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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So imagine this…

A beautifully framed picture of a sports car: you’re in the passenger seat, enjoying the ride.

No. That’s too limited. Let’s go for broke. Visualize yourself as the driver in this sports car picture. You are definitely behind the wheels, confidently cruising down the highway. Can you see it? Do you have in your mind’s eye an exotic sports car picture? Moreover, to be even more specific, make it the picture of a fast sports car speeding down the highway.

And while you’re having this vision, why not extend your imagination a little further. Close your eyes. There you are. You can see the sports car picture. So you’re looking at the picture of a Ferrari. Let’s say Ferrari F430 Spider. No?

Well, what sports car picture do you want to visualize yourself driving? What photo do you want to put in this picture of the sports car?

Lamborghini picture? Not to your taste? How about the Jaguar XK8 Convertible? Or why not a picture of the Chevrolet Corvette Convertible? Perhaps you’d like something more classic, like the Austin or the Lotus.

But for the moment, let’s just settle and agree on the picture of the Ferrari. You can change your mind later, at any time you want. After all, this is your visualization. Put any picture of fast sports car you want in your dream.

Now, moving on to selecting the color in the picture of the sports car. We’ll make it red. Of course, with your imagination you can make it any color you want–perhaps your favorite color.

So there’s your complete visualization picture: You, behind the wheels of your own luxury sports car, breezing along a long stretch of almost deserted highway. Ah, what a beauty this car is. The driving pleasure. The power. The freedom. And oh, what a great feeling–the contentment as the cool wind kisses your face while you lose yourself in this experience of driving the sports car of your dreams.

But wait. Look who just pulled up alongside you. Me. You didn’t know I was sharing this vision with you, did you? And I’m driving my new, red Ferrari F430 Spider.

In my sports car picture fantasy, my car was in my favorite color–purple, but it wasn’t immediately available in that color (and it would be too much of a long wait) so I accepted the red, my second choice.

Oh, and I see you decided on a different car and color for yourself. No problem. It is, after all, your visualization. And you do look good behind the wheels of your yellow Ford Mustang GT Convertible. Wow, when you dream, you really do dream big. But then, that’s as it should be. You do deserve it. And it sure suits you–you and your Ford Mustang GT.

This is one magnificent sport car picture, isn’t it?

Copyright © 2006. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Douglas Hutchinson believes in visualization and dreaming big. For more on sports cars visit [http://www.bigboyssportscars.com] and for sports car pictures go to http://www.allpicturesofsportscars.com.

Buying a Classic Car requires thought, research and some planning. Classic cars are usually bought by enthusiasts to use and enjoy. It is not easy to make a profit from buying and selling classic cars.

Make a project plan and do your best to stick to it

You may see a tempting classic car restoration project listed in a newspaper or classic car magazine or on the Internet that may only be one or two thousand to buy and could be worth ten times as much once it is restored.

Practically though, have you the skills to carry out the restoration of the chassis, engine, interior, and the exterior ? If you need to find a specialist company to undertake some or all the work your ten times buy price may just come down to zero or very little profit indeed. Indeed in many cases the cost of restoration when added together will exceed the market value of the car. If you plan to keep the car and enjoy using it then this is perhaps an acceptable price to pay but do not expect to be able to sell the car at a profit particularly in today’s “credit crunch” economy.

Before you start looking – do you have enough storage space ? Do you have enough working area (remember once stripped down, the bits can take up an awful lot of space). No old car likes to be kept out in the open, not even with a plastic sheet to protect it from the rain, frost and snow and even the worst masochist won’t like working out in the open when it is blowing a gale! Lying on a cold concrete garage floor is bad enough but working outside in all elements usually puts a restoration project on hold permanently ! 

Where to look for your classic car.

Look in the your local newspaper, classic car magazines, the Internet or even just take a stroll down your street. There is no shortage of old cars to buy. But what if you are looking for something special? Well, let’s face it, these days the easiest place to look is on the Internet.

Go to Classic Lots (link below) and you will find thousands of classic cars from a rusty Mini for £100 to a Ferrari for £500,000. This excellent site also includes all the classic cars available on Ebay.

Once you have identified the car that you want, read between the lines and look at the background of the pictures.You can learn a lot from what is not said as well as the way a description is written.

I am always cautious when it says “selling it for a friend” and yet there is no contact number for the friend so you can make personal contact. When the subject of mileage is omitted from the specification box and the description… why?

Keeping in touch with reality is essential. IF IN DOUBT – CHECK IT OUT!!!! Answer those niggling questions. In the pictures you can see what looks like oil on the ground. Is it from the car you are buying? Is that mud or rust?

Ask yourself four questions. Why do I want the car? How much can I really afford? How far do I want to travel to view or collect it? and then the most important question of all… Do I really know enough about these cars to commit X thousands of pounds on a piece of pretty (or perhaps rusty metal)?

So, buying a classic car on an online auction? Well, I would advise you to adopt the following rules before commencing such an undertaking, and before you make a bid !

Remember if you are the highest bidder (assuming if there is a reserve that it has been met ) and you win the auction then you have entered a legal contract to buy that vehicle (providing the seller has described the vehicle correctly).

Do not expect to go to collect the car and having viewed it to be able to haggle over the price or to walk away. Buyer beware, and if at all possible always view the car in person before you place your bids. If do not feel confident in being able to asses the condition of your prospective purchase take along someone who has the skills to give you an honest opinion of the condition of the vehicle. You may also wish to consider using the AA or RAC who both provide professional pre-purchase inspections – if the seller seems reluctant to allow this inspection walk away !

Viewing the car before bidding

If you have decided to go and see the car then arrange a viewing and if for any reason you can’t make it, let the seller know, it’s only courteous not to waste their time just as you don’t want them wasting your time.

Things to take: a jack, perhaps some axle stands for safety, a torch, gloves and at the very least, a list of points you want to look at.

When you get there take a quick look around. Has the car been kept outside or has it been garaged, this can give you a good indication of the condition you can expect of the body and or chassis. Are there other rotting hulks just lying around, maybe the seller just buys any old junk they can find and try selling it on, not much chance of the car you have come to see having had a service any time recently.

Take a walk around the car and look for the tell tale signs of sagging which could indicate suspension problems or perhaps chassis problems. Do the doors and panels line up correctly, another indication of chassis problems or perhaps the car has had a bump at some time. Is it even one car or was it once two? Any repairs? Have they been completed well or have the repairs been bodged? Do the tyres match? What condition are they in? Check for rot in the body or in fibre glass cars/panels, look for stress cracks. Check the areas which are most prone to rot ie. arches, sills, doors, boot and bonnet. There are many different types of panels that can be used to effect repairs on a car and because of this the quality of repairs can vary.

Check inside the car. Windows, front and rear screen, are any of them leaking? Is the headlining damaged or dirty? Lift the carpets where you can, check for water and any rot, maybe even holes in the floor? Check the floorpan and joints, don’t forget inside the boot, the floor and spare wheel area. If you are happy so far with the body etc. try the engine (you did check all around the engine compartment didn’t you?). Will the engine start from cold? If the engine is already warm perhaps the seller is trying to hide something, maybe cold starting problems, maybe he had to get a jump start or a tow just to get it going? Listen for any knocks, look for smoke. If you see blue smoke on startup that quickly clears it could mean the valves are tired and leaking oil into the combustion chambers. If the smoke does not clear that could indicate a very tired engine, something that will have to be added to the budget, not only for investigation but for the repairs.

Clouds of steam on startup could indicate a blown head gasket or even a cracked cylinder head. Remove the radiator cap and look for “goo”. It is cross contamination and a good giveaway of cylinder head problems. Black smoke, probably just an over rich mixture but could just as easily be a worn carburetter.

Knocking. Well, it could be for a number of reasons, light tapping on the top of the engine could be a worn camshaft or a small end on its way out. Knocking from underneath could be a big end bearing breathing its last. An expensive repair. A rumbling noise could be a main crank shaft bearing on its way out, yet another expensive repair. Check the various hydraulic fluids and water levels. Look for any stains around the compartment and on the engine. Does the radiator smell of anti-freeze? Is there any oil lying around? Not a good sign. Keep the engine running for a while, some problems won’t show up until the engine is warm. If the car is driveable, take it for a spin. How does it “feel” on the road, does it “pull” to the right or left? Is the clutch “spongy” or firm? Does braking throw the car into oncoming traffic? (eek!) Wiggle the steering wheel, any clunks? When you accelerate does the car lurch in any particular direction?

OK so far so good. Now, the car may be 20 or 30 years old so it is not going to have all original parts. Brake shoes, clutch, spark plugs, points etc.. if they are the original parts, they are not going to be working very well by now! But seriously, if you are looking at an older car, does it have any of the original panels? Is the interior original? These points can add value to the car but the seller may try to pass off parts which were made last year in China as “original parts”.

Check the paper work. Does it have all of the required paperwork with it? Check the logbook, a very good place to start and don’t be fobbed of with “We have just moved house and can’t find it at the moment, I will post it on to you..”. Never buy a vehicle without a logbook unless you know exactly what you are doing. It is also useful to have any old MOT certificates and any receipts are good as well.  

Valuing classic cars.

How much to pay? Well, the actual value of a classic car will vary considerably. It depends on condition, make, model, year and of course, what is it worth to you? Just how much would you pay to have that special car sitting on your drive at home?

Be realistic! Just because you can isn’t a good enough reason to buy a chassis of a 1926 Rolls Royce if you have no idea where to get the rest of the car and no idea of what to do with the parts if you can get them. Providing you followed the advice above on checking the car over, you should have a good idea of whether you are bidding for a car you can drive away or one that will take months before it even has wheels.

If you read the magazines, talked to the owners club and browsed the Internet to get a good idea of what your aimed for car is selling for, then you should have a price in mind that you will pay for the car depending on its condition.

Most classic car insurance policies include an agreed value based on the market value of the car. At the end of the day, it is up to you and your budget. If you feel happy with what you have paid for your car then that is all that matters.

The basic rules for Internet Auctions.

Identify what you want – and have some idea how much you want to pay. Set a budget

only you know what you can afford to spend, or borrow. Use classic car magazine price guides and real adverts to see what your classic will cost to buy. Ideally hold back 10 percent to cover any unexpected problems. Calculate running costs by looking at mpg figures. Get insurance quotes: classic cars can be covered on cost-effective limited-mileage policies and are often surprisingly cheap to insure. Remember also that pre 1972 vehicles also have no road fund licence to pay. Talk to owners about how costly your classic will be to run.

Join the owners club. A huge resource of expertise can be found in owners clubs. Not only will they have some of the best looked-after cars but they have huge amounts of knowledge on the subject of buying and running your chosen classic. They often have cheap insurance and parts schemes, too.

Get an anorak ! No really – buy some books on your chosen classic, read magazines and become a classic-car bore. Research on the Internet and visit Classic Car Shows to talk to owners. You can never know too much.

Select a range of examples available… and do not let the cash burn a hole in your pocket. There are thousands of cars for sale every day so be patient, if it is not there today, it will be soon.

Check the sellers location – are you prepared to travel to inspect and then collect the car if you win the auction. Do you need to consider the cost of having your new pride and joy collected by a car transport service or could you hire a trailer and collect it yourself ?

Check out the seller. Read all the feedback for the last three months, negative feedback should ring alarm bells Ring him/her and get to know about your seller. Why is it being sold etc. Things like “Why are you selling the car?”, “Does it come with any spare parts?”, “How long have you had it?”, “Is there any rot?”, “Does it have any history?” MOT’s, receipts etc. can be helpful for the rebuild. If you know any specifics about the car you are enquiring about then ask any of the questions you feel you need answers for. It could save you a long drive and time away if you have the necessary information before you leave.

If a vehicle has less than 3 months MOT ask the seller if they would be willing to send the car for a fresh MOT – to correct an MOT failure could be expensive.

In the event of a car being sold as an MOT failure, ask the seller to specify the list of failures, then give your local garage a ring and ask them to give you a quote for the work that needs to be carried out. this will give you some idea of the costs involved in getting the vehicle through its MOT It will save you time and money in the long run, no point in bidding on a vehicle that is going to be to costly to put back on the road.

Keep copies of all emails sent and received between you and the seller. they will come in handy if a dispute or conflict arises over the description of the item or any promises the seller makes you.

Check if the seller is a private individual or a dealer – there are many people who buy junk from car auctions and then simply try to pass them off as their own vehicles for a quick profit.

If the seller is a trader passing themselves off as a private seller and they are willing to lie about their status what else are they willing to lie about!!

If the vehicle is being sold by a private seller, ask them how long they owned the vehicle for? is the logbook registered in their name and at their home address? if it is a genuine private sale, then the answers to the above questions should be yes!! if the answer is no to any of the above walk away.

A few examples of the excuses usually given by traders posing as private sellers for not having the vehicle registered in their name “I bought the car for wife/husband or family member and they don’t like it” “insurance to high” (people will usually always get an insurance quote before buying a car)”wife/husband did not like the car” “too big or too fast” or “they failed their driving test” “I bought the car as a stop gap”

ring any bells? I am sure you have heard at least one of the above and I have heard them all.

Remember it is a Legal Requirement to register a vehicle in your name regardless of how long you intend on keeping the car.

A reputable trader should and will disclose the fact that they are a trader, remember if you buy through the trade they may have certain obligations to rectify any problems with the car.

In the event that you have bought the car without prior inspection, before you go to collect the car, print out the item page and take it with you. If the seller has mis- described the item in anyway, you will have proof in your hands to argue your case.

If buying from a private seller, always meet the seller at their home address which should match the address the car is registered at. If there is a problem at least you will have an address to go back to. Do not agree to “meet on the Tesco car park as it will be easier than finding my house “

When you go to collect the vehicle if you are unsure about the vehicle or the seller walk away. Never part with your hard earned money until you are satisfied.

Once you have handed your money over, you will not be able to get it back! If you have not viewed the car do not pay prior to collection, if you do you will have little choice but to take the car away or lose all your money.

What’s the worst that can happen if you walk away? the seller will give you negative feedback. its better to have one negative feedback than a car which is going to cause you lots of problems and cost you time and money. You can always argue your case with the online auction site and you may get the feedback comment removed.

As a winning bidder you have a legal obligation to complete the transaction,however the seller has a greater obligation to be honest about themselves and the item they are selling. If the seller has misdescribed the vehicle and you do not complete the transaction they are very unlikely to take legal action against you for not completing the deal. Remember however if you simply change your mind and walk away without good reason the seller may take steps to recover the money from you.

The basic rules apply even if you are buying from a trader or private seller if something sounds to good to be true then it usually is !!!

I hope that you have found this guide helpful and that using this advice when purchasing a classic car online will help you to avoid the pitfalls and hopefully you will end up with a classic car to use and enjoy over the coming years.

Andrew Lack – A Director of the Lancashire Classic Car Company Brook Classics. I have been buying and selling Classic Cars via Internet Auctions for over ten years so am well qualified to give advice in this field.
http://www.brook-classics.co.uk
http://www.classic-lots.co.uk

A rewarding way to relax is to do sports. You will not only exercise, you will also rejuvenate your body and mind. Snow skiing is a type of sport that id done during the winter. It is normally done on the slopes of mountains. A pair of poles and skis are the basic equipment that are required. The skis used in this day are made of plastic, polyurethane foam and other types of materials.

There are special boots that are used that are attached to the skis using bindings. Each pole has a wrist wrap on top and a sharp tip at the bottom. There is a circular ring to prevent the pole from sinking into the sand. You must wear a helmet before beginning to ski. You need a pair of goggles for your eyes and warm clothing.

Snow skiing is of different types. There is the down hill type, the cross country type, the water type and others. You can decide to go for a holiday and experience the thrill of skiing. There are high class resorts to stay in. Family packages come with a discount. Thus, you can be able to enjoy yourself at pocket friendly prices.

Snow skiing offers a lot of adventure for everyone. There are different types of slopes to suit different skiers. This sport improves the circulatory system of the body thus improving alertness and concentration. It is important to be well trained before being practically involved in the sport. This is necessary to avoid accidents that can lead to serious injuries. Some types can be permanently damaging.

Peter Gitundu Creates Interesting And Thought Provoking Content on Skiing. For More Information, Read More Of His Articles Here MOUNTAIN SKIING If You Enjoyed This Article, Make Sure You SUBSCRIBE TO MY RSS FEED!

Abstract

This article introduces the educational solutions module of the world’s most recent personal and professional problem solving site, describing competitive offerings, the customer profile, problem-oriented solutions, target markets, product offerings, and usability features. It concludes that the module is a major contribution to the information superhighway.

Introduction

The aim of this article is to introduce to the world the educational solutions module of the world’s most recent personal and professional problem solving site. The article is addressed to those readers who may have an educational problem bogging them and who may therefore be looking for a way out of their predicament. The reader may be a parent, child, or student.

It is a common fact of life that we all have problems and that we are often frustrated or we tend to lash out because of our inability to find accessible and reliable information about our problems. This specialist site fills this need – as our pragmatic friend for solving our educational problems.

To be of the greatest use to people a problem solving site must combine pragmatic discussions of their personal or professional problem with merchant products that provide more detailed information. Typically, the web site will provide free information in the form of news, articles, and advice, which direct the visitor on what to do to solve her problems. Complementing this, the web site will also provide merchant products which discuss in detail how the visitor can go about resolving her problem. This means that the most effective, visitor-oriented problem-solving site will be an information-packed commercial site – and so is the world’s most recent personal and professional problem solving site and its specialist sites.

The approach that we have adopted below is to describe competitive offerings, the customer profile, problem-oriented solutions, target markets, product offerings, and usability features.

Competitive Offerings

The following are the top educational sites on the Internet, along with their offerings.

US Department of Education. It defines the US education policy and provides information on financial aid, educational research and statistics, grants and contracts, and teaching and learning resources.

Educational Testing Service. It provides a range of test resources.

FunBrain.com. It provides educational games for K-8 kids.

PrimaryGames.com. It provides fun learning tools and games for kids.

GEM. It provides educational resources such as lesson plans and other teaching and learning resources.

Education World. It provides advice on lesson plans, professional development, and technology integration.

NASA Education Enterprise. It provides educational materials and information relating to space exploration.

Spartacus Educational. It is a British online encyclopedia that focuses on historical topics.

Department for Education and Skills. It is a UK government department site that offers information and advice on various educational and skills topics.

Times Educational Supplement. It offers teaching news, teaching & educational resources, and active forums to help UK teachers.

All these sites are useful in the domains that they cover. Their main limitations are as follows:

1. They tend to cover only a very narrow segment of the educational market.

2. They do not take as their starting point the daily educational needs of the typical family.

3. They lack a problem focus; i.e., they do not formulate the typical learning and educational problems that pupils, students, and parents face on a daily basis.

4. As a result of the preceding point, the solutions offered are not as incisive (i.e. as problem-centred) as they could be.

5. They do not offer merchant products that deepen the visitor’s understanding of her problem and of the consequent solutions.

The educational solutions module of the world’s most recent personal and professional problem solving site addresses these problems by targeting a multiplicity of market segments, adopting a customer profile that fits the typical education-pursuing family, considering the specific needs or problems that this family may face, offering incisive (problem-centred) solutions to the various problems, and offering a range of merchant products that deepen the visitor’s appreciation of her problems and of the solutions that are applicable to them.

Customer Profile

The customer profile or target visitor characteristics of the educational solutions module is the same as for all specialist sites of the world’s most recent personal and professional problem solving site. The site has been designed to meet the needs of visitors who have an educational problem bogging them. It is designed for both males and females, even though it is often convenient to refer to just one sex when writing.

This visitor uses search engines to research information about her personal or professional problem, with the intention of finding solutions to it. The visitor is serious about solving her problem and is therefore willing to buy products that help her to achieve her mission, provided that she can find reliable and honest information about relevant products so that she can make an informed decision about which ones to acquire. This information will help her to apply her finances economically, and hence avoid wasting money.

The visitor will want a money-back guarantee so that if a product does not live up to expectations or if she were misled into buying a product she can get a refund. Such a guarantee absolves her of purchase risks.

The visitor is intelligent (without necessarily being a genius), educated (without necessarily being a PhD), computer literate (without necessarily being a computer guru), and money-minded (without necessarily being a freebie hunter or an unemployed person). This of course does not mean that freebie hunters or unemployed persons cannot gain a thing from the site. To the contrary, there is a great deal of free information on the site. Just that it is hard to see how anyone can gain the full benefits of the site without buying products.

The visitor wants high quality information products (usually in digital form) and wants to pay the cheapest price for these (without paying so much emphasis on price that she compromises quality). The visitor also wants free bonus offers that are attached to the purchased goods.

The visitor is self-reliant and can cope on her own by reading, digesting, and applying advice about her problem until she solves it or discovers that she needs help from a professional, at which point her acquired knowledge will help her to reduce her consulting fees. As a result of the knowledge gained, the visitor will be able to assess consultants in order to avoid incompetent or fraudulent ones.

Problem-Centred Solutions

Our free solutions are organised in the form of pragmatic articles that are written by top experts. Each article addresses a specific daily problem, but does not go into detail. It explains the problem and tells the visitor what she must do to solve her problem. However, it does not tell the visitor how she must solve it – this is too much for an article. To find out about the how, the visitor must buy a product (usually an e-book or e-book set) that goes into greater depth.

The set of educational articles that we have chosen, to provide initial solution to a visitor’s problem are as follows:

Signs of a Gifted Child – Informs parents on how to identify whether or not their children are gifted.

Essential Parenting Lessons for Enriching Your Child’s Education – Teaches parents how to enhance their child’s education.

Using Positive Affirmations to Be a Better Student – Teaches students how to use positive affirmations to improve their performance.

They Are Just Afraid of Writing – Teaches writing skills to students

How Can Parents Encourage Their Children to Read? – Shows parents how they can improve their children’s reading skills.

Test Preparation Tutoring – Discusses the topic of tutoring students to prepare for tests or exams.

Test Taking Strategies – Discusses various strategies for taking and passing tests or exams

Playing and Winning the Scholarship Game – Describes how to win scholarships.

How to Get a Scholarship to a UK University – Describes how to win scholarships to a UK university.

Saving Money for College – Instructs students on how they can save money in preparation for college.

Student Loans: When Your Educational Dreams Can’t Compete with the Cost – Explains to students the benefits of a student loan.

Education Loans Can Fund a Higher Degree to Boost Your Career – Also explains to students the benefits of a student loan.

The Secret to US Department of Education Loans – Teaches students how to get a US DoE loan to finance their higher education.

Student Loan Consolidation – Save Money, Pay Less, Spend More – Explains to graduates how to make use of loan consolidation to reduce their student loan repayments.

Higher Education: Finding the Right College for You – Explains to students how to find the right college or university for their higher education studies.

Mobile Learning – An Alternative Worth Considering – Explains the concept of mobile learning and its place in education.

Online Degrees – Is Online Education Right for You? – Analyses the merits of online learning as compared to traditional learning.

An Online College Education Overview – Reviews the whole concept of online learning.

Finding the Right Quotation for Your Paper or Speech Online – Shows writers and speakers how to find the right quotation to use in their writings or speeches.

Collaboration: An Important Leadership Development Skill – Explores the useful concept of collaboration and its role in leadership development.

At the end of each article is a list of merchant products that supplement the article’s content. A link is also included for accessing the educational product catalogue.

Target Markets and Product Offerings

Now let us turn to the target markets and their associated product offerings. We have positioned the segments to address the various needs of a visitor over a period of time, and at any given time a customer may belong to one or more of the market segments. There are three general classes of products offered: ClickBank products, Google products, and eBay products. Google and eBay products are presented on each page of the site. ClickBank products are grouped into product categories that match the target markets. These categories and their markets are as follows.

Children and Parenting. This consists of visitors who want parenting solutions for improving their children’s upbringing. Their needs are met through the Children and Parenting section of the educational product catalogue.

Difficult Admissions. This consists of visitors who want to learn how to get admission into top universities. Their needs are met through the Difficult Admissions section of the educational product catalogue.

Esoteric Needs. This consists of visitors with unusual needs. Their needs are met through the Esoteric Needs section of the educational product catalogue.

Financial Aid. This consists of visitors looking for scholarships, grants, or loans. Their needs are met through the Financial Aid section of the educational product catalogue.

Leadership Skills. This consists of visitors looking to develop their leadership skills. Their needs are met through the Leadership Skills section of the educational product catalogue.

Learning. This consists of visitors who want to improve their learning ability. Their needs are met through the Learning section of the educational product catalogue.

Mental Speed. This consists of visitors who want to explode their mental speed. Their needs are met through the Mental Speed section of the educational product catalogue.

Positive Affirmations. This consists of visitors who want to transform their negative dispositions into a positive mindset in order to improve their performance. Their needs are met through the Positive Affirmations section of the educational product catalogue.

Speaking. This consists of visitors looking to improve their speaking skills. Their needs are met through the Speaking section of the educational product catalogue.

Tests and Exams. This consists of visitors looking to master exam technique. Their needs are met through the Tests and Exams section of the educational product catalogue.

Writing. This consists of visitors looking to improve their writing skills. Their needs are met through the Writing section of the educational product catalogue.

Usability Considerations

Usability has been enhanced to make it easy for the visitor to find solutions to her problem, by following these steps:

1. The first thing the visitor sees are a set of articles whose titles represent the specific problem area they address. The articles are accessed from the Educational Problem Solving menu of the navigation bar to the left of the screen or from the Educational Problem Solving main page. By scanning these articles the visitor can identify whether or not her problem is covered. If not the visitor can check the educational product catalogue through the Product Catalogues menu of the same navigation bar, to see whether a product exists that answers her query. If she finds nothing she knows that her problem is not addressed. She can proceed to the Related Sites pages, which are accessible from the left navigation bar.

2. If the visitor finds an article that addresses her problem then she can begin to explore that; at the end of the article she will find products that discuss her problem more deeply. She can also access the educational product catalogue through an article page.

Conclusion

This article has introduced the educational solutions module of the world’s most recent personal and professional problem solving site. The article has examined competitive offerings, the target customer profile, problem-oriented solutions, target markets, product offerings, and usability considerations. It concludes that the module is a major contribution to the information superhighway.

A A Agbormbai is the editor and webmaster of Personal and Professional Problem Solving – a web site that fills a vacuum on the Web. He has a PhD from Imperial College London and enjoys an interdisciplinary upbringing having worked or studied in aerospace engineering, information systems development, and management. The educational solutions module is one of many specialist sites of Personal and Professional Problem Solving.

Educational solutions module – [http://www.triplacc.com/educational/education.html]

Educational product catalogue – [http://www.triplacc.com/products/educational-pc.html]

World’s most recent personal and professional problem solving site – [http://www.triplacc.com/]

Decorating a childs room can be quite a stressful time and trying to keep to a budget can also be quite hard. You may also be slightly over whelmed by the massive choice of childrens furniture available online and from furniture stores.

The main tip to remember is to keep things simple. Some childrens furniture sets, childrens wardrobes, childrens beds can cost from a few hundred pounds to a few thousand pounds for a childrens room set. The key thing to remember is to shop around and make sure you find a great deal and stick to a budget.

A childrens wardrobe is probably the most versatile piece of furniture you can buy. If you can find a decent sized childrens wardrobe at a good price they will last a long time, and will provide a good storage space as your child grows. The only real decision you would have to make is whether a single or double childrens wardrobe is best for your childs room. Obviously if you do not have the room space to have a double childrens wardrobe a single wardrobe is perfect. A single wardrobe usually consists of either a hanging rail, a top shelf and a storage draw at the bottom of the wardrobe. Or can be up to three shelves all the way up the height of the wardrobe, with a single draw at the bottom.

Trying to find a good childs bed is probably the hardest piece of furniture to get right. If you have a young child a cot bed is probably your best bet. A lot of childrens cot beds can be easily converted into a junior bed which when your child reaches that certain age, not only is this a good money saver but when you think about you are getting two beds for the price of one.

There are also many different types of beds available for slightly older children. There are animated beds such as car shaped beds brightly decorated to appeal to toddlers. Bunk beds are a great idea for children sharing a bedroom and it also saves tremendously on space. Another great feature of a childrens bunk bed is you choose a single bunk bed they come with a desk underneath which not only saves of space but some come with extra storage as well helping to keep you childs room tidy.

Another piece of childrens furniture to consider is a desk. As your child gets older whether they like it or not they will get home work so having a desk or a childrens table and chair set is a great idea for a childs bedroom. Enabling them to go somewhere quite to colour, play or do homework.

For younger children and one of the main pieces of childrens furniture in a room sets is a chest of draws with a baby changing facility located at the top, which is a removable top part of the chest of draws doubling up as a baby changer.

There are many different online stores that supply childrens bedroom furniture at some great prices. It can take time to plan and stick to a budget to find the best prices for that perfect piece of childrens furniture for your kids room.

We hope you have found this childrens furniture article useful. There are many different styles of childrens wardobes available, so we hope this has helped you to make a decision.

Have you heard of the waterless cooking method? It is a relatively new method of cooking that has many advantages. In the past, a lot of household cooking has involved cooking food with water. When cooked in water, however, a lot of the food’s nutritional value, not to mention the flavor, is taken away. Waterless cooking allows you to cook food in it own juices, retaining all the vitamins and minerals as well as most of the original flavor. There is no need to add water to foods (especially vegetables) because the natural moisture in the food is released and the steam created helps the cooking process. The steam is circulated throughout the pot and falls back into the food allowing it to stay moist and juicy.

So what are the advantages to waterless cooking? First of all, it is an easy way to cook. Many times you can use a one-pan cooking method so that all the food (meat, veggies and potatoes) is cooked together. This also allows for easier clean up with only one pan to wash up. And the new waterless cookware, with its superior heat distribution, tends to have less chance of food burning or sticking.

Waterless cooking also tends to cook food a lot faster. With the new waterless cookware available now the heat is evenly distributed along the bottom of the pot or pan. Because of this, there are no ‘hot-spots’ that may tend to burn your food. The lid of the pot forms a seal, which locks in the heat (as well as the moisture) so the cooking time is decreased.

As mentioned, waterless cooking is a healthy way to cook. None of the nutrients are lost during cooking, and you don’t need to add oil to stop the food from sticking to the pan, which also makes it healthier. The natural color and texture of the food is also retained which makes the food more appealing. Foods that are supposed to be crisp tend to keep their crunchy texture as well.

The features of waterless cookware that allow this cooking method to work include a flat bottom on the pots and pans which allow the most efficient means of heat transfer. The flat bottom connects with your stove element better, whether it be the coils of an electric stove or a gas unit, so that the heat transfer is more efficient. The cookware also has an iron core and an aluminum or copper base plate built into it that helps to retain a continuous, constant cooking temperature even after the heating element has been turned off.

Waterless cookware is typically made of high-grade stainless steel, which is better than other traditional pans in a couple of different ways. The stainless steel does not allow the taste of the metal to transfer to your food, as may be the case with aluminum or Teflon-coated cookware. Some companies use surgical stainless steel, which is the highest grade you can get for a real quality product. The stainless steel is easy to clean, durable (enabling it to last an extremely long time) and it allows you to keep your cookware sterilized.

One of the main features of waterless cookware is the special lid that keeps the natural moisture in the food from escaping. The lid forms a seal with the pot and lets the natural juices form into steam so the food cooks in its own natural juices, retaining all the nutrients and original flavors. There is a steam valve that whistles and tells you when you should turn off the heat (once the juices have created sufficient steam). In this way you save energy when cooking and the food is always cooked at a constant temperature.

Although it is referred to as waterless cooking, one thing you should do before cooking with this method is to rinse your food in water and then drain it before cooking. This ensures there will be enough water clinging to the food to create enough steam, mixed with foods natural juices, to cook it properly.

Cooking times with the waterless cooking method is generally a little less than traditional cooking times, depending on personal tastes for doneness. You should always cook your food at medium to low temperatures because the special waterless cookware construction allows the unit to conduct heat in the most efficient manner. You must also resist the urge to lift the lid during the cooking process as this will lengthen the cooking time and may even allow the food to dry out when the steam escapes.

The steam valve will tell you when you should turn off your stove element-when the correct temperature has been reached to allow the food to cook itself. When the steam valve whistles, turn off your stove, but do not lift the lid until the specified cooking time has elapsed-then you can open the lid and serve out your hot food. As a tip, put warm water into the unit after the food has been removed and let it sit while you eat so clean-up will be a snap afterwards.

Most recipes can be adapted (with a few alterations) to using the waterless cooking method as well. You will discover that old favorites will taste better and new recipes will be simple to master. The waterless cooking method is a new and healthier way to cook. It is more energy efficient, allows the food to retain its own juices, texture and color, and is an easy way to cook.

For more cooking articles, recipes, and cookware guides please visit my website at http://www.potsandpanscity.com/blog

Better tennis technique and strokes can make the difference between being an average player and a great player. The keys to improve your tennis technique begin with understanding the fundamentals of world class tennis strokes.

There is not much difference between a 4.0 player than a 4.5 player, other than the 4.5 player usually has better tennis technique. Tennis technique can be described as the way a person swings or uses their body to hit the shot. The way to improve tennis technique is by having a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the technique. This will allow a player to add the proper technique into his or her repertoire.

Roger Federer’s Forehand is an example of a great shot. And when you watch Federer’s Forehand on TV, it’s astounding how he is able to create winner after winner with his forehand. This is due to none other than having proper and efficient tennis technique. So what do average players have to do to improve tennis technique?

First, watch the technique of the pros, like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova. Watch some slow motion videos of them playing tennis. Watch how Nadal’s forehand shapes into the powerful bomb at contact. Watch Maria Sharapova’s forehand and backhand and see how explosive and smooth it is.

Tennis Technique is one of the most important areas for any player wanting to improve. Note that all great players have proper technique and its no longer a mystery why they can produce the excellent shots they hit. So if you want to play better tennis, focus on developing tennis strokes that do not break down under pressure. Proficient tennis technique means having a stroke that is biomechanically efficient, adaptable to various conditions and explosive.

Proper forehand and backhand tennis strokes is a commonality shared by all high level players. At the pro level, most pros have flawless technique, and this allows them to hit great shots time and time again. For the recreational tennis player, they will need to spend time working on developing proper tennis technique. This may mean working on the fundamentals first and then solidifying them. With quality practice and hard work, a tennis player can be on the path to improving tennis strokes.

There are 3 areas of tennis technique and tactics to use that will allow a player to improve their tennis game:

First, positioning and preparation is vital. This is true for every stroke in tennis. On the groundstrokes, the forehand and backhand are the main areas to focus on. The forehand for example, should be initiated with a full body turn, rather than a backswing. On the backhand, the same principles apply. A backhand is not just a stroke but a dance routine in which you need to do the Twist. The backhand requires trunk mobility and if executed correctly, the ball comes off your tennis racket properly with the right pace.

The tennis technique on the forehand and backhand doesn’t require great strength, just proper tennis technique that will provide the good results on every shot. Mastering the key elements of preparation on the groundstrokes will allow you to hit much better shots on a consistent basis which will make your opponent in trouble.

The second part of tennis technique is critical to reach a higher level of play. It’s important to utilize your whole body to hit every shot rather than just the arm. In order to develop a true weapon, learning to incorporate the entire body into every shot will maximize the power of every hit. Tennis is unlike the sports of squash or badminton. The entire body must be incorporated into the tennis stroke, and any excessive wrist flick will lose you the game.

Position and balance together with the correct tennis technique is key, as you learn the techniques of the game you can introduce new tactics. I like to follow a key rule, the start of the rule is important. This is to “return the ball in the court” and focus on making fewer unforced errors and then that’s your opponents problem. Eventually you can become smarter with more advanced technique and tactics.

The third area of tennis technique involves the tennis tactics. Tennis tactics are a essential part of the game of tennis. I like to think about tennis strategy as if I were a chess player. A good tennis tactic is to constantly make your opponent guessing and off balance, so he won’t know your next shot. This will keep your opponent off balance. Tennis tactics involve how will you play the next shot. Tactics such as where do you want your next shot to be in relation to where your opponent is on the court, are examples of what it will take to win the tennis match.

Watch Nadal or Roger Federer, they do not run across the court chasing each ball without a set purpose and without a sound understanding of tennis tactics. Their technique is flawless because they run the shot selection. This is also because they do the basics excellently which is something that players at all levels should strive to do.

With lots of purposeful practice on these areas of your game, attaining the proper strokes are about quality practice and repetition. Only perfect practice makes perfect, so be certain to practice with one hundred percent intensity on each and every session. By doing so, you will be practicing the correct methods and eventually removing your old habits on the court.

So get started on the right path to play from day one. Always make sure to practice with full intensity permitting you to obtain the correct techniques sooner and rid yourself of the incorrect methods. This applies to all aspects of the game.

Learning the right technique from a certified coach will be beneficial for your tennis game, as you will improve quicker and much easier without the same trial and error.

Coach Ed is a former nationally ranked player and coach. More instruction and tips are available at Optimum Tennis

Click here to learn how to improve your Tennis Technique

So, you think it is time for a career change? Follow our nine step career change plan and you’ll be well on the way to a more enriching life!

Many people are unhappy in their jobs, but you have made the big decision to change your career. So let’s examine some of the reasons you might have decided that a career change is for you.

Perhaps you are looking for a career with a higher salary? Or looking for a career that allows for a better work life balance? You might have become bored with your current responsibilities, and be looking for a more exciting career? Perhaps a career with more travel? Or more opportunities to make a difference? Or you wish to combine your career with broader interests you have in life? Make sure, however, that it is a career change you are seeking, and not just a different employer in the same career.

Whatever the reason, you have made the biggest step of all, which is to decide to make your career change a reality!

So now what? Let’s look at a nine point career change action plan for how you might attack your career change!

1) Choosing your new career

Assuming that you would like to use your career change, at least partly, to increase the enjoyment you get from the time you spend working, the first thing to do is to assess what you actually like doing!

2) Skills and experience for your career change

So now you know what you want to get out of your career change. Now you must assess whether you have the right skills and experience to get into your new career.

3) Training for your new career

If completing a career change we easy, all of us would be in our dream careers right now! So what is stopping us? Perhaps it is the additional skills which we need to build to be credible in our new career. Don’t think that training, however, is restricted to job-related or academic courses. You can get the skills and experience you need for your career change in many other ways!

4) Accepting a pay cut for your career change

Perhaps the main reason for your career change is to earn more money? If so, then that’s great, but it’s always wise to get as much information on your new career to ensure that you will actually earn more money doing it. If, however, your career change is not driven by wanting to achieve more money, you may need to accept a pay cut.

5) Financing your career change

Completing your career change may require a spell without paid employment. As well as tightening your belt, you should also do a thorough review of your financial position, including loans, mortgages and credit cards. By switching credit cards, you may find you can save money and get other benefits!

6) Relocating

Perhaps your main reason for your career change is to relocate to an area with a lower cost of living, or better schooling or a better climate. Even if it isn’t, your career change might require a relocation – you won’t find many opportunities to be a ski instructor in San Diego, for example!

7) Changing career without changing employer

Before you assume that you will need to leave your current employer to achieve your career change, have a look around and see if your career change goals can be satisfied where you are currently working.

Finding a new employer

There are a number of ways to find an employer which every job searcher knows – classified adverts, internet job-boards, employer directories etc. Many jobs, however, are never listed in classified adverts and on job-boards because they are filled as soon as they are announced!

To make sure that you are in with a chance, you must develop a strong network in the career you wish to change to.

9) Refreshing your job-hunting skills

The chances are, if you’ve been in your current position for a while, that your job-hunting skills could be quite rusty! So take the opportunity to brush up on these skills – you might only get one chance to make your career change successful!

10) Staying flexible to achieve your career change dreams

Finally, now that you’ve made the biggest step and chosen to pursue a career change, don’t rush it! It may take a month or even a year to work out exactly what you want from your career change and to develop the skills, experience and network to get you into the right place within that career. Don’t settle for something which is ‘almost right’ or you’ll be going through the whole career change process again!

Jonathan Lewis is the founder and CEO of Careerfriend, a company committed to helping people succeed in their dream careers. His extensive experience of attracting, recruiting, retaining and developing exceptional people in management consulting and investment banking allows him to offer clear, actionable advice which has a great impact on people either looking for new jobs or looking to succeed further in their existing jobs.

The Careerfriend website (http://www.careerfriend.com) contains free career advice articles to help people succeed in securing dream careers, from career and employer selection, through resume and cover letter writing, to interviewing, salary negotiation and ongoing career development.

Jonathan was educated at Cambridge University, UK and has advised major national and international corporations, both in the public and private sectors, on issues of corporate strategy, corporate organization, labor relations, personnel development.