time.

Your partner brings up this mysterious friend in random conversation and they always seem to be at the right place at the right time and at social gatherings you weren’t attending. Although it is healthy to seek out new friendships, it is a big red flag if your partner refuses to introduce you to this new friend and wants to keep him or her under wraps.

48. I’m a cheater? No you’re the cheater, you cheater: A telltale sign that your partner might be cheating is that they turn around and accuse you of straying when you have given them no reason to doubt you. Of course, there’s always the possibility that they’re just jealous or are feeling insecure in the relationship. However, if you have reassured them of your unconditional love and have done more than enough to placate their anxiety, and they’re still accusing you left and right, something is definitely wrong.

The reason they may be doing this if they’re cheating is to deflect attention from their own behavior. They may also genuinely believe that you’re cheating because they become paranoid and start imagining their own deceptive tactics everywhere. Don’t fall into this trap, and don’t start accusing them of cheating either, look out for other signs to be sure.

49. Follow your gut: The biggest sign that your partner may be cheating is that there is something deep inside of you that is making you doubt him or her in the first place. Think about it; you know your partner better than anyone. Their habits, actions and behaviors are hardwired into your brain, and so if you feel it in your gut that there’s something wrong, then follow your instincts. It might turn out to be true.

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Source by Jason Dee Dickson

History of Hydraulic Jacks

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Hydraulic jacks are widely used all across the globe. They have a lot of relevance in the present era, as they have made an incredible contribution in making our life much more comfortable than it was before. These jacks have outweighed conventional screw jacks that were in use at some point of time. They consist of two cylinders joined together. It works on the principle of Pascal’s law which suggests that when there is an increase in pressure at any point in a container of fluid, there is an equal increase in pressure at every other point in the container.

History

The origin of hydraulic jacks can be dated several years ago when Richard Dudgeon, the owner and inventor of hydraulic jacks, started a machine shop. In the year 1851, he was granted a patent for his hydraulic jack. In the year 1855, he literally amazed onlookers in New York when he drove from his abode to his place of work in a steam carriage. It produced a very weird noise that disturbed the horses and so its usage was limited to a single street. Richard made a claim that his invention had the power to carry near about 10 people on a single barrel of anthracite coal at a speed of 14 m.p.h. Dudgeon deserves a special credit for his innumerable inventions including the roller boiler tube expanders, filter press jacks, pulling jacks, heavy plate hydraulic hole punches and various kinds of lifting jacks.

Common Types

Floor Jacks: These jacks are primarily used to lift heavy equipments from the surface of the floor. It is more often used to change the tyres of vehicles. Floor jack is known by different names such as garage jack and car jack. Nowadays, you can find more powerful jacks in the market that use hydraulic power for maximum lift.

Hydraulic Bottle Jacks: Hydraulic bottle are versatile since they can be placed in tight spots and provides good leverage. They have a longer handle as compared to rest of the hydraulic jacks and push up against a lever that gives a lift to the main lift arm. With their use, it is possible to give a greater lift per stroke. They are extensively used in the construction of buildings and repairing the foundation of houses. It has also been found to be very useful in search and rescue operations.

Long Ram Jacks: In simple terms, it is a hydraulic jack with a long size ram. Its lever handle is quite easy to use. It is primarily used for performing various types of repairing work.

Shop Press jacks: They are of great use in press jobs where there arises a need to generate tremendous pressure with minimum effort.

Another popular form of jack that enjoys high demand in the market is the Porta Power Jack.

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Source by Jeff Muchnik

The KWP2000 Protocol in Automotive Diagnostic Applications

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The KWP2000 protocol has become a de facto standard in automotive diagnostic applications. It is standardized as ISO 14230-3. KWP2000 describes the implementation of various diagnostic services you can accethrough the protocol. You can run KWP2000 on several transport layers such as K-line (serial) or CAN.

Transport Protocol

As KWP2000 uses messages of variable byte lengths, a transport protocol is necessary on layers with only a well defined (short) message length, such as CAN. The transport protocol splits a long KWP2000 message into pieces that can be transferred over the network and reassembles those pieces to recover the original message.

KWP2000 runs on CAN on various transport protocols such as ISO TP (ISO 15765-2), TP 1.6, TP 2. 0 (Volkswagen), and SAE J1939-21. For KWP2000, the Automotive Diagnostic Command Set supports only the ISO TP (standardized in ISO 15765-2) and manufacturer-specific VW TP 2.0 transport protocols.

Diagnostic Services

The diagnostic services available in KWP2000 are grouped in functional units and identified by a one-byte code (ServiceId). The standard does not define all codes; for some codes, the standard refers to other SAE or ISO standards, and some are reserved for manufacturer-specific extensions. The Automotive Diagnostic Command Set supports the following services:

• Diagnostic Management

• Data Transmission

• Stored Data Transmission (Diagnostic Trouble Codes)

• Input/Output Control

• Remote Activation of Routine

Upload/Download and Extended services are not part of the Automotive Diagnostic Command Set.

Diagnostic Service Format

Diagnostic services have a common message format. Each service defines a Request Message, Positive Response Message, and Negative Response Message. The Request Message has the ServiceId as first byte, plus additional service-defined parameters. The Positive Response Message has an echo of the ServiceId with bit 6 set as first byte, plus the service-defined response parameters.

The Negative Response Message is usually a three-byte message: it has the Negative Response ServiceId as first byte, an echo of the original ServiceId as second byte, and a ResponseCode as third byte. The only exception to this format is the negative response to an EscapeCode service; here, the third byte is an echo of the user-defined service code, and the fourth byte is the ResponseCode. The KWP2000 standard partly defines the ResponseCodes, but there is room left for manufacturer-specific extensions. For some of the ResponseCodes, KWP2000 defines an error handling procedure. Because both positive and negative responses have an echo of the requested service, you can always assign the responses to their corresponding request.

Connect/Disconnect

KWP2000 expects a diagnostic session to be started with StartDiagnosticSession and terminated with StopDiagnosticSession. However, StartDiagnosticSession has a DiagnosticMode parameter that determines the diagnostic session type. Depending on this type, the ECU may or may not support other diagnostic services, or operate in a restricted mode where not all ECU functions are available. The DiagnosticMode parameter values are manufacturer specific and not defined in the standard. For a diagnostic session to remain active, it must execute the TesterPresent service periodically if no other service is executed. If the TesterPresent service is missing for a certain period of time, the diagnostic session is terminated, and the ECU returns to normal operation mode.

GetSeed/Unlock

A GetSeed/Unlock mechanism may protect some diagnostic services. However, the applicable services are left to the manufacturer and not defined by the standard.You can execute the GetSeed/Unlock mechanism through the SecurityAccess service. This defines several levels of security, but the manufacturer assigns these levels to certain services.

Read/Write Memory

Use the Read/WriteMemoryByAddress services to upload/download data to certain memory addresses on an ECU. The address is a three-byte quantity in KWP2000 and a five-byte quantity (four-byte address and one-byte extension) in the calibration protocols. The Upload/Download functional unit services are highly manufacturer specific and not well defined in the standard, so they are not a good way to provide a general upload/download mechanism.

Measurements

Use the ReadDataByLocal/CommonIdentifier services to access ECU data in a way similar to a DAQ list. A Local/CommonIdentifier describes a list of ECU quantities that are then transferred from the ECU to the tester. The transfer can be either single value or periodic, with a slow, medium, or fast transfer rate. The transfer rates are manufacturer specific; you can use the SetDataRates service to set them, but this setting is manufacturer specific. The Automotive Diagnostic Command Set supports single-point measurements.

Diagnostic Trouble Codes

A major diagnostic feature is the readout of Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). KWP2000 defines several services that access DTCs based on their group or status.

Input/Output Control

KWP2000 defines services to modify internal or external ECU signals. One example is redirecting ECU sensor inputs to stimulated signals. The control parameters of these commands are manufacturer specific and not defined in the standard.

Remote Activation of a Routine

These services are similar to the ActionService and DiagService functions of CCP. You can invoke an ECU internal routine identified by a Local/CommonIdentifier or a memory address. Contrary to the CCP case, execution of this routine can be asynchronous; that is, there are separate Start, Stop, and RequestResult services. The control parameters of these commands are manufacturer specific and not defined in the standard.

External References

For more information about the KWP2000 Standard, refer to the ISO 14230-3 standard.

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Source by Amos Huang

Mobile Phone GPS Tracking – Anonymous Way Of Spying

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Cellular phones have become a basic commodity and as such almost everyone have a single unit at hand. Just by having a cellular phone, the compatible software, and a vehicle that has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) device, one may have anonymous cellular phone GPS tracking. By installing such a device on a certain sports utility car (SUV) or any type of vehicle, and upon getting the software to work on the cell phone, a person can secretly track the whereabouts of that certain SUV. The nature of Anonymous cellular phone GPS tracking is a concealed operation, however it is helpful for persons who want to trace the status of their vehicles. This will lessen crime offenders form hijacking cars. Parking lots are safer with this device on cars. Crimes will easily be solved such as kidnappings and car napping are concerned.

There are infinite chances for better law enforcement with regards to Anonymous mobile phone GPS tracking. Normally, it is easy to identify the vehicle used by an offender. There are data base that law enforcement use to make them out. However, to know the location and to try to seize that particular vehicle is much harder than in concept. But by attaching a small magnetic box to the criminal?s vehicle that would allow the GPS signal to be sent to the mobile phone, the police is able to track the vehicle by means of anonymous mobile phone GPS tracking. With the aid of technology through the GPS system and the satellite network, pinning down a criminal becomes effortless. This implies a lower crime rate though out the world. All the hideouts of suspected drug lords or people under investigation can be tracked easily. The good thing about it is that this can go both ways. The suspect can be found to be innocent after all. Or if not it will incriminate the offender further as charged.

It is typical for parents to want to track the whereabouts of their children without having them knowing about it. This may not be in good taste, but somehow necessary in some cases. This is where anonymous cell phone GPS tracking becomes most valuable and applicable as a conspirator. Merely placing a GPS RECEIVE somewhere secretly in the automobile and install the applicable software on your cell phone. This will continuously send you important updates upon the location of the automobile via anonymous

cell phone GPS tracking.

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Source by Abhishek Agarwal

After a Car Accident or Whiplash Injury: Symptoms of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)

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We have all had this happen, or know someone this has happened to. Suddenly, someone crashes into the back end of your car and you feel your head extend back over the headrest and then rebound forwards, almost hitting the steering wheel with your forehead. When the police arrive and start asking questions about what had happened, you try to piece together what happened but you’re not quite sure of the sequence of events. Your memory just isn’t that clear. Within the first few days, in addition to significant neck and headache pain, you notice your memory seems fuzzy, and you easily lose your train of thought.

Although whiplash injuries are quite common, research is only beginning to describe the diverse symptoms that can develop when the neck has been traumatized. Because whiplash symptoms are often subtle and non-specific, it’s quite normal for patients not to complain about them. In fact, we almost always have to describe the symptoms and ask if any of these symptoms sound familiar to the patient.

As pointed out above, patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) don’t mention any of the previously described symptoms and in fact, may be embarrassed to discuss these symptoms with their Las Vegas chiropractor when they first present after a car crash. This is because the symptoms are vague and hard to describe and, many feel the symptoms are caused by simply being tired or perhaps upset about the accident. When directly asked if any of these symptoms exist, the patient is often surprised there is an actual reason for feeling this way.

The cause of MTBI is due to the brain actually bouncing or rebounding off the inner walls of the bony skull during the whiplash process, when the head is forced back and forth after the impact. During that process, the brain which is suspended inside our skull, is forced forwards and literally ricochets off the skull and damages some of the nerve cells most commonly associated with either the brain stem (the part connected to the spinal cord), the frontal lobe (the part behind the forehead) and/or the temporal lobe (the part of the brain located on the side of the head). Depending on the direction and degree of force generated by the collision (front end, side impact or rear end collision), the area of the brain that may be damaged varies because it could be the area closest to initial impact or, the area on the opposite side, due to the rebound effect. Depending on which part of the brain is injured, the physical findings may include problems with walking, balance, coordination, strength, as well as difficulties with communicating, processing information, memory, and altered psychological functions.

The good news is that most of these whiplash injuries will recover within 3-12 months but unfortunately, not all do and in these cases, the term, post-concussive syndrome is sometimes used.

We realize you have a choice in medical providers for spine injuries. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our expertise and look forward in serving you and your family presently and,anytime in the future.

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Source by Michael Reiss

Hunting Non-Exportable African Lions – The New Norm?

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I think that most serious hunters have entertained the idea of hunting the African lion. The lion is a challenging and dangerous animal to hunt and is possibly the most iconic game animal on Earth. Hunting him will test the hunter’s skills and mental fortitude. Due to recent changes in import regulations which have an effect on hunt prices, a lion hunt is more affordable than ever.

Due to current US law, the vast majority of lion hunting opportunities for Americans are hunts where it is impossible to import the skin and skull back to the United States. That does not mean that hunters should not hunt lions. Hunt prices are at a place where they have become as affordable as a plains game hunt for someone wanting to hunt a non-exportable lion. And the experience of the hunt is the same.

There is an internal debate hunters inevitably go through when considering to hunt an animal they cannot legally import back into the United States. Mounted animals and skulls act as a reminder of the hunt and bring honor to the creature so worthy of pursuit. However, laws are laws and some animals cannot be imported despite the fact that there are sustainable enough populations that necessitate hunting.

Ultimately, the hunt is about the experience. On a non-exportable lion hunt, the hunter can still memorialize the hunt through pictures. Nothing is different about the actual hunt. My encouragement to hunters is simple: go and hunt lion. Live the dream you’ve been dreaming. The experience of a lion hunt is like no other, and the opportunity to even hunt African lions is never guaranteed in the future. Although it seems paradoxical, hunting lions is something that will help sustain the populations for generations to come.

When hunters travel to pursue lions, they are actively contributing to their conservation. When hunters spend money on a lion hunt, whether it is a free range hunt or not, it gives lions value. Without value, lion populations reduce or disappear. Africa’s human population is exploding and there is a finite amount of space on the continent. Lions have huge home ranges and require a lot of space. There is a fragile coexistence at best in places where lions live near humans. Lions are dangerous to humans and destructive to wildlife and domestic stock. It is difficult for Westerners to understand the constant danger one lives in when living in the presence of lions. Having travelled to over 20 African countries and spent a lot of time with locals, it is not uncommon to meet people who have been maimed by lions or have had family members or friends maimed or killed by lions.

However, in Africa, if it pays it stays. Hunting dollars from lion hunts make lions worth something to those who live in close proximity to them. In places where hunting is not allowed and there is no market for photographic safaris either, lion populations are low or nonexistent.

It is unfortunate that our own USFWS has become so political in its decision making rather than using scientific data to drive their decisions. Recently, however, USFWS has finally recognized what African countries and hunters have always known. In an October 20, 2016 announcement, Director of US Fish and Wildlife Service Dan Ashe stated that, “sport hunting of wild and wild-managed lions does contribute to the long-term conservation of the species in South Africa.” He also stated that, “lions are not in trouble because of responsible sport hunting.” However, USFWS has still made laws that make importation of lions very difficult, and in many cases, impossible.

Law Changes on Importation of Sport Hunted African Lions

On December 23, 2015, USFWS announced it would restrict trophy hunted African lion imports through a permit system administered under the US Endangered Species Act. The law went into effect on January 22, 2016. Before this date, lions would be imported without an import permit as long as they had the proper CITES export permit from the host country.

The USWFS ruling did a couple of things. First, they split African lions into two scientific subspecies. They categorized Panthera leo melanochaita as East and South Africa lions and designated them as threatened. They designated Central and West African lions as the same subspecies of Asiatic lions, Panthera leo leo, and put them on the endangered list. This part of the ruling pretty much ends importation of sport hunted lions from Central and Western African countries. However, it did not completely shut down trophy hunted imports from East and South Africa, and because their designation is considered “threatened,” they applied rule 4(d) from the Endangered Species Act. This states that import permits for lions will only be given when it can be proven that “the importation of sport hunted P.l. melanochaita trophies will ensure hunting contributes to the survival of the species in the wild.” While USFWS gave examples of some of the things they would look for in permit applications, it was and currently remains ambiguous as to how they will decide which permit applications pass muster.

On October 2016, USFWS ruled that it would not allow imports of lions from South Africa that were not free range (captive reared.) They left the door open to the rest of the East and South African subspecies to possibly be imported, but ultimately they will decide whether or not to grant importation permits on an individual basis.

Rifles for Hunting Non-Exportable Lions

While it is possible to kill a lion with a lesser rifle, hunting laws across Africa generally prohibit using a caliber smaller than a.375 H & H. This is a good thing. It is better to have more than enough power for dangerous game. A.375 is sufficient for the job at hand and anything larger is a bonus. Shots are usually between 30-60 yards, so you can use your judgment on whether or not to use a scope. Ideally, a scope of 1×4 power is best because it allows you to find the lion in the scope quickly in the event of a charge. Open sights are adequate (and quite possibly preferred) but only if you are proficient with them. Use quality expanding bullets (softs) and not solids.

Some outfits allow you to rent a rifle if you do not own a dangerous game caliber rifle. Because shots are usually close, this is not as poor of an option as it seems. It is nice to use a rifle you are familiar with, but it comes down to affordability in the end, and some hunters hate traveling with a firearm.

Bow Hunting Non-Exportable Lions

Lion hunting is conducive to bow hunting because they are usually shot at close range. With the proper equipment, the killing power of a well-placed arrow is irrefutable. However, in the event of a charge, you may as well throw sticks at the lion because (1) you won’t be able to draw in time and (2) even if you could, an arrow does not have any reliable stopping power.

If you are a die-hard bow hunter, it is definitely doable. Any set up that you would use for elk will be sufficient. That being said, use of a 2 blade single bevel broadhead is a good idea to insure penetration through the shoulder bone if the shot is not perfect. Again, it’s better to have more penetration power. Broadside or quartering away shots are what you want, but this is not always easy because if the lion knows your there he will likely be facing you. If you take a head on shot, beware of the mane because it is easy to shoot too low. You do not want to wound a lion. The danger factor is multiplied ten-fold if you do not put a good killing shot on him and he makes his way to the thick stuff.

Equipment for Hunting Lions

On a lion hunt you will be doing a lot of walking and it will likely be hot after the early morning. Make sure your boots are broken in and your clothes fit well enough that they do not get in the way when raising your rifle.

Binoculars are important. Whatever you use for plains game will work fine, but ideally 8 power binoculars are a better choice than 10 power. You will be glassing small clumps of brush for a bedded lion and not trying to estimate the horns of a duiker 300 yards away, so the wider field of view is more important than magnification.

Hunting Methods for Non-Exportable Lions

Lions are generally tracked or baited. If you choose to hunt non-exportable lions, South Africa is the most likely destination due to abundance of lions and the affordable price of the hunts. Most lion hunts in South Africa take place in the northern part of the country in the Kalahari Desert. It is beautiful country and the terrain is conducive to tracking, which is what makes this type of hunt so exciting. The ground is sand covered and holds a lion track very well.

If tracking is the hunting method you will cover miles and miles in a bakkie (truck) through the sand trying to find a track fresh enough to follow. You may also hike to find a track, depending on what your PH thinks is best. When a track is found, the PH and tracker will determine if it is a male or female track. (In some places, female lions can be hunted as well as males.) Next, depending on the layout of the roads in the area you are hunting, your PH may try to box the lion in. This means he will attempt to circle around in the direction the lion is headed and see if he crossed a two track road. Then he may repeat this until he has an idea of where the lion is. This gives you a better chance of catching up to the lion before it gets dark.

Depending on the moisture and density of the sand, you may or may not even see an actual pad mark and toes in the lion tracks. The tracker is mainly looking for the stride of the cat. Felines have a distinctive stride that sets them apart from the ungulates and other predators in the area. If there is a little moisture in the sand, you may see a pad, but rest assured that your tracker knows exactly what he is looking at regardless. Not only will the tracker use the size of the cat’s stride to determine the sex, he will also be looking for clues to help him age the track. This depends on the condition of the sand as well as the wind and sun. It also includes a plethora of other factors trackers use that I am simply not qualified to write about because I am not an African tracker. They are masters of their craft who have learned from past generations and honed their skills through a lifetime. Part of the magic of the hunt is watching the tracker do his work. While tracking in the Kalahari is not as challenging as the rocky and hard ground of the Zambezi Valley, it is still incredible to watch. You will understand the challenge better when you see your tracker spot a lion track from the back of a moving truck amongst an uncountable number of other divots in the sand left by the other game in the area.

When you begin to follow the track, your tracker will be in the lead followed by your PH and then yourself. Although it is tempting to want to have your head down looking at the tracks, it’s important to be alert and looking ahead for the cat. This is your job. The excitement of tracking lies in the fact that you never know where the lion is. He could be miles ahead… or he could be hunkered behind the next bush watching and waiting.

Many lions have no fear of humans and view them as either food or a nuisance rather than a threat. This makes the hunt very different than hunting most other game. While your lion may scamper off as soon as he sees your hunting party approaching, he may simply stand his ground. If he runs off, you keep tracking until the next confrontation. With each confrontation, the lion has less and less patience for your intrusion. If he stands his ground, the confrontation will be unnerving. They are incredible big, especially when viewed face to face on the ground. I can assure you that the confrontation will be like none other you’ve experienced hunting and the memory will last a lifetime.

It is not uncommon for a lion to charge the party, even unwounded. You must be ready in that situation and always be aware of where people are in your hunting party because your rifle bullet is just as deadly as the lion. If possible, the proper way to deal with a charge is to take a knee. This puts you on the same level as the oncoming lion and makes it less likely you will shoot behind him. I have not had such an experience, but have gotten this advice from several dangerous game PHs.

African Lion Hunting Summary

Lion hunting is dangerous. There is no way around this. As Robert Ruark wrote: “You get the lion, or the lion gets you.” A male may weigh 450 pounds. His favorite food is Cape buffalo which can weigh 1500 pounds and he has no problem killing one. While maulings are not common because Professional Hunters are usually very good, the propensity for danger is there and it is very real. It is not called dangerous game for nothing. It is the potential for danger that makes the hunt something very unique and special for those who have not experienced it. A Zimbabwean PH once told me that you hunt dangerous game with different pieces of yourself. He told me you hunt elephants with your legs, leopards with your brain, and buffalo with your guts. Lions, he said, you hunt with your heart.

True conservationists hope that the opportunity to hunt African lions does not end, regardless of importation law status. However, it is possible that in the not so distant future many hunters will wish they would have booked a lion hunt, exportable or not, because the opportunity is not guaranteed.

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Source by John Martins