Every event whether it’s a meeting, party, seminar, conference, charity event, or your high school reunion will have common threads regardless of what it is, where it’s held, when or why it is happening. The following common threads are found in every organized event. Make sure you plan each of the following steps thoroughly and you are guaranteed success.

1. Plan Your Vision: Your vision is the main reason and focus for having the event? It is a combination of your goals and objectives.

2. Set the Goals and Objectives: A goal is the general purpose of the event that provides a road map for the planning process. An objective is a measurable, attainable target that contributes to the accomplishment of the goal. An event can have one or multiple goals and objectives.

3. Select a Site: Location, location, location! Every event needs a site! Pick the location to match and support your vision, goals and objectives.

4. Create Promotion/Marketing Materials: You must get your message out. You need to get the basic information to the right people in the right amount of time so they know when to show up, where to go, and what to do when they get there. The message could be as simple as the date, time, and location via the telephone or as complicated as a multi page brochure for a multi-day conference with numerous events combined in one event. Or perhaps some major TV advertising and sophisticated website design for online registration.

5. Identify Your Participants/ Guests: Without them, you would not have an event. Whether they are invited guests, paying participants or required attendees, people will be coming to your event. Know your audience and target them carefully.

6. Create the Agenda/Timeline: Whether it is written down or planned, every event has a timeline. There is always a starting point and a finishing point. This is detail outline of the activities. What is happening from hours before the participants arrive to the follow-up when the event is complete. And it is the schedule of what is actually happening throughout the event. The agenda can be two types. The one the participant receives and follows and the one that the people working the event receive and follow. This tells people where to go, or what to do when you get there.

7. Establish a Budget: Money comes in and goes out. With some events no obvious money will be coming in, such as a wedding or company social. Create a budget nonetheless to make sure not too much money goes out. For larger events, budgets are a must especially when profit is one of you objectives. Without a budget it is hard to set guidelines and measure results.

8. Select the Food and Beverage: It may be a pitcher of water and mints at a one day seminar, a sit down dinner for 10,000, an all day concert where vendors will be brought in to serve the public, coffee and doughnuts at the morning sales meeting and/or soda, cookies in the afternoon for an all day conference, or appetizers served during a 3 hour cocktail party for 700 people. This is a wide and general segment of an event and will vary widely depending on the vision, goals, and objectives and of course, money.

9. Arrange for Transportation: You may need to transport 800 people from 10 hotels to the meeting site twice a day or it could be just getting yourself to the site on time. You may need to arrange the travel needs for the entertainment, speakers, and VIP’s, including picking them up at the airport. Or this may include contracting with an airline for discount airfare or negotiating with rental car companies for special rates to offer to your participants.

10. Hire Staff/Volunteers: This could range from checking in your participants for your workshop, or 100’s of volunteers at a conference or sporting event. It could be the caterers, musicians, florists, cleanup crew, equipment setup, valets, ticket takers, MC’s, speakers, or the balloon lady. It almost always takes more than one person to successfully coordinate an event.

When dealing with decisions using Cost Benefit techniques it is very important to follow the proven principles. The health of your company and your reputation depend on it. If these rules are not followed then your decisions could be flawed.

Let's start, shall we?

Profitable Way #1. Making Better Asset Purchase Decisions for Your Company

Cost Benefit Analysis is very useful when deciding between competing financial outcomes. Do we purchase this new asset or that one? Do we proceed with this investment in new technology or continue as normal? Is it time to replace an aging asset yet, or should it be kept longer?

Profitable Way #2. Making Better Asset Purchase Recommendations for Your Clients.

All the comments above relate just as much to you as to your clients- even more so, since there may be repercussions if your recommendations are flawed.

Think of the benefits to the business if you can show your clients a proven easy-to-understand system used by many governments and large corporations world-wide for making better financial decisions.

This methodology will withstand external scrutiny - it has done so many times in the past.

Profitable Way #3. Consulting to Clients on How to Spend their Scarce Investment Capital on Competing Projects.

Cost Benefit Analysis is very useful in ranking projects based on their Benefit Cost Ratio results. The project with the highest Benefit Cost Ratio should be authorised first since it will increase the company's value the most (all other things being equal).

Profitable Way #4. Audit Client's Cost Benefit Methodology.

Another separate opportunity is for you to offer to “audit” your clients' project development plans and spreadsheets for mathematical correctness as well as the validity and strength of their assumptions.

Large companies will appreciate an objective review of their project methodology. It can add weight to their funding applications also.

Profitable Way #5. Offer These Services to Charities

Not-for-Profits and Charities need to show their stakeholders/shareholders that their financial decisions are based on proven principles. They may not have sufficient spare funds to undertake this analysis themselves. However, you could offer to audit and consult in the area of Cost Benefit Analysis, gratis, in return for some acknowledgement in their Annual Reports.

Profitable Way #6. Implement this Method Across Client Companies

Once you learn the principles of Cost Benefit Analysis you will appreciate that most companies would benefit from an “across the board” implementation of this method. This could mean extensive training and developing an implementation strategy. More business opportunities for you.

Profitable Way #7. Training in Cost Benefit Analysis

Running training programs in Cost Benefit Analysis for many invited clients can lead to further business, both in implementation and other consulting work.

Profitable Way #8. Advertise Cost Benefit Analysis Services in Newsletters and Client Correspondence.

This service can help in setting your company apart from your competitors. Why not advertise this expertise in your newspaper advertisements?

Profitable Way #9. Offer to Prepare Cost Benefit Analyses for Client Funding Proposals.

In today’s constantly on the go society, people want to eat healthy. They don’t want to go out, have take out or stop at a local grocery store, however. A personal chef can help these busy people answer the “what’s for dinner?” question.

Personal chefs plan and prepare a set number of meals for a number of clients based on their likes and needs. Some personal chefs prepare food in the client's home while others cook in their own kitchens and bring the food to their clients. The meals can then be refrigerated or frozen to be used later whenever the client wants.

Private chef services on the other hand prepare meals on a daily basis for an individual family. The number of personal chef services in America has grown in recent years. The personal chef industry has seen significant growth since its inception in 1988.

A recent study showed that over 90,000 consumers across the country used personal chefs in 2005. There are 5,000 personal chef businesses in North America, a number that has been growing by about 200 every year.

Most personal chef services arise where there is a need. The need usually coincides with busy professionals. There are a growing number of two-income families who want ways to eat healthier fare than fast food but need it to be affordable as well. Using a personal chef service is comparable to eating in a nice quality restaurant in terms of the cost and the quality of the meals.

The average cost of twenty plates of food prepared by a personal chef is between $300 and $400. Much of this cost depends on what individual clients ask the chef to prepare, however.

Being a personal chef is a good career for people who have a passion for good food and love serving others and making people happy with food.

In the United States most households are equipped with residential boilers. They transmit the heat required to operate water heaters and heating systems, providing relief from chilly winter conditions. Residential boilers are used for heating purposes in buildings and are immensely of great use to the people. Residential boilers include Category I type of boilers. Non-positive vent pressure and non-condensing and incorporate natural draft appliances mark them.

In residential boilers the heat exchanger integrates the heat transfer competence of copper-finned tubes with the mass of two cast-iron wet walls encasing the combustion chamber. The units are readily obtainable in a variety of sizes to fit almost every residential heating load. Residential boiler systems are known for their high degree of operational efficiencies that can reach up to 84.5% AFUE. Most of the residential boilers have certain exclusive features including boiler-mounted induced draft fans to aid in sidewall-vented installations.

Residential boilers are characterized by clean combustion. They have an immensely high level of efficiency. Since they are meant for residential purposes they are known for their economical operation and longevity.

Residential boilers are flawless central heating sources for single- or multiple-family homes. They ensure consistent heating for a long time. Most modern residential boilers are compact in design and use the most sophisticated combustion and manufacturing technologies.

The efficiency of certain residential boilers can be as impressive as 98%. Most residential boilers are self-adaptive in structure and compatible with varying conditions. Ideal residential boilers integrate the immense effectiveness of modern copper boilers with the long-life consistency of cast-iron boilers.

Stone age is to fire as new age to electricity. The morning today begins with the alarm clock, the electronic brushes making an early morning easier and water heaters turning the languid bath in a luscious spa. You throw your clothes in a fully automatic washer and dryer and ready for pulling the milk can from your new three-door defrost refrigerator. The oven, the toaster, the microwave and the coffee maker are all geared up to serve the fabulous feast you can ever imagine to gobble without a disagreement which comes complimentary when you play ‘Whodunnit’ instead of employing euphoric electric servants. Timeless and tidy appliances have chopped off those elaborate meal deals allowing you to drive down to your favorite beach house.

With our lives driving down the fast tracks, who has time to scrub and brush those small household chores? The elegant woman with the pearl necklace and high heels is all appreciative of the dishwasher and the vacuum cleaners, if not the husbands. You never imagined fun in the sun until air conditioners came into being. A prerequisite to the contemporary lifestyles appliances are a necessity than a luxury. The key to be a super mom today is to watch wonder kid and Electric house.

The Sunday newspaper, cricket in the afternoon with the smart kids and salsa in the evening to please your wife, would only be an unrealistic dream if the plug and play technology wasn’t invented. You don’t have to run to the employment bureaus anymore for the domestic help, just prepare yourself to pay the electricity bills and whoa! Life is bliss. Say goodbye to those muscle pulls, backaches, twisted necks and tired arms; enjoy the new taste of life. Though the appliances do it all for us (leaving us obese coupled with lung problems due to carbon monoxide released by them), aren’t we hungry for more?

From sea to shining sea, America is a place where transportation has become one of the most essential parts of functioning for businesses and individuals. If you are looking into freight shipping, you want to make sure that you know exactly what you are looking for. Finding the best quality in freight shipping carriers in America will give you the best opportunities for transportation in the land of the free.

When looking at freight shipping carrier options in America, you want to make sure that you are able to find the ones that have the best quality. This doesn’t just include getting your freights to their destination in one piece. This should also include the best pricing, fastest shipping time and the ability to ship direct across borders, such as Canada. When looking at all of these possibilities and comparisons, you will easily be able to find the best freight shipping carriers available to you.

The first set of qualities that you will want to look into with freight shipping carriers for America is the options that they provide you with shipping. For example, if you have a specific freight that needs to be delivered by a specific time, you want to make sure that the freight shipping will offer you that time. With most companies, it can be expected that they will let you know all of your timing possibilities, including time-critical options. You will want to make sure that options such as weekend and holiday pick up and delivery are available as well.

Beyond this, you will want to see what types of costs will be a part of your freight shipping in America. Most often, there will be a flat rate cost that is a part of the shipping. This will sometimes be divided by the weight and the amount of freights that you have. There also may be a cost for fuel surcharges. This takes the average cost of fuel for the time period and rates it into the overall cost that you will have to pay for the shipping. It will be important to find the best averages and rates with the shipping carrier you are using.

Types of Freight Shipping Carriers

Beyond the idea of finding the best quality for your freight shipping options is the ability for you to find the right type of freight shipping carrier. Before you become involved with any type of shipping service, you want to make sure that they are able to handle what you are shipping appropriately and with the right services. By knowing what types of freight shipping is available you can make sure that everything is a smooth ride.

One of the ways to examine the types of services available is to see what size of transportation is available for your shipping needs. Most shipping companies will have a specific load limit that they specify. For some, this will include less than load shipping. For others, they will have their shipping loads specified by small, medium or large loads. You will need to determine what your business needs are for shipping.

Not only can you look into the exact size and amount of your freight shipping carriers, but you can also look at the transportation availabilities that you can use. For example, most carriers in America will simply use large trucks in order to transport what is needed. However, you may want to look at other options, such as vans, flatbeds and specialized equipment that may be needed. You can determine this by finding what type of transportation needs you have for the freights that you are shipping.

In relation to both of these options are specified companies or individuals who will work to find what the best options are for you. For example, if you don’t have as much that you need to transport, you can use an express carrier, which will integrate your freights with a smaller load that is being shipped. For larger loads that need to travel to a new destination, you can use the option of heavyweight forwarders. These different options will help in determining exactly what you need, and will let you get it there safely.

There are several symptoms to bipolar disorder that are often attributed to mood swings or disregarded as insignificant. However, manic depression is a severe disorder that can drastically impact a person’s life and stability. It can also be very difficult to handle for the loved ones of the person with the illness. People who are close to a person with manic depressive disorder can take the symptoms of the illness personally, when really there are neurons in the person’s brain that induce them to act a certain way that is out of their control. It is hard to see that sometimes though, especially when there are emotions involved. It can also be difficult not to fall into the same mood swings as the patient has. Bipolar marriages, bipolar pregnancies, and bipolar families are all very difficult to deal with. Listed ahead are a few tips indication how you can treat a loved one with the disorder.

To start, you can simply be there for them. Give them a shoulder to cry on or just listen while they spill out their hearts to you. Be patient with them. Let them know that you care. Share the things you have learned while researching depression. Let them know it is not their fault, that they are not weak or worthless.

Offer hope in whatever form they will accept it. This could be their faith in God, their love of their children, or anything else that makes them want to go on living. Find what works best for them and remind them of it whenever they're not sure they can hang on any longer. If they're suicidal, you may need to seek immediate help. There are some very valuable suicide resources on the Internet that will help you to help your loved cope with suicidal feelings as well.

Medications and therapy are crucial to their recovery. Help keep them on track with treatment. Help to ease their fears about treatment by letting them know that they're not crazy. In addition, you have to simply love them unconditionally and let someone know it is their illness you're frustrated with, not them.

Put yourself in their shoes. Learn what depression feels like, the misconceptions about mental illness that they must deal with, and get the facts about what depression really is.

Educate yourself. There are countless sites on the Internet where you can learn about depression, it's symptoms, and treatment. My Depression FAQ is an excellent starting place. Learn about informed consent and the legal aspects of treatment in your state. Read up on disability law as it applies to the mentally ill.

It's okay to feel upset, angry, frustrated. These feelings are a valid response to a very trying situation. Join a support group, talk with a close friend, or see a therapist. The important thing is vent your frustrations rather than allowing them to build up inside. Also, quite simply, make sure you take care of yourself. Feelings of depression are contagious. Periodically take some time to step back from the situation and recharge your batteries.

Remember that the depressed person's behavior isn't indicative of the "real" person. The depressed person has impaired social skills. They may be withdrawn and shy or sullen and angry. When the depressed person lashes out in anger, it's because they're actually angry with themselves and the way they feel. You just happen to be there. When your spouse or significant other doesn't feel like having sex, don't take it personally. Loss of sex drive is a classic symptom of depression. It doesn't mean they don't love you.

Although more and more people are learning firsthand about the fabulous benefits of owning a far infrared sauna or heat therapy room, many others still possess very little knowledge of this important subject. The following information has been compiled to help spread the good news with the hope of placing more people on the path to greater health, relaxation and happiness.

1. Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared light has a range of wavelengths, just like visible light has wavelengths that range from red light to violet. Near infrared light is closest in wavelength to visible light, and far infrared light is closer to the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Far infrared waves are thermal, meaning they are felt as heat.

2. In the electromagnetic spectrum, far infrared wavelengths measure between 5.6 and 1,000 microns. One micron equals one micrometer or one millionth of a meter. Wavelengths of between 6 and 14 microns are believed to be the most beneficial to humans and other living things on Earth. The human palm emits far infrared wavelengths of between 8 and 12 microns. The energy output from far infrared saunas so closely match the human body’s radiant energy that nearly 93 percent of the sauna’s far infrared waves reach the skin.

3. Certain alternative healing practices such as palm healing, a practice with some 3,000 years of tradition behind it in China, rely on the human body’s ability to emit far infrared radiant energy.

4. Far infrared radiant heat is a form of naturally occurring energy that heats objects by direct light conversion. Direct light conversion warms only the object and does not raise the temperature of the surrounding free air.

5. A good example of far infrared heat is the light produced by the sun. This is the heat you feel penetrate your skin when you stand in the sun and miss when you walk into the shade. It has nothing to do with ultraviolet light, which can damage your skin. When people do not receive adequate amounts of far infrared heat, they often can become ill or depressed.

6. Far infrared radiant heat provides all the healthy benefits of natural sunlight without any of the dangerous effects of solar radiation.

7. The radiant heat of a far infrared sauna is efficient because it warms the sauna bather directly. The body absorbs as much as 93 percent of the heat, causing perspiration and producing a vast array of health benefits.

8. A far infrared sauna will deliver hyperthermic benefits in a much shorter time period (i.e.10 minutes) than a conventional sauna (30 to 45 minutes).

9. Unlike in traditional saunas where temperatures range from 140 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit (60 to 105 degrees Celsius), the temperatures of far infrared saunas typically range from 100 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit (38 to 65 degrees Celsius).

10. The temperature inside a far infrared sauna is adjustable and comfortable. This allows a person to perspire faster and to tolerate a longer period of time inside the sauna. Typical sessions in a far infrared sauna last 30 to 45 minutes and can be repeated to maximize the benefits.

11. A far infrared sauna is usually warm within 10 or 20 minutes, whereas a conventional sauna can take more than an hour to reach optimal temperatures.

Home kitchen appliances make your domiciles technical and convenient. With cooking gas, electric chimney, dishwashers, electric kettle, fridge, food processors, toasters and coffee makers in your kitchens, are you still wondering who the real homemakers are. Remember the good old days when your mother-in-law screamed ‘if you can’t stand the heat, get out.’ Reducing your stress and domestic working hours, they, no doubt are working wonders!

Cooking three to four meals a day with special requests for cocktails and cakes can leave you in excruciating pain. Even the kitchens with modest means are boasting about these flip of a switch gadgets. So such promising brands in the market, we are all set to rock the evening for our guests. Make philter instead of soda fountain drinks for the party or that perfect cake for your daughter, put your favorite shade of lipstick on and break free of the kitchen constraints. Falling under the domotics (information technology in the domicile) umbrella, home kitchen appliances can now be networked together to even out the electricity consumption and energy distribution. A kitchen without them does not only look primitive but also a one with fundamental flaws.

Gone are the days when you would catch on fire (figuratively) whenever organizing a barbeque and people from miles would come to watch you burn. Imagine if even a single day is celebrated as kitchen appliances turn-off week, no marks for guessing that the world’s economy would be the price to be paid. Like the different speeds of the blender you can choose the pace of your life. Successful in shaping your destiny, kitchen appliances have brought with them a revolution in the world of cooking. So now you decide if you want to work hard or play smart. All right future birds, so what’s cooking tonight?

If you really think about it, it’s the small appliance parts that make your everyday life so much easier. You wake up in the morning and you use an oven toaster – those are small appliance parts working right there. In the late afternoon in the office, you pour yourself some coffee from the coffeemaker – those are small appliance parts working again.

Indeed, most of our day is spent depending on small appliance wonders, and it’s only right that we learn to use them safely and that we prolong their useful lives by taking care of them. Below are some useful tips.

Follow safety instructions. Never forget to read the manufacturer’s handbook, because it contains pertinent information about the care and use of your small appliance and its parts. Be extra careful with small kitchen appliances – not all of them can get wet. Never plunge small kitchen appliances in dishwasher water, for example, unless the handbook tells you that it’s safe. Negligence or simple actions like this can hurt you.

Be careful where you plug appliances. Make it a habit to plug your small appliances directly into wall outlets whenever you can. If you have to use extension cords, read the cord’s electrical rating first; it should be able to handle wattage that is either at least equal to or more than your small appliance’s wattage. Overloading can cause your small appliance parts to ignite and possibly cause a fire. Also, remember to turn your small appliance off before you unplug it. Never attempt to pull out the plug by pulling the cord; instead, firmly hold the plug and then disconnect.

Clean small appliances with proper chemicals. You can possibly damage small appliance parts if you clean them incorrectly or use the wrong chemical, so again, refer to your manufacturer’s manual. Some nonstick surfaces can be cleaned with off-the-rack cleaners, but be careful not to do this too often, as it may cause surface chipping or fading.

All I wanted for my birthday was for my toilets to work. Well, that’s not really the only thing; it’s just high on an extensive list. You see, I’ve lived in the same townhome for seventeen years this month and things are beginning to decay, along with its owner, but I’ll get to that later.

I only have a few dislikes in life; two of them that I really detest are: stoplights and malfunctioning and obstinate toilet mechanisms.

Stoplights are easy to hate…they turn red when you’re in a hurry and don’t want to stop, plus, we so much waste gas sitting at them. I probably waste more gas by driving around the block to avoid them. Why haven’t more American cities utilized the roundabout that much of the world utilizes?

Toilets are another story altogether.

They often continue to fill wasting precious water because the design of the internal mechanism is archaic. Ostensibly, there’s a black ball that is supposed to float to the surface of the contained water and shut off the valve when the tank is full. Well, it never floats high enough and constantly requires time and attention.

Having reached that frustrating station in life where the toilet is becoming a close personal friend, because of too much coffee, tea, wine, water, or whatever, I now visit my confidante during the night more than I used to.

Finishing my business, I sleepily get back into bed while the toilet is filling. I wait, thinking the contraption will shut off eventually. I pull a pillow over my head, so I won’t hear what I’m thinking about. But it’s still there, running monotonously.

Peeved, I get up, take the tank lid off, pull up the rod, slam the lid back on and storm off to bed. But now, I’m too upset to get back to sleep. Brother, I gotta get a life or more patience.

In my usual pragmatic manner, I really tried to solve the problem: I’ve bent the rod attached to the ball to make it lower, given the intellectual understanding that the pressure of being further under water would add more force on the ball to surface; I’ve lubricated the valve with so much WD-40 that an oily film now coats the inside of the tank; I’ve extended the ball to the absolute end of the rod, thinking that if it was further from the valve and lower in the water it had to pop up and shut the system off.

Right.

In a world with of such fancy gadgetry like: cell phones that take pictures and connect to the Internet, satellite guided navigation systems mounted in the dash of your car; wireless hand-held computers; watches that do everything but make coffee; his and hers individualized inflatable mattresses complete with a sleep numbering system; implanted chips in our pets to identify them if they get lost…why can’t we invent a toilet that flushes, forever!?!

I know I know, I should just be happy and grateful that there aren’t any telemarketers bugging me at 5:15 pm each night anymore. Did you ever notice that they never sell new and improved toilet flushers? I should just eat mass quantities of chocolate, it's supposed to help men cope.

Every year the air pollution levels in the United States of America are rising dramatically and there doesn’t seem to be a lot we can do as individuals to stop these levels from rising.

In our houses the air quality is said to be up to 100 times worse than the quality of the air outside!! With the air pollution levels in city areas being up amongst the highest in the world imagine how bad the air we breathe every day in our own homes in. This “poor air quality” in our homes can be caused by the build up of dust, mould spores, pet hair, smoke, bacteria and more. No wonder more and more Americans are suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma and allergy cases are increasing exponentially.

Many people think that the only people who need to invest in an air purifier are those with extremely serious cases of asthma or allergies but this is not true. If we don’t have something to help keep the levels of pollutants in our homes at a reasonable level guess what will do most of the “cleaning” for you. Your lungs. Imagine all those particles floating around that you breathe in every day being trapped in your lungs. Yuck!!

Air Purifiers, especially for those in inner city areas are becoming a necessity.

But, there are so many different types, which one is best?? Let’s run through the main types and their differences.

HEPA Filter Air Purifier – uses a fan and a cloth filter that traps pollutants that are 0.3microns or larger which means that pollutants are taken out of the air altogether however smaller particles like those in chemicals, gases or smoke are not trapped. This air purifier can also make more noise than most.

Ozone Air Purifier – This machine releases ozone, which is an oxidant that destroys certain bacteria, gases and chemicals. Unfortunately while ozone is very effective on these pollutants, once it reacts with them it can leave other pollutants behind as a result of this reaction and it does not destroy many other major allergens and chemicals.

Carbon Air Purifiers – the carbon filter in these machines is highly effective in trapping odors, gases and chemicals in tiny pores throughout the carbon. Unfortunately the carbon won’t trap most allergens however some carbon air purifiers combine with a HEPA filter increasing the effectiveness in the household.

Ionic Air Purifier – these filters release ions into the air, which causes particles to gain either a positive or negative charge. The machine also has collection plates with either a positive or negative charge to attract the charged particles (with the opposite charge) to them, trapping them. Charged particles will also be attracted to other particles with the opposite charge causing them to be too heavy to float in the air; therefore they drop to the floor. These machines are quiet and effective on tiny particles but don’t remove odors or kill germs.

UV Light Air Purifiers – UV light can sterilize germs, bacteria and mold if passed under it for sufficient time. This will stop them from growing and reproducing. Some people say that in UV air purifiers the time these pollutants are under the light is not long enough. If combined with a HEPA filter it can increase the effectiveness on disease causing microorganisms but it is still not effective on allergens, odors, gases or chemicals.

Purifying Hydroxyl Radicals – Hydroxyl radicals are created naturally on Earth when oxygen atoms combine with a hydrogen atom pulled from water vapor. They destroy mold, bacteria and virus pollutants faster and more effectively that ozone but still don’t work on other allergens. There is a machine that combines hydroxyl radicals, UV light and negative ions to create the most efficient air purifying system available. Unfortunately, at the moment it may only available from one manufacturer.

Vacuum cleaner belts are, like the disposable bags we use in our home cleaner, one of those extra vacuum accessories that we sometimes need to buy. While there are probably a hundred other things we would rather spend our money on, vacuum cleaner belts are simply one of those things in life that we can’t do without, and while purchasing them, and other vacuum cleaner parts, might not be half as much fun as shopping for great clothing bargains, we can’t doubt that vacuum cleaner belts help our home cleaner to do an important job.

Because vacuum cleaner belts are the most likely vacuum part to need replacement, it is a good idea to know where you can get a good deal on them. Pivotal in allowing the brushes at the base of your cleaner to operate properly, vacuum cleaner belts are vulnerable to any items you might encounter on the floor as you vacuum. If you get caught up with TV cables or your child’s small toys as you clean, then you’ll be glad your research is already done, because it’s likely that the loser in such a tangle will be your vacuum cleaner belt!

Like the disposable bags that are an essential part of using a bagged cleaning system, vacuum cleaner belts are available in both brand name and generic types. While the manufacturer of a particular vacuum is likely to recommend you use the brand name vacuum cleaner belt with your cleaner, the generic type of belt can perform the job just as well, and usually for a fraction of the price. The vacuum cleaner belt pack should indicate what vacuum types a particular belt can be used with, so be sure to read it carefully before you buy.

The generic types of vacuum cleaner belts can usually be found at your local hardware store, but for brand name belts you will need to track down your local vacuum dealer. A great way to locate vacuum cleaner belts is the Internet, and you should be able to find both brand name and generic vacuum cleaner belts without too much trouble.

It’s true that shopping for vacuum cleaner belts isn’t much fun, but those small rubber bands definitely help get the job done! And once your vacuum cleaner belt has been installed and the vacuuming is done, then you’ll have all the time in the world for the type of shopping that really matters

Stainless steel cookware is loved by many. There are advantages to stainless steel cookware. First of all, though there are some things you should know.

Because stainless steel is an alloy that starts with iron and then adds up to 8 other alloys, there is a difference between stainless steel cookware. The quality of the cookware depends on what is added to the mix.

You can find a very low quality, inexpensive set of stainless steel cookware. This may not be the set for you, especially if you do a lot of cooking and have high expectations of your cookware. Do you want a stainless steel cookware set that does not produce even cooking? Would you want a stainless steel pan that is subject to rusting? Probably not!

There is a very easy test you can use to determine whether a stainless steel pan is a good quality one. Take a magnet with you when shopping for cookware. If the magnet sticks to the pan it is a lower grade and may not be the one you should purchase.

You can look for other features that signify a higher quality stainless steel cookware pan or set. Pay attention to the bottom of the pans. Sometimes aluminum or copper is added to the bottom or even all around the pan. This improves heat conductivity.

The best stainless steel cookware will have a lifetime warranty, 18/10 grades, metal handles and thick heat diffusing bottoms. This type of cookware should be easy to maintain and should also be dent and scratch resistant.

Many stainless steel cookware pans or sets are very durable and are non porous. Some do not conduct heat well and this type of cookware can be quite pricey. You may want to purchase one piece when it is on sale and see if it’s what you really want.

With all the cookware out there you have many choices so make sure you get a stainless steel cookware set that is extremely hard and cooks food evenly. You do not want a set that will pit or discolor. The surface of the cookware should be smooth and you will also want to make sure that the food you are cooking does not react to the elements the cookware is made from.

Look online at sites that have stainless steel cookware. You may be able to get the best prices this way. When you buy online you can find exactly what you want and you can even order one piece at a time. Stainless steel cookware may be the perfect recipe for your cooking needs.

Emergency generators are very important tools in many applications that most of us do not realize. From providing emergency power to home owners to keeping electrical power systems up and running in hospitals, emergency generators provide a vital role. Some of these roles may not be as obvious as they are taken for granted on a day to day basis for both residential and business owners. Even major industries do not fully appreciate an emergency generator system until there is a major disaster. Like other events, it sometimes takes something happening for us to learn and appreciate the need for things. The same can be said about emergency generators. Now lets look at some areas where emergency generators can come in very handy, life savers even.

For home owners, an emergency generator can be considered a waste because it is not often used and blackouts and other natural disasters may not hit particular areas for more than 20 years. Buying an emergency generator is not about whether something will happen but rather on being prepared when something does happen. Most of us should have a fire extinguisher in the house in case of fires. The same should be considered for emergency generators. When there is a massive blackout that last for a few days or weeks, how great and comforting it would be to know that everyday life would not be as disrupted. You can still have heat, light, and yes the TV while your neighbor is left in the cold, without AC, or other necessities. Emergency generators can be compared to insurance for the house. We don't expect anything to happen but we pay a premium just in case. An emergency generator is a one time purchase that should last several years when properly maintained and when a blackout out or natural disaster does occur, you are well prepared.

Some areas may be more at risk without an emergency generator than others. A home owner in Florida or southern Louisiana which is more prone to hurricanes or homeowners in very cold winters areas may find emergency generators more useful than say an area where natural disasters are pretty much nonexistent and weather will not cause severe injury. States in tornado alley probably will find emergency generators more useful than a home owner in Hawaii.

Emergency generators also have a big role in businesses and industries. A store owner who can stay open or keep security systems on during a blackout will definitely come out on top. being able to provide customers with electrical power when the competition cannot is definitely a major advantage. This can be applied to any business from hotels to gas stations. The casino industry also use emergency generators to insure not only the safety of their players but the security of winnings and all financial transactions. Having been in a casino during a blackout myself, it feels good to know that chaos will not ensue if a black out occurs as all lights and security systems are backed up and all slot machines are restarted with memory savings so if I have $300 in a machine, the money will still be in there after a blackout. Hospitals use the same concept but are more important as they can deal with life and death situations. Emergency generators here keep surgeries, life support systems, and other electrical appliances running during blackouts and after natural disasters.

For most businesses, it is just good business practice to have some sort of emergency electrical generator to keep things running smoothly. Many government regulated facilities like power plants, water and waste treatment plants, and government buildings all have some sort of emergency generator to provide electrical power. This kind of preparation is necessary for those rare times when something big does happen. Well hopefully I have convinced a few of my readers to at least think about purchasing an emergency generator for home or business.

Hip hop and urban wear sellers need innovative ideas to increase their sales.

The following 3 great ideas are perfect sellers for retailers, eBay sellers, and online businesses looking to tap into the hip hop and urban market.

Hip Hop Seller #1 Rap CDs from up and coming rappers.

This strategy has two important components to it. By offering CDs of rappers which are not well known you will be standing out from your competition.

Since most other hip hop and urban sellers will not carry the CDs, you can capture more sales.

The second component is an increase in your street credibility. Buyers will consider you a serious hip hop vendor since you carry merchandise that other sellers don’t. You will also gain a reputation as someone who has his finger on the pulse of the hip hop scene.

Hip Hop Seller #2

New urban wear brands.

Many urban brands start gaining popularity on the street before national vendors carry them. Stock these brands and you will be staying one step ahead of the competition.

Using this strategy will also ensure that you are seen as a trend setting retailer, which will result in your developing a strong following.

Hip Hop Seller #3

Publicize news, events, and new products on the hip hop scene.

By being a source of information you will gain a base of customers that will turn to you repeatedly to learn the latest developments.

Once you have their attention you can capitalize by selling your other products.

Hip Hop Seller #4

Reading material.

Once you have your customer in your store, you need to serve his needs. Besides your customers desire for hip hop products, he also wants to be informed and entertained. Hip hop related books and magazines are a great way to achieve this.

The urban wear market is picking up steam, as its appeal spreads beyond the confines of the urban market.

Spreading due to the popularity of rap music, rap inspired video games, and films featuring rap artists, the urban wear market has been steadily rising.

Many retailers have been trying to increase their sales by tapping into this lucrative market.

While the urban wear market does present many compelling opportunities to make money, retailers need to be aware of the fickle nature of the market.

For instance, brands gain and lose their popularity in relation to the level of popularity of the rap performers that market the brand.

In other words, for a retailer to carefully decide which urban brands to stock, he needs to keep track of the popularity of the musicians who wear and promote the clothing.

By reading hip hop magazines, and following media reports, retailers can gage which urban brands are experiencing demand, and which are experiencing a diminishing level of popularity.

For example, when 50 Cent, a well known rap artist, appeared in a major film his clothing line experienced a strong level of demand.

On the flip side, FUBU saw a strong drop in demand for its clothing line due to the lack of a popular rap musician promoting its clothing line.

Other brands such as Ecko have been more aggressive in developing lines inspired by well known rappers, as they did with 50 Cent.

The urban market is unique in the sense that the customer base buys out of a sense of popular appeal, as opposed to practical considerations.

While the business attire market buys based on practical considerations such as corporate dress codes and client interactions, the urban market buys based on other criteria.

Customers buying urban clothing will opt for extra large sized clothing, even if their regular size is smaller.

To maximize your urban wear sales you need to use these urban fashion tips.

Urban Fashion Tip #1

Concentrate on large sizes.

Large sizes sell well because the style is to wear baggy and extra large looking clothing. While the customer may only need a medium sized shirt, he will often prefer a 2X or larger sized shirt.

Urban Fashion Tip #2

Bright colors rule.

The name of the game is flash appeal. The louder the clothing is, the more it will stand out. With prices ranging over $100 for a pair of jeans, urban wear customers want their clothing to be noticeable.

Urban Fashion Tip #3

The name is worth gold. Before you check the quality, check the name. Retailers of urban clothing know how important the name is. Customers want the brands which are hot, and will vote with their wallets for the hottest urban brands.

Urban Fashion Tip #4

Jeans sell. Simply said, urban and hip hop jeans sell. Jeans are considered an intrinsic element of the urban wear wardrobe.

Retailers that stock urban wear clothing know the importance of the right display.

National retailers believe so much in the art of merchandise display that they employ full time staff members for that purpose.

If you have ever walked by a the display window of a department store you will have noticed the hard working staff arranging and rearranging the merchandise in the window.

Having the merchandise displayed correctly is even more important in the urban wear market. Customers shopping for hip hop and urban clothing will desert a store which doesn’t present the right image.

While the following display secrets are meant for stores, they can also be used by flea market vendors.

Display Secrets #1

Create an image. The image which you create will dictate the customer reaction towards the clothing you are selling.

You can create the right image by adding accessories to the clothing.

Accessories such as jewelry, belts, and hats will further instill a genuine hip hop image.

Display Secrets #2

Use the right imagery. Pictures of rappers such as 50 Cent, Busta Rhmes, Jay-Z,Snoop Doggy Dogg, Kanye West, among others, will give a retail establishment the authentic feel of a true urban and hip hop store.

Display Secrets #3

Store colors. The colors used in the display racks, walls, tables, changing rooms, and even by the cash register, should match the atmosphere of the store.

Urban retailers should ensure that their stores are bright, and use colors that are complimentary to the clothing being sold.

Display Secrets #4

Professional appearances.

Urban wear customers are savvy shoppers. They are fully aware that the market is saturated with knock offs. For that reason a retailer needs to keep his store looking professional. Only a truly professional store will convince a customer that the merchandise being sold is in fact genuine.

eBay sellers can develop a strong business by selling urban clothing.

With over 60 million registered users on eBay, there is a significant potential customer base for urban clothing.

If the same proportion of urban customers exists on eBay as in the brick and mortar world, there can be millions of customers for urban sellers.

Before delving into selling urban clothing on eBay, it is important to understand why a customer would buy it on eBay.

Urban wear is among the most expensive categories in the apparel market. Combine that fact with the average age of an urban apparel customer and you will understand one of the reasons why urban wear is purchased on eBay.

Customers, especially those under 25, are hard pressed to afford the most popular urban names. They will be glad to turn to eBay if they will be able to more readily afford the clothing.

Another reason urban wear sells on eBay is because of availability issues. A hot brand may be sold out in a consumers area of residence. But by searching on eBay he can still purchase the clothing from another area which has availability.

Think of a situation where a brand is sold out in a small town. A local customer can either wait for the stores to restock, or he can conduct a quick and easy search on eBay.

Because the appeal of urban and hip hop clothing has spread into the mainstream apparel market, there are now urban wear customers who do not live within a short distance of an urban apparel store.

A dramatic example would be of a teenager wanting to buy a pair of Ecko jeans, while living in northern Alaska.

While this example might seem far fetched, the basic premise is true.

Customers often cannot find local stores that carry urban wear.

This is especially true in non urban areas.

eBay sellers can capture these sales by connecting with far flung customers located throughout the country, and even outside of the United States.

You've bought all your cleaning supplies and equipment, told everyone you know that you have started a cleaning business and now you are ready to start bidding on jobs and getting down to work. So your next step is to meet with potential clients and put together a bid for their cleaning services. But how do you know what to charge for cleaning your potential client's building?

Start off by remembering that you are in business to make a profit and earn a living. Sometimes the tendency is to price our services low in order to get our foot in the door. Pricing your services too low may mean you will end up working for very little per hour. And more importantly, will have little left over to reinvest in the growth of your company. There are cleaning companies that charge more than others and have all the work they can handle and there are companies that have lower fees yet are struggling to find work! Don't sell yourself short or you will not be able to earn a living off your cleaning business.

The rates for commercial cleaning vary widely depending upon the area you live. Hourly rates are anywhere from $15 to $40 per hour depending on the type of services that you provide, whether or not you're doing the work yourself, and your company's overhead and expenses. Monthly square footage rates could run anywhere from $.05 to $.20 per square foot depending on the type of building you are cleaning and the frequency of cleaning. You'll be able to bid a higher square footage price for medical facilities versus office buildings due to more specialized cleaning needs. You'll likely bid a lower square footage price for large buildings versus small buildings. For example, you may bid $.08 per square foot for a 50,000 square foot building versus $.12 per square foot for an 8,000 square foot building.

You will most likely be charging your customers a monthly price and you will need to figure that price by estimating how long it will take to perform the services that your client has requested. The more productive you or your employees are, the higher the hourly production rate. If you're able to clean 3,500 square feet per hour, your profit will be higher than if you're only able to clean 2,500 square feet per hour, so adjust your price accordingly.

It's also a good idea to find out what the "going rates" are in your area. A few phone calls to competitors may be necessary to get an idea of the basic charges in your area. Use a script when you call so you can compare apples to apples. So what do you say when you call? Try something like, "Hi, I have a small business office that I would like cleaned once a week. It is 3000 square feet and has two small restrooms. Can you give me a rough estimate of what you what you charge per month?" The person may or may not give you an estimate. Most contractors will insist on walking through the building, but it is worth a few phone calls so you have a ballpark figure on what cleaning companies in the area are charging.

To estimate what you should charge for cleaning a building, start by doing a walk-through with the building owner or manager. Keep track of the following:

* Frequency of cleaning (once a week, three times a week, five times a week). If frequency is one or two times per week, it's best to estimate your time and multiply by your hourly rate. If cleaning 3 or more times per week you can estimate your time by the square foot.

* Overall square feet

* Types of floor surfaces and square footage of each (carpet, vinyl flooring, ceramic tile)

* Types of rooms - general office, break room, restrooms. Also note the number of toilets/stalls and fixtures in each restroom, as well as the types of restroom supplies used.