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When someone makes that often – life – changing decision, to search for a home of their own, they are often counseled about finances, credit, mortgages, location, and the best Realtor, to select, to make their efforts better and more effective. However, there are some often – considered variables, which may be include certain intangibles, etc. Since you are looking at, what for many, will be their largest, single, financial asset, as well as liability, doesn’t it make sense, to, at least, give it more thought, than you might automatically give, when purchasing a used car? For example, most of us wouldn’t consider purchasing a previously owned vehicle, without inspecting it carefully, and reviewing a CarFax report, which gives one some hint of the history, and care given by previous owners. While nothing like that is generally available about houses, use your eyes and other senses, to consider, whether, and how much, the previous owner CARED about his home, and taking care of it!

1. Choices; cleanliness; characteristics; curb appeal; cement: Avoid the emotional approach, which limits your choices, but rather attempt to objectively consider each potential house. Consider its overall cleanliness, and the care taken. Examine various characteristics, and see if they make sense, in terms of living in the house. How much curb appeal does it possess, because an owner who lacked the pride, or attention, to consider this, may have overlooked other things, as well. Look at the condition of the cement/ concrete, blacktop, etc, and whether their appears to be old cracks, which were ignored.

2. Attention; aroma: Pay attention to how the house feels to you! Do you feel like you’d like to live there? Has the previous owner paid attention to details, and maintenance? Are there any aromas/ smells, which might be some sort of warning sign, especially, in the basement, attic, or rooms adjacent to exterior walls, etc?

3. Reasonable; responsible: Don’t judge a house by the color of the walls, or the carpets, etc. Rather, focus on the overall condition of the home, and whether the owner has seemed to pay, responsible, reasonable care, to maintaining the house and property!

4. Extra; efforts; exists: Look at what exists, from the standpoint of pride of ownership and overall maintenance, not personal taste! Remember, almost everyone paints, etc, when they buy a new home. Does it appear, the homeowner exerted the efforts, to indicate a degree of pride of ownership? Is there any indication, of him, going the extra mile?

5. Delve deeply: Don’t merely trust your own eyes, ears and sense of smell. Always hire the services of a professional Home Inspector or Engineer, to give you a clearer picture of the condition of the house. Delve deeply, and ask yourself, would I be happy living there?

Beware of any house where the previous owner appeared to avoid maintenance and pride of ownership! Ask yourself if it seems, he CARED!

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Source by Richard Brody

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The Ice Man Cometh

Of course no one had electric refrigerators in the 1940’s, at least not in our neighborhood. So we were solely dependent on the “Ralph Kramden” ice box. This gadget was unique and useful. A two compartment unit made out of wood. And, it was lined with steel painted white. The top compartment was usually smaller and that held the food that needed refrigeration. The bottom section was larger and held the block of ice.

The top didn’t have any shelves as I remember so food was kind of stuffed in as best you could. The bottom could if needed be used to keep things cold as well as keep the ice. No Freezer Section. If you wanted ice for drinks you just grabbed the ice pick and chipped off some ice for your drink. Or, take a large chunk wrap it in a towel and beat it with a hammer on the kitchen table. The early ice crusher was born. Let me tell you how impressed I was just with ice cubes in water. When my parents finally upgraded to a different home my Mom one day set out a pitcher of water with ice cubes in it. No holiday, no special occasion. I thought we were rich.

The whole operation depended on keeping a regular supply of ice in the ice box. The ice company provided a sign that could be hung in the front window of your house. It had four side with four different sizes of ice on each side. Our job as kids after we were told was to hang the ice sign in the window and to make sure the size needed was at the bottom. And you better not forget.

The ice man would come along in his delivery truck on some designated schedule. He would read the sign in the window. Cut a block of ice that matched the signs requirement. He had a leather sling and shoulder pad that he used to carry the cube up on his shoulder with.Our guy was lucky. We lived in a house and the ice box was in the kitchen on the first floor. Sometimes the Ice Man had to carry the block of ice up flights of stairs to people who lived in apartments. His tools were ice tongs and ice pick. and of course a strong back. Just think about this mans job. All day long up into the truck, cut a chunk of ice. Dismount load the block on your back and carry it to the Ice Box. And, ice tongs and ice picks, us kids were impressed.

You got automatic delivery if the sign was in the window. The ice man just opened the front door with the cube of ice on his shoulder and hollered out “Ice Man”. In he came found the ice box and put the new block of ice into it. Didn’t matter what was going on in the family. He just let himself in the house. And, if I remember right he got paid cash on the spot.

Along his route as he was delivering he would sound the call “Ice Man”, for those who needed ice but forgot to put up the sign. Or, the kids who forgot to do what their parents told them. If no one was around to corral him then you got no ice. And, trouble was afoot. For you.

Now there were times when thing just didn’t work out. We would run out of ice and the Ice Man wasn’t due to deliver for some time. Here’s where the advantages of having a child came in. Mom would say, “Get the wagon and go get some ice.”. I don’t know where the wagon ever came from but one became available. It was our job to go over to the Ice House and bring home a block of ice. For me that was a 10 block round trip. And, sometimes Mom would let you pick up a block of ice for a neighbor too.

Wagon in tow off you would go to get the ice. 8th and Dupont Street on the corner across from Dela Donnes Store was the Ice House. It was a 8′ X 10′ wooden shed. Lined with steel and full of ice. It was a sub station for Diamond Ice And Coal. You just asked the attendant for two 15cent blocks of ice and he hacked them off for you and with his tongs loaded them on your wagon.

Now this Ice Man was too scary for us kids. He was an aged black man. Looking back probably not paid very much in a labor intensive job. He was bent over and had a contorted body and face. I don’t remember whether he was friendly or not. I just wanted to get my ice and get out of there. When no one was buying ice he had a stool in front of the ice house he would sit on. To me he just looked menacing with those tongs and ice pick.

The trip home with ice in the summer time was a fun trip. Usually there was some change. And, I would take the change and put it on top of the ice and let it melt down into the block of ice. By the time I got home it could be several inches down into the ice. A perfect vertical column. How we got the ice cube into the house I don’t remember. We probably had a set of ice tongs at home to carry the block of ice in with.

I never relished these jobs our parents put on us. But liking wasn’t an option for our generation. We were the cheap labor and yet most of us grew up without going to jail. And we got an education that allowed us to support and raise our families. Chores were just like growing up – they just happened. The chores were there and we were expected to help.

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Source by Laurence Pitts

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Power cuts and voltage variations are one of the common problems of every industry. To fight back with the problem, transformers are the only solution that is used widely in the global industries. The device is ideal for supplying the constant supply of power and also regulating the rise and fall of the voltage supply. Transformers are the stroke of the luck for the industries which are facing the energy distribution and transmission troubles. An auto transformer is an electrical device which has only one winding. It gives you a higher supply of the voltage required for proper application of the device. It uses the principle of self-induction.

Advantages Of An Auto Transformer:-

• Less Costly: There is a huge range of the transformers available in the market and you need to choose the device for your application. But the auto transformer is known for its eco-friendly nature and affordable prices. They are actually cheaper in cost and high in performance.
• Compact Size: Every industry is concerned about the space availability for the device to be installed and they generally avoid bulkier, big devices for installation. The device is available in the market in a compact size which can give you better results with the smaller size. It is usually employed to increase the voltage requirement for the application.
• Voltage Regulation: The main aim of using the device is to regulate the voltage supply to provide the evenly distributed energy for the applications. The two winding device cost you more and there is more copper loss. However, auto transformers are the best at regulating voltage and less copper loss.

Application Usage Of An Auto Transformer:-

• Power Transmission And Distribution: The device is frequently used in power applications to interconnect the systems with each other and operating with different KVA sizing. Other than this, it is used to adapt the machinery built-in the industry. It is also employed to provide the constant supply of the voltage while providing the average voltage close to the source.
• Audio System: In the audio applications, the device is used to adapt the speakers to provide the steady voltage to the audio distribution system. It is also employed for matching the impedance.

Railways: The device is arranged to supply the steady power and are also used as the voltage regulator. It gives a small boost to the distribution cable and also corrects the drop. It is used to increase the voltage supply, but due to the single winding operation, it cannot step down the voltage supply.

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Source by Mukesh Tolani

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If you are planning a wedding at an exclusive club or a million dollar estate, you might think about using vintage wedding cars for your wedding transportation needs. Classic and vintage cars are the perfect addition to a day filled with class and style, sophistication and luxury. Photographers will love taking the couples’ picture in front of a classic beauty with the wedding venue as a backdrop. Brides and grooms with a special affinity for classic cars will love the appeal that vintage wedding cars will bring to the day, and the memories they will create for themselves and their guests.

Transportation – Though many classic and vintage wedding cars may have contracts against driving them (or having them driven by a company driver) for long distances, most can still be used as local wedding transportation. These rentals keep their value as classics because of their uniqueness and their low mileage, which could quickly add up if each couple renting took the vehicles for long drives. Vintage wedding cars are probably best if only needed for very short distances, such as from the chapel to the reception hall down the street.

Props Only – If you find a classic car you want to rent but find that it is cost prohibitive, you might get a reduced rate for using it as a prop only. This means the car is not driven, except to the location where it will be parked. Often, the owner of the vehicle will have it hauled to the location as to preserve the car’s low mileage. When used as props, vintage wedding cars still add considerable value to your wedding celebrations. They can be used to enhance the overall look and feel of an exclusive or luxurious party, or they may simply be used in professional wedding photographs that include the couple.

Full Event Rental – Other than the other two options above, vintage wedding cars can be used during the entire wedding celebration. Though it may be hard to find a company willing to rent out a vehicle over a several day period, it can be done. Don’t expect to get a weekend celebration classic car on a small budget, however. If you are lucky enough to find a company or car owner willing to rent their vintage wedding cars for several days or more, be prepared to pay top dollar. For that money, you will enjoy transportation and the vehicle’s use as a prop at the venue or in wedding photos.

Vintage wedding cars can be rented from wedding transportation companies and from local individual vehicle owners. Be sure that no matter which vendor you use, that you have a signed contract and proof of insurance before taking possession of the vintage or classic car. Usually valued at high dollar, you will want to make sure your liability is spelled out clearly so that you do not get stuck in a situation where you need to pay a huge penalty or lose your deposit. Nothing can ruin the memory of your wedding more than dealing with financial surprises in the aftermath of it all.

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Source by Michael B Podgoetsky

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Introduction

The US has one of the largest mining industries in the world – an industry closely linked with the economy. In the past, the discovery of resources such as gold and oil resulted in a major population shift and rapid growth for formerly remote regions of the country, such as California, Texas, and Alaska. Extraction of these resources, and finding new deposits, continues to provide the foundation for local economies in some regions.

Some of the minerals mined in the US are coal, uranium, copper, gold, silver, iron, lead, zinc and others. Most of the mines in the US are highly automated and thus energy intensive. To provide an example, even in the last decade of the 20th century, iron ore mining alone consumed 62.3 trillion Btu of energy across a calendar year. Because mining is such a large industry and makes a sizable contribution to the national income, mines must have a dependable source of power – a crucial resource for mining processes.

The mining and mineral extraction sector both in the US and worldwide relies heavily on energy to harness natural resources such as aggregates, precious metals, iron ore, oil, gas, and coal. This energy is used to power shovels and drills for excavating these products, loading them into enormous mining trucks or onto conveyer belts, sorting, sifting and crushing ores, heating, and a hundred other functions. Both surface and underground mining operations rely on powered equipment to extract materials and load trucks. Overall, the mining sector could not flourish without the use of vast amounts of energy.

The Role of Transformers

Mine ‘Power Centers’ or ‘Load Centers’ are an essential system for underground and surface mining. Their primary function is to convert distribution voltage into utilization voltage for equipment operation, thus placing power transformers at the heart of the load center. Proper selection of transformers is imperative, and must fulfill safety, reliability, and efficiency requirements. Determining capacity rating is among the first steps for selection of a power transformer for a mining load center. A rule of thumb here is to allow 1 kVA for every horsepower of connected load. Most mining processes, however, do not produce constant loads – all machinery is not connected all the time – and therefore the 1 kVA per horsepower thumb rule will typically result in transformer oversizing. According to the SME Mining Engineering Handbook by Howard L. Hartmann, “Past experience and demand factors established by manufacturers and operators, along with the horsepower of the connected load, are essential for determining transformer capacity. For typical underground mining sections, the kVA rating may lie within the range of 50 to 80% of the connected horsepower.”

Transformer Losses

Standard transformers while under full load operate at 90 to 95% efficiency, with this figure dropping as the load lightens. This is due to inefficiencies in the transformer’s core, a main component of the transformer. The losses in the core remain the same throughout the transformer’s operating range. At 100% load, the amount of comparative loss is negligible. However, at reduced loads, the same amount of energy loss represents a higher percentage of energy being wasted. Unfortunately, average transformer loads run between 34 and 50% of the transformer’s total capacity. With the majority of the electricity used

in the US being run through transformers at these lower loads, massive amounts of energy are being wasted. This issue is of special relevance to the mining industry, simply because of its high energy usage. Mining operations also involve hostile environments full of dust, dirt, chemicals, moisture and airborne contaminants. Load center transformers need to function reliably and efficiently in these environments over a long term.

Without electric power at mining facilities, the natural materials extracted from the earth in the mining process would be much more costly than they are today. Thus, power transformers provide a lot of muscle, capacity, and stability to an essential industry. From drilling trenches to busting up rock, carting out huge loads of materials and pulling up heavy amounts of minerals, power transformers provide the strength and capability needed.

Liquid Filled and Dry Transformers: Performance Characteristics

1.Liquid-Filled Transformers

While there is still debate on the relative advantages of the available types of transformers, there are some performance characteristics that have been accepted: • Liquid-filled transformers are more efficient, have greater overload capability and longer life expectancy. • Liquid-filled units are better at reducing hot-spot coil temperatures, but have higher risk of flammability than dry types. • Liquid-filled transformers sometimes require containment troughs to guard against fluid leaks. • Liquid filled transformers are smaller in size than dry-type units for the same power rating capacity and have lower losses because of their better thermal dissipation characteristics.

2.Dry Type Transformers

Dry type Transformers are usually used for lower ratings (the changeover point being 500kVA to 2.5MVA). They are usually placed indoors, serving an office building/apartment. Dry type units typically come in enclosures with louvers, or sealed.

Dry type transformers use almost no flammable materials and therefore do not constitute a fire hazard when used underground in both coal and other mines.

Dry type transformers in the mining industry are housed in a steel tank and the core and windings are cooled by air circulating within the tank, transferring heat to the steel tank which is in turn cooled by the external air. In some compact designs for mounting on mining machines water cooling is added to further improve the performance of the transformers.

Correct choice of insulating materials and an understanding of the cooling system is imperative if the transformer is to be correctly designed. For example, a temperature rise test conducted on a transformer manufactured and sold as continuously rated, can reveal that the transformer only had a continuous rating of 65% of the nameplate rating.

The Need for Energy-Efficient Mining

With the current focus on climate change and reduction of environmental impact, government agencies around the world are making increasingly stringent demands on industries to reduce energy consumption and manage waste more effectively, among others. It is surprising how many mining operations still use twenty-year-old technology.

Regulatory pressures are already beginning to affect the mining industry – according to an article on ‘US Environmental Regulations and the Mining Industry’ on the International Development Research Center (IDRC) website, “Environmental regulations have had an effect on the US mining industry’s profitability. Companies have been forced to retrofit or renovate installations or leave the market. Increasing operational costs have affected their international competitiveness, and to some extent, this may be changing the world allocation of mining investment. Employment levels have fallen substantially, and local economies have borne part of this cost.”

Mining companies in the US are thus feeling the pressing need to be energy-efficient, simply to stay competitive. Reducing energy consumption by adopting customized, cost-effective solutions like NEMA-approved transformers and harnessing solar or wind energy to meet their future energy needs can be good ideas in the long run, especially since the alternate energy option will help mining companies keep away from fluctuating international fuel prices. Alternate sources of energy are still a very small blip on the graph, in terms of actual power provided for industries like mining, and thus the sector as a whole needs to come up with more immediate ways to conserve energy.

Various types of transformers for the mining industry:

Transformers can be used in various open pit and hard rock (subterranean) applications that range from auxiliary lighting loads to power for cranes, drag lines, conveyor belts and other miscellaneous dedicated variable speed drive applications.

Benefits of energy-efficient mining

• Reduced cost of production

• Opening up of new reserves for Conclusion

On one hand the mining industry is all set to grow to keep up with increasing demand; on the other it has to stay competitive as fuel prices zoom upwards. For an energy intensive industry, keeping a check on fuel consumption and cost is critical. Thus the mining industry as a whole is looking for energy efficient technology, including power transformers.

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Source by Mike Dickinson

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Why shipping and receiving affects the entire process

A recent idea that reduced product weight by 60%, cut fuel bills and cut tyre costs down by 6%. With a fleet of over 100 vehicles, this is just one small project idea out of five to emerge from a program of high impact change management. Internal procedures and methods are easy to devise but hard to turn into reality. Whether starting from scratch or overhauling existing systems, this general prompt list is a useful guide. Equipping and design becomes considerably easier when you have a map with a clear way marked out for you. Set out as a 10 point list of general rules and consequences, the idea is to help you think through the subject headings and support the thought process in an orderly set of steps. This method will help produce a workable system with a minimum of shocks and surprises which inevitably dog all change management. All quality systems benefit from totally thinking through the job. Micro-managing the process now will save you a lot of money and time later and equipment selection will be a lot less hazardous.

Design – Start with a design for the entire system otherwise you will discover to your cost that changes rarely just affect one small area of your business. Rule 1, therefore, is don’t fiddle about with small areas of malfunction because you are likely to make things worse.

Traceability – If you don’t have time to do it correctly at the outset where are you going to find the time to put it right? Rule 2 – spend some time thinking about how to get what you sent to your customer back to your supplier again without bankrupting yourself in the process.

Handling – If you think handling and storage systems are expensive wait until you pick up the bill for labour, injuries, duplicated and damaged stock. Rule 3 – design your operation to be able to efficiently deal with through put. Everything in its place and a place for everything..including charging batteries! (18 months ago, a few weeks after taking delivery of their new fork truck, one of my customers allowed the battery to run right down. This truck cost nearly £38,000, the replacement batteries were just short of £5,000. They also lost a lot of time whilst things were sorted out).

The Smallest unit of measurable cost – How much control do you require? Pallet sized or pint sized, are you selling bricks or diamonds? This is your reporting size for your monthly performance review and it seriously effects how you interface with your supporting distribution and logistics work. Rule 4 – round up the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves

Storage – Considerations for this includes on or off site stores, work in progress and what you expect suppliers and customers to hold for you. Never hold on to junk or old stock, get rid of it and use the cash or space for something more productive. Rule 5 – be very sure of your operational space needs. These are your fixed overheads and if it is not working you will find these costs expensive and risky to deal with. Use other people’s overheads as a first low cost option before committing yourself to long term leases. Fixed costs have that title for a reason!

Picking Systems – Typing is quicker than walking so start with a well thought out, efficient list. Avoid warehousing or production work at the same time as picking work. Make sure your shelves have all your picking requirements ready to pick. Keep stock recognisable for both picking and counting, either by eye or scanning. Keep stock in easy reach of pickers or picking machinery. Rule 6 – apply the Grand Prix principal, the fastest stock movers get pole position!

Equipment – You will need it. Rule 7 – treat your business like your children. Get the very best and keep the discipline and training as a matter of priority. If you think training is expensive you certainly won’t be able to afford ignorance!

Packaging – This needs to get the product to its destination properly identified and no more. Make it like Christmas for the new owner but at the same price as Christmas paper. When it is opened it should still have that magical pleasure of Christmas and like Christmas if it going to be thrown down chimney pots it should be protected from Santa’s little helpers and reindeer shocks. If you are going to send out as many Christmas presents as Santa does, make sure you have good cross dock and marshaling systems that do the counting and sorting quickly. Rule 8 – think the journey though from the shelf to the opening ceremony. You don’t want it back in bits. Sending goods out twice wastes resources and alerts the customer to possible system issues.

Packing – This is an operation and needs to flow with everything on hand and with as few process interruptions as possible. Connect it quickly to issuing invoices or contents notes, or receipts if it has been prepaid. Rule 9 – make packing as continuous and uninterrupted as possible as it cuts down mistakes due to distractions.

Minimum Order Values – Add up the time your product takes to turnover on an activity basis. Batch them up into the minimum quantity which produces enough gross profit to pay for it or make that your minimum charge regardless of quantity, then factor in good will…or not! Rule 10 – study your order book carefully and make sure the value you add covers your costs.

Bonus Idea – All systems should consider the environment. All systems should allow for a tidy work place. Make sure your products are well protected but yet easy to access. Products which have their own boxes or cases should consider the on going role and environment by keeping to the point and be well supported with maintenance and application ideas. Never miss the chance to let the user know what else you do, especially if it improves their day

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Source by Paul Casebourne

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Finding jobs for felons has always been a hard road. Due to the slowdown of the economy it’s proving even more difficult to find jobs for felons this year and those guys in the white house don’t seem to be helping. The truth is, the search for high paying jobs for felons is a task that falls on your shoulders, and we’ll help you lift weight.

We’re about to shed some light on your search for the best jobs for felons as you are about to learn tips on:

• Expungement of Criminal Records

• How to overcome the objections

• Advise when seeking jobs for felons

• The Top 10 Jobs for Felons

• Where to go for tools and education

Let’s get started! Depending on where you live, it might be possible to expunge your conviction from your records. This can be very positive when looking for jobs for felons but you will have to do some research on this or consult a lawyer because the laws differ in each state. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration before you can get your record expunged such as the type of felony, the number of convictions, your age at the time, how many years have passed since the conviction, etc.

Note that you will have to obtain a court order to have your conviction expunged because it will not happen automatically even if you are eligible. When the court grants an expungement for you, all records of your conviction will be sealed and it will not show up if a prospective employer does a background check when applying for jobs for felons. You may also become eligible for professional or trade licenses after your records have been expunged.

It also depends on the type of felony you committed. For example, a former stockbroker who was convicted of embezzlement will definitely find it very difficult to get a job where he will handle money so he will have to look for a new job that is unrelated to his former profession.

Unfortunately, most medium to big businesses can be very reluctant companies that hire felons because of possible liability issues. It may still be possible to get a job with a big corporation if you are upfront about your past and can convince the person conducting your interview that you will make a good employee. To secure good jobs for felons you’ll need to separate yourself from the pack.

Around 80 percent of employers will do a background check so it is safe to assume that you will need to discuss your conviction honestly. When you’re looking for jobs for felons, explain what happened and how you have moved on since the time of your conviction. Highlight your skills, experience and that you are willing to work to prove yourself.

You will have a better chance of landing a job with a small privately owned business. Small business owners are less concerned about corporate liabilities than large companies. Many jobs for felons work hand in hand with their employees or supervise their work directly.

Here is a list of the top 10 job ideas for felons:

1. State unemployment agencies – they will offer help and will have a list of jobs for felons that you can try applying for. Although most of the jobs will probably not be very good ones, this is a good starting point for you if you are willing to work from the bottom up.

2. Temp agencies – this is often the first stop for people who were recently released and need money badly. You can find a job doing manual labor on a temporary basis but you will have not have any benefits so it is best to look for a better job when you can.

3. Food service industry – there are always jobs in the food service industry (waiters, counter attendants, bus staff, etc.) for anyone who is willing to work hard. Tips can be a good source of extra income in the better restaurants, bars and other establishments.

4. Trucking companies – many felons have been able to successfully get jobs as truck drivers. This is a good job for felons who love driving and don’t mind being on the road a lot. It is less ideal for those who have families because you will be away for days or even weeks at a time. The pay is quite reasonable and will increase as you become more experienced.

5. Government/state jobs – some states and cities will offer jobs for felons as part of the government’s efforts to rehabilitate them into society. Government jobs are among the most secure available and generally have good benefits. Look for felon career opportunities in government websites or call and ask if they have any suitable job openings.

6. Military jobs – the US Army has the moral waiver program which allows for the recruitment of people with felony convictions. Jobs for felons in the military are not for everyone since you need to be physically fit and be willing to learn military discipline. The main drawback for many is that you may be put into dangerous combat duty. The military gives felons a second chance at life and allows them to serve their country.

7. Sales – this is an excellent job for felons who are good at selling things. It can be very high-paying if you have the skill for it and unlike many regular jobs, many sales people have become millionaires. The money you make will depend on the sales you generate.

8. Independent contractor/ freelance work – these can provide great jobs for felons. If you have a skill that people will pay for then you can work as an independent contractor. You are your own boss and control your own schedule. Examples of independent contractors are graphic designers, web designers, copy writers, business writers, etc. Many trades persons such as masons, carpenters, tailors, etc. are independent contractors, too.

9. Internet marketing – the internet offers many opportunities for people to earn money. Internet marketing includes selling items on the internet, earning a commission through selling other people’s items online (affiliate marketing), getting sales leads from your website, selling advertising space on your blog or website and other such activities.

10. Start your own business and create jobs for felons – lastly, the best employment, including jobs for felons, can be independent and to make money is to start your own business. It won’t be easy but if you are successful then there is no limit to how far you can go. We wish you luck on your search for the best jobs for felons.

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Source by Michael J. Martin

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“Oh no, now I’ve done it.” You have just applied to much paint and created huge sagging paint globs to your once perfect model. That perfect contest winning finish you were hoping for is now a disaster.

All is not lost however. You can fix just about any paint mistake that you have made on your contest model with just a bit of work. With a careful paint sanding technique, you can create a perfect finish.

Using four techniques; paint standing, re-spray, paint polish and wax, you can fix just about any mistake you make. I will show you how to use these techniques to fix your model and bring it back to contest level.

Paint standing is the first technique we will use to correct and over spray or orange peel situation you have created on your model. Orange peel is just extra paint that is applied to thickly and ends up making the surface of your model looked like the outside of an orange. The easiest technique I’ve found to correct this kind of situation is just to use sandpaper to grind off the extra paint. The hardest part of doing this is not to stand into the details sticking out of the surface of your model.

There are many different grades or grits of sandpaper. I basically classify sandpaper into two types, rough and fine. Rough sandpaper comes in grit numbers from 100 to 1000. The lower the number the more course it is. For heavy paint removal I typically use number 320 grit. Fine sandpaper runs from 2000 through 12000 grit. This fine grit is one secret to getting to a perfect finish.

Sandpaper comes with different kinds of backing. I prefer cloth backing over the cheaper paper backing because generally I use only a wet sanding technique. Wet sanding is where you use water to help lubricate the surface of the model and generally works better for my model paints.

Your first task is to let your paint mistake dry completely. Then start the uneven paint removal with a rough grit sanding being very careful not to sand into any plastic detail of your model. I will cut the sandpaper into very small pieces and hold them or glue them to wooden “tools” to get into small places. I will also use paint thinner to soften paint buildup around detailed areas keeping in mind that you do not want to ruin the plastic.

Once this is done, re-spray paint the damaged area.

Continue this process of sanding and re-spraying until you are satisfied with the finish. At this stage you are now ready to fine sand the paint.

Fine sanding is really the true secret to a perfect paint finish. I work the paint finish by sanding the paint using these grits in order.

2400

3200

4000

6000

8000

12000

The sandpaper I like to use is sandwiched between foam so that it conforms to the surface of the model more easily. Each step uses the wet sanding technique with water. Change your sanding strokes in different directions and try not to use a lot of pressure. At the end of this paint sanding sequence the surface of your model should be very even and smooth. This will bring us to the next step which is polishing the paint.

Paint polish is the next secret to that near perfect paint finish for your contest winning model. I prefer Novus plastic paint polish. I work the paint to a fine mirror finish by using No. 3, No.2, and then No.1 in sequence. This sets you up for the final step which is wax protection.

Wax protection is the final step in and creating your contest winning the model finish.

I use Meguiar’s mirror glaze #26 professional high tech yellow wax. You can find this at any automotive parts store. I apply it with a soft cloth and buff the paint to a showroom finish.

Well there you have it. It is a lot of work but it is well worth the effort. In the end you have fixed your pain problem and come out with a model that has a complete showroom and contest winning finish.

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Source by Tanya Glenn

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Are you fascinated by the idea of starting a pressure washing trade? You must have perhaps heard that pressure washing is a decent and worthwhile business, low investment and easy to start – and that’s what must have inspired your decision. Decent? Well, it is, but when it comes to providing quality services – the business is not just about purchasing and installing a pressure washer. In fact, there’s much, much more to the pressure washing business. Before you actually make the buying decision for a washing kit – there are a few questions you should ask yourself.

What if you lose interest in pressure cleaning?

What if you failed to survive amidst competition?

How will you get a license, insurance, and customers?

Learn the trick of the trade

Before you go on to invest money in a power cleaning business, try your hands on power cleaning, and not just cleaning – but cleaning like a professional. Analyze yourself during that trial run – does power washing keeps you interested? If it doesn’t then obviously, no point taking things further. But if you do, then master the art like a [pro to ensure you clean the objects without harming your surroundings like tiny plants, flying debris, etc.

How to learn power washing

While there are volumes of how-to guides and videos readily available to help you learn the ropes, the best is to practice it over and over again. You can rent or borrow a pressure washer from somebody for a week or two and start practicing on house siding, boat, car, fence, drive, tile patio, or on just about anything that can be cleaned with jet water. Though this exercise won’t turn you into a pressure washing pro overnight, it will for the least offer you a platform to build things up and launch from there. Keep a note of your mistakes and rectify them gradually.

Calculating profit

Ever wonder why the majority of startups are software/digital companies? That’s because they need very less investment upfront. As a business thumb rule, (Profit) = (Money in – Money out). For a service-based startup like pressure washing, you need a significant amount of investment upfront. Therefore, you need to think about the following points in order to assess Profit scope for your business,

Money Out

The expense of running a startup power washing business can be broadly categorized as below:

• Power washing kit, including surface cleaner, nozzles, pressure washer, chemicals and trailer or something similar

• Business permit, contractor license and insurance costs

• Advertisement and user acquisition costs (Pamphlets, ads, flyers etc.)

• Transportation cost for power washing kit (truck, van, cab, etc.)

• Ongoing marketing, fuel and maintenance costs

Money in (Revenue)

Set your price tag for cleaning by keeping in mind two important factors

1. The cost should be significantly high than your investment for you to make profit

2. It should be significantly low or equal to that being offered by your competitors to stay in business

Make your call: Add remove any expense you think necessary and calculate the profit you can make based on the formula given above. If it makes the profit, get on with it, else you’ll need to devise a plan to cut down investments.

3. Keep things legal

Before starting up a pressure washing business, it is highly imperative for you to get a relevant business license, insurance, and permits since they can save you from running bankrupt in case something goes wrong and you end up hurting someone or damaging private property.

Depending upon your location and jurisdiction, the legal formalities may vary: you can reach out to your region’s clerk office for details. However, in general, you will need to obtain:

• Business document

• License

• Bond

• Sales tax registration

• Contractor permit

• Environmental permit

4. Insurance

Insurance is a critical part of this business which you should take sincerely and get all documents registered with utmost liability and sincerity.

• Liability insurance which covers damages you may induce while cleaning

• Workers compensation cover for injuries to you or your employees while practicing on the job

• Equipment insurance covers damages and theft

Why invest in expensive equipment

Business, service business, in particular, is more about perception than just quality. It’s human psychology, customer buy what they see! Here’re a few points to highlight the use of industry-grade equipment:

• When you put in wealth in something, it shows what it means to you, it reflects your seriousness, trust, and professionalism, too

• Branded equipment and carry truck are long-term free marketing

• Industrial tools last long and need less maintenance cost

How to entice customers

Well, there’s no clear-cut formula to get customers flowing into your doorsteps, while you may for sure start with door-to-door marketing – if that goes fine by you. Other marketing approaches and conventional methods to market your services and fetch customers are listed below:

• Newspapers and local listing ads

• Word of the mouth

• Appointing salesperson, if you have the budget

• Flyers and pamphlets

• Broadcasting ads

Once you’re off to a good start, make sure you provide professional and standards-based service to facilitate word of the mouth marketing at no cost. Look to retain customers, as it is far more profitable than investing on marketing processes for new leads – keep a balance and good luck!

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Source by Fakrul Islam

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Covert hypnosis is just what it sounds like – the ability to hypnotize without being obvious. There’s nothing subtle about dangling a pocket watch in front of someone’s eyes and murmuring phrases like “you’re getting very sleepy.”

Luckily, you don’t need a pocket watch or fancy catch phrases to put people under a spell. All you need are clever skills of manipulation and covert hypnosis offers you exactly that.

Communicating with another person’s subconscious is not as intimidating as it sounds. It takes place daily, usually through a phenomenon known as ‘conversational hypnosis.’

The intention of covert hypnosis is to change another person’s behavior or thought pattern through specific methods. These methods range from each word spoken to each gesture made.

A covert hypnosis master shows a certain facial expression or makes a specific gesture, all the while understanding that these acts of body language have an ulterior motive – to get the other person thinking their way. The skilled covert hypnosis master will not make their intentions obvious.

If you think this is second-tier pop science, consider this: Covert hypnosis is practiced every day. You have probably practiced it yourself on some level, and you’ve certainly been the unwitting participant on another.

Because of its subtlety, you don’t even realize it. Once you do, however, you can take full control of situations in your life.

A covert hypnosis master could be anyone from the charming man at the dinner table who calms the mood or the car salesman in the used car lot.

Pushing someone to buy a car is one thing. Convincing them to decide for themselves that they need one is another. That’s the difference between simple manipulation and skilled covert hypnosis.

Chances are you already have the skills necessary to practice covert hypnosis; we all do, to some degree. But there are some tricks of the trade to help you develop and hone the ability to use covert hypnosis easily and effectively. Namely, the power of observation, the ability to mirror, and the skill to drop subtle commands:

The power of observation.

To skillfully manipulate others through covert hypnosis, you have to be a master of observation.

You need to build a rapport with the people whose intentions you want to change, and the only way to do that is observe who they are. What are their motivations? What irritates them? What excites them? Once you learn these things, you’re halfway there.

Mirror without mocking.

To make a subconscious connection with someone, they need to feel that you’re on their wavelength. It’s not enough to agree with what they say or throw out compliments – that can come off as pretentious and annoying.

Instead, actually GET on their wavelength by mirroring them. If they speak softly, you speak softly. If they talk with their hands, you talk with your hands. If they lean back in their chair, you lean back in yours.

You can’t make it obvious. After a few minutes, they’ll feel an uncanny connection to you, even though they may not know why.

Commanding without dominance.

When we think of someone commanding another person, we typically visualize them hovering over them, wagging a finger in their face and barking out orders. But commands don’t require dominance.

One of the most fascinating aspects of covert hypnosis is the fact that the subject doesn’t realize it’s happening. This works to your benefit. Why? Because when a person thinks that they’ve made a decision of their own free will, it reduces resistance.

Commanding someone as a covert hypnotist doesn’t involve a long list of orders. It means dropping subtle hints to turn someone your way. Say you’re having a conversation with a potential love interest.

After a while of observing and mirroring, you say something like, ‘Isn’t it great to feel a connection with someone right off the bat? I just love to feel comfortable when I meet someone new.’

Doesn’t sound like much of a command, does it? But what you’re actually saying is: ‘Feel a connection. Feel comfortable.’

The benefits of sharpening your subtle skills of manipulation are endless. Sit down and think about how your life could change if you could control the intentions and motivations of others.

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Source by Marc Savage