Tankless Water Heaters - Are They Worth It?

A penny saved is a penny earned. I had my buddy call me up and tell me about this article on consumer reports about it taking 20-25 yrs to recoup your initial costs on a tankless water heater. That just really gets under my skin because it is not true. First off the technology has been around for 40 yrs and is rock solid and extremely efficient. Your fuel costs will be cut significantly and your risk of a flood is virtually eliminated.

I am sure that at least 50 percent of homes in the U.S. will at some time have to use their homeowners insurance to cover the costs of damages caused by busted water heaters. Well I am sorry folks but tankless is the only way to go and you will not only benefit from the savings, your lifestyle will improve as well. I know it's worth something to dad to be able to take a shower after all of the girls get out without having to wait for an hour.

And you can rest assured that a wife who is able to use her garden tub to take a bath in instead of a dust collection bowl will gladly pitch in a little. So if you are going to write an article about tankless water heaters at least know something about them or keep your mouth shut. I have personally installed over 100 units and have received zero complaints. I have a tankless on my house and it has paid for itself with peace of mind and reduction in our fuel costs. Clean consistent hot water is priceless to modern man.

Log onto http://www.atlantaplumbingdirectory.com to find the Atlanta Plumber you need now.

Wood Attic Vents

Reading Feng Shui Books

Quite simply, a different style of living. If you're the kind of person who eats the same food week after week, shops and the same stores and only socializes with a few people, feng shui is probably not something you're going to be interested in. However, if you're someone, who wants to try something different, the Chinese philosophy of feng shui could be something that you, just might be interested in.

Where can you find feng shui books? Of course we all know you can find them at your local bookstores like Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other online sources. Here's something that might be a little new age or something that most people often forget about, how about going down to your local public library. Public libraries are a great source for books and if you don't like them, you never had to pay for them.

Feng shui books have become popular in the last 20 to 40 years and seems to create an environment out of your home. The Chinese have been practicing this for over a thousand years and it almost has a mystical power to it. If you're tired of the same old house and would like a little change in your life, I would suggest using some of the simple methods, suggested in these books.

One $20 book on home building or feng shui, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. Our online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

You can learn a lot by reading feng shui books and I would suggest, that if you're interested in interior design or even spirituality, these books will provide you with the information, you need to create a little change in your life

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry

Enjoy Your Life Its The Only One

The Truth About Gossip

Connecting with others is one of the most rewarding things about college. The times sitting around the dorm rooms swapping stories are some of the most memorable times for me.

As any woman knows, the gift of gab is KEY to your success if you want to survive dorm life. The chat sessions that we held in the dorm at all hours in the morning were some of the most fun and interesting times in college. We would order pizza and pig out while talking about who had lost or gained weight, and all of the interesting things that had gone on in our life, like our past romances or who we were dating at the time, or what good looking guy was our next ambition. But, often, when one of the regulars werent there, wed start gabbing about them, and what awful thing they had done this week. Since I was usually there during the sessions, it never occurred to me that I would be the subject of such talk. It just never crossed my mind. After all, I was so well liked, or so I thought!

After a run one day I came out of the shower to hear my name mentioned by one of my suite mates. To my horror, it wasn't just my suite mates, but my roommate and a whole room full of girls from the hall. As I stood in the bathroom listening to the talk and laughter in the room next to me, I quietly steamed. I heard about how often my boyfriend would let the phone ring 1000 times, how messy I was, how I was too loud and so on and so on. I couldnt believe that these were the same girls with whom I had confided my entire existence. I was in SHOCK that I was the subject of so many peoples disgust! They had been so nice to me in person, and now this?

I had no other choice than to confront them, head on. So, with my towel around my hair, and one around my dripping wet body, I quietly walked in the room during their lets talk about Mary gossip hour. The gasps of horror filled the room and now it was THEIR time to be shocked. And rather than yell and scream, I simply said: You know, Im really sorry that I have offended all of you like I have. And it is hard to believe that I had to sit here and hear all of the things that I have done wrong. But do you all realize that yesterday, Anne, you were talking about Kathryn? And Kathryn, the other day, you were talking bad about Lynn? And Lynn, you were dissing Elaine? And Elaine you were in disgust with Liz? So cant you see, all of us are sitting here right now, talking bad about ME, because Im the one that wasnt the room? But, if one of you left, that YOUR name would quickly be smeared all over the place? Is this how we want to be? Is this how we want to treat one another?

No one said a thing, but the words lingered stiffly in the air as everyone looked uncomfortably around the room. I quietly left as everyone was left with their own embarrassment of being exposed.

After that, things changed for me. Any time a gossip session started creeping up into the conversation, I remembered the time when I had been talked about so horribly. I remembered how bad I felt finding out that my friends were really disgusted with me and rather than tell me to my face, they opted to talk to others about it. I learned that I would always find people who were different from me, and it didnt matter that I understood what they did or not, that they were entitled to think and to act like they wanted to. I learned that even with our best friends, that we would sometimes disagree. I learned how important that loyalty was and what a great quality it was to develop. I learned that others would respect an individual who chose NOT to gossip and chose to stand apart from the people who do. And I learned, that I wanted to be that kind of person.

That day of gossip changed my life. I cant say that Im perfect now, but I do try to remember those lessons that I learned that day. I realize that I cant change or control anyone else, but I am in control of how I conduct myself. I also now have living proof that the words my mom told me so long ago were ones that I would want to live by: if you cant say anything nice, then dont say anything at all.

Mary Gardner, The Charisma Coach! is an Executive Communications Consultant and Trainer. She works with, coaches and trains individuals, sales teams, executives, and celebrities. She owned and operated one of the first coaching institutions on the east coast, CCI, in NYC, Philly and NJ. Mary has appeared on ABCs 20/20 and has self published a book on public speaking. Mary is married to Sway and is mommy to Jeremy 5, and lives in Orlando, FL.

Contact: http://www.marygardner.com

Let God Handle It

Raise Your Property Value With Grant Money

If you are considering selling your home, you should look into home improvement grants first. If you would wonder why receiving free government money to invest in a home that you will soon be leaving is a good idea, then you are about to become significantly enlightened about the benefits to applying this type of funding to your resale strategy. Interested? Please read on...

It is probably a safe assumption that if you are currently beginning the resale procedure, you know that you are about to take a serious hit while negotiating your selling price. It's no secret that at the moment, American housing prices are far below the actual realistic property values due to a poor economy. Obtaining free government money in home improvement grants to remodel and repair your home, before you sell, can significantly raise your property value. Applying this strategy prior to placing your home on the market can most definitely result in a higher selling price, hence helping you to recoup your losses in selling below actual value.

It has been reported, that many American citizens who initially set out to repair and remodel their homes for resale using home improvement grants, in the process found that were also eligible to receive government funded home grants, remodeled, raised their property values, applied for more grants, and wound up keeping their newly remodeled homes in the end. It has been accomplished by hundreds of American homeowners, and you can be one of them.

No matter what the situation, buying, selling, keeping your home, free government home improvement grants can raise your property value while keeping your bank account in tact. Before you visit the realtor, visit your local government grant awards agency.

Apply for Personal Grants.

See how much money you qualify to receive today and never pay back. Get Grants for Individuals

Wood Beam Repairs

Relationship Self Help - 2 Simple Techniques to Put Your Relationship Back on Track

Relationships between couples can go wrong due to various reasons. In a vast majority of the cases where relationships have completely broken down, couples gradually begin to regret the break up and long to get back their ex. Fortunately though, there are two simple relationship self help techniques that can help you rescue your relationship.

Technique # 1: Share quality time: In today's hectic and competitive world, couples hardly spend quality time with each other. Couples need to remember that with time and other commitments, such as children and career, the initial enthusiasm in their relationship is bound to come down. The first technique involved in relationship self help involves, creating time for both of you. You should let your close friends or family members know that you have allotted a particular time slot on a daily basis for this purpose. Spending time together will help you get to know exactly how your significant other half is feeling. Remember, relationship self help should start with a sincere commitment on your part that you would spend more time with him or her.

Technique #2: Say goodbye to your ego: A lot of times relationships sour due to both the parties involved not agreeing to each other's viewpoint. In many cases, it is purely a case of egos that have been hurt. While in some cases it is the husband who feels that he has been wronged and in a similar number of cases the wife. Couples usually end up accusing each other and further ruining their relationship. In many cases, the ego plays a significant part, with one of the partners not willing to listen to the other's view point. This should not be the case. Remember, a major part of relationship self help starts with understanding this point and not letting ego come in between your relationship. In fact relationship self help is all about adjusting to each other's needs.

Hopping online is the best way to find advice on relationship self help. You can have a look at Magicofmakingup - a virtual treasure house of advice on relationship, can help you patch up with your ex and enjoy a happy life.

Mentware - How to Develop a Money Making Mentality

Yes, you can work your own miracles. You can give your life a turn-around. Mentware is where all the money lies. Yes, all the money you need till you depart this world does not depend on the possession of hardware or the accumulation of all kinds of software. It lies on having the right mentware.

Hardware and software can't show you the money but mentware not only shows you the money but it also puts the money in your pocket. It says to you, "Man, you deserve more than this but just keep doing the right thing because you will soon get exactly what you deserve if you don't give up."

Hardware and software can take all your money away from you but mentware brings more and more money to you. Hardware and software can make your credit card, purse or wallet to be lean but mentware makes your credit card, purse or wallet to be fat.

Hardware and software can give you the spirit of selfishness and laziness but mentware gives you the spirit of service and decisive search for solutions to problems.

Great men and women of our times and history might have used hardware and software to showcase their missions and visions but it was mentware that actually brought success to them. Most of them did not even use hardware and software at all because such tools were not in existence when they were on this planet but they never achieved anything without mentware.

It was mentware that showed and brought Christopher Columbus to America. It was mentware in him that discovered America, a land flowing with milk and honey.

It was mentware that helped Martin Luther King Jnr. to see that time will come when all men and women of America will not be judged by the color of their skin. It is mentware that has made that tall dream to become a reality today and we can all say now, "Yes, we can!"

Raymond Edeh is an expert writer in a variety of topics. He writes high quality reviews for high demand products. Visit Raymond's site at http://www.flyarticles.com for your ghostwriting services.

Using Quality Materials to Build Kit Homes

Kit homes are growing in popularity as more and more prospective home owners realize the efficiency and simplicity of this type of building process. The materials used to build kit homes are based upon local council building requirements. As such, the materials used in kit homes are often state of the art materials on the cutting edge of fireproofing technology as well as wind resistance technology. Ultimately the choice is yours, but choosing a kit home made with quality materials makes great sense. It is the more cost effective way to maximize your benefits and ensure quality in every step of the home building process.

Choosing a Builder and Materials

When you choose a builder that has kit building as their area of expertise it will determine the quality of your home. All builders do not give the same concern to quality materials. Choosing a builder with a solid reputation can save you time, money and heart ache. You choose the correct builder and they will in turn show you how to choose the proper high quality materials you need to make your home building dream a reality.

Just as all builders are not created equal neither are all building materials made the same. Specific building materials that may be suitable for use in one area of the country may be completely unsuitable in another region. If you live in an area that is prone to bush fires for example, the material needed to build your home to the highest level of safety would not be the same materials needed for building in a flood plain.

Choosing a Design

The design style you choose when selecting your kit home will also play a large factor in determining the types of materials needed to build that home. Each kit home has predetermined specifications that cannot be altered structurally. However there is much room for negotiation in many aspects of home building, and you should feel welcome and involved every step of the way.

For example, you are naturally involved in choosing the colours for your homes walls, both interior and exterior. You may choose to let the builder select your light fixtures or you may prefer to select them yourself. Those decisions will be based on how involved you want to be. Talk to your builder, they want to please you.

Showing your Style

One has a multitude of choices in building material. The motivation behind choosing particular options should begin with safety, but it can extend to reflect your personal taste and end up as a display of your style. Once the initial building materials and design have been chosen for your kit home, you can then begin to accessorize. If you want to be involved in choosing your shutters or your water faucets just let your builder know in the beginning. You can hammer out an arrangement that suits both your budget and sense of style.

You can rest assured that in step one, if you choose a high quality kit home builder of sound reputation, it means you can trust that builder to guide you through the myriad of choices in safety and aesthetics as you build your dream home.

Oz Kit Homes are Australia 's premier kit home supplier. Oz Kit Homes have been providing quality kit homes for the owner-builder for over 10 years. For a free quote, visit Kit Homes

Top Keynote Speakers and Event Speakers

There are many people who have the skills and understanding necessary to be effective when it comes to public speaking. However, not all speakers have what it takes to command an audience, making them effective keynote speakers. When choosing the right keynote speaker for your engagement, it is necessary to choose a speaker that can command your audience properly and can maintain their attention long enough to get their message out. Five of the most effective keynote speakers are Keith Harrell, Vince Poscente, Joseph Michelli, Ram Charan and Michael Treacy.

Keith Harrell -- Keith Harrell is a former marketing executive for the IBM Corporation, and has more than thirteen years of corporate experience as one of IBM's top training instructors. Keith Harrell travels all across the world in other to impact the lives of his clients on both a professional and personal level. Keith Harrell works as an author, a consultant, a trainer and a speaker, and is highly recognized for the enlightening and innovative presentations that he makes in order to share his ideas with other business owners.

Vince Poscente -- Vince Poscente has the mind set which is necessary in order to meet the demands of corporate culture, including the perfect balance of a passion for excellence, a dedication to the journey and a balance of mental toughness. Vince Poscente had what it took to turn himself into a Olympic skier from a recreational one in the span of only four years. Willing to try absolutely anything and everything once, he took part in his first Hi-Tek adventure race in July of 1998, then went on to the competition at Castaic Lake in October of that year. Against 259 teams, Vince's team emerged in 45th place.

Joseph Michelli -- Joseph Michelli is a speaker who is sought-after on an international level. He is also an organizational psychologist, and a business consultant. Joseph Michelli is known for urging people and businesses alike to achieve the extraordinary. Joseph Michelli is known for writing best-selling books about business principles, and he also hosts a radio program in Colorado. Joseph Michelli works to share his knowledge of business practices by delivering keynote presentations which work to develop productivity in the workplace.

Ram Charan -- Ram Charan co-authored a title called "Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done", and is an active advisor to CEOs who belong to fortune 100 companies, as well as emerging firms funded by venture capital. Ram Charan strives to convert visions into action and reality using his business techniques and ideas. Visit Rams new book Know-How The 8 skills that separate people who perform from those who dont.

Michael Treacy -- Michael Treacy is an expert on corporate strategies and the transformation of businesses who is widely known and recognized for giving companies what they need to help them achieve leadership in the market. Michael Treacy has been working to help improve businesses for more than 25 years and continues to be a strong presence in the business marketing industry. Michael Treacy takes on the greatest strategic challenges in order to transform businesses all over the world, and has plenty to say about business practices and what it really takes to get a business off the ground.

2007 RightNow Communications

Public Speakers

Dr. Joseph Michelli Video

Vince Poscente Video

BOOKING INFORMATION:

Brooks International Speakers Bureau
763 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204
PHONE: 303.825.8700
FAX: 303.825.8701

Are Resistance Piers Right For Your Home?

The resistance pier belongs to a family of foundation repair products that are sometimes referred to as micro piles, push piers, or steel piers. These foundation repair products are driven hydraulically into the soil using the structural weight of the building as a reaction force.

A friction reduction collar is attached to the lead section of pier pipe. The purpose of the collar is to create an opening in the soil that has a larger diameter than the pier pipe. This dramatically reduces the skin friction on the pier pipe as it is driven into the soil and allows the installer to load test and verify that the pier encountered firm bearing stratum or rock that is suitable to support the design load.

Resistance piers like other steel piers are an end-bearing pier that does not rely upon nor requires skin friction to produce support. Each pier is field load tested after it is installed. The piers are able to develop a factor of safety because the piers are installed and load tested individually using the maximum weight of the structure as the reaction force. The ability of the system to develop significant factors of safety comes from the different methods used between pier installation and load transfer during restoration.

The piers are driven individually and the entire structure works as the reaction; but during load transfer hydraulic cylinders are placed at multiple locations thus reducing the load on each pier to only the design working load. A building with substantial construction and rigidity can develop greater pier factors of safety than a weaker structure. A quality resistance pier system, incorporating a synchronized lifting system, is the first step towards fixing your structures failing foundation.

About the Author:

Jeff Tully invites you to view his website http://www.myfoundationrepairs.com if you are having any foundation issues including bowing walls, cracks in your foundation or any type of settlement issue. On this website you will find the truth about foundation repair methods and what you should expect. There are many misconceptions about foundation piers or tie backs, get the straight answers here

This site was designed and built with the homeowner in mind is the only true source for foundation repair and waterproofing information. From determining if you really have a structural issue to hiring an engineer or foundation expert, you will find the answers on my site

Christianity As the World Changes

Most people seem to go through life doing what others do and never seem to question much about whether the people around them are actually right or wrong. How many of us do exactly what our parents, grandparents and great grandparents do? I was raised a Christian by Christians and they were raised Christians by other Christians and so on. I don't know when or who in my family tree actually decided to become part of the Christian faith. I don't think it really matters today.

Someone had to of made the decision and I will probably never know. I do know this, I have followed Christianity as far as I possibly could and the next step in my life is going to be based somehow on a more spiritually universal world. I can't seem to follow something, that doesn't make sense to me, anymore. Christianity is more or less a religion that people throughout history have made adjustments to, whenever they felt necessary.

This is often like changing a tire on a car as it starts to wear or goes flat. In order for the car to operate and run smoothly we will need to pay a little attention to it, this will require maintenance over time as the car begins to have problems. We have to solve these problems or our car will become useless and will need to be sent to the junkyard.

Religions throughout history have done the same, as the people become more intelligent and less dependent, they need to create new things and make adjustments. If they don't make these adjustments over time, the religion will no longer be necessary and be sent to the junk heap of time. This is what happened to the Greek and Roman gods, what makes you think, that your God or gods will stand the test of time.

Do you think there's going to be any more adjustments to Christianity in the future? It seems like the last adjustments were Scientology and the Mormons or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These religions don't exactly follow what Paul started in the Roman Catholic Church. What will the next adjustment be and why will it be necessary?

If you choose to follow Christianity, how do you know which church is right, I mean their core beliefs are right, aren't they. To love your neighbor and be compassionate. To show kindness towards others and help the needy. Do you think that we're going to have to adjust this one day and start treating certain religious followers, whose skin color is deference or speaks a different language with cruelty. I wonder what the next adjustment in Christianity is going to be.

Men Problems Christianity

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Contractor In Southern California

So you want to make big money making a living as a contractor in the state of California. Well now I bet you have seen contractors on TV or maybe you know someone who is a contractor. You see these men and women playing the part as Mr. or Mrs. Money bags. If you have the slightest thought that becoming a contractor will provide you with a life of riches think again.

Most contractors that I know and have worked with over the years don't think of there jobs as easy. They have to work everyday and a lot into the night doing estimates or meeting with potential clients because they are to busy during the day. The life of most contractors in the beginning will be difficult to say the least. But if successful you will make a great living for yourself and your family.

Now that we got the false illusion of the contractor answering his cell phone all day at some nice golf course having lunch talking about the money that he just made selling his oil stocks. We can start on reality. If being a contractor was that easy everyone would be a contractor. Right..... Well maybe not everyone.

I have been a contractor for over 22 years and in construction for 30 year. I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I remember when a few contractors that I worked for made a lot of money during the late 1970's. These guys had Ferraris and money to burn with one exception they had no idea how to save any of it. These guys went on vacations and bought extravagant toys for them selves. Out of most of the big framing contractors I worked for about 10 percent are still in business or actually saved their money during the good times so that they could make it through the bad times.

These contractors never thought it was going to end. Life on easy street that is. But it did and most went by the way side. I guess that is the nature of business. Especially the current economic business cycles that we seem to go through over the years. If you don't have the money to advertise or carry a payroll. Your business is going to suffer during the bad times. Sure there is credit and bank loans but you still have to pay that money back. IF you can't save your money stash some away for advertising.

Some of the best advice I can give a contractor anywhere especially in the state of California is " Don't Think The Great Times Of Easy Money Will Last Forever". Save some of the money you make just in case you need to get through the bad times. You will thank me for this latter, Some time down the road. Take this advice and put it into action starting right now.

Greg Vanden Berge has over 30 years of experience in residential home building and remodeling. This provides you with the comfort of knowing that you have a professional with the knowledge and skills to complete your construction projects in a timely manner.

Our low overhead along with our new online estimating system will provide you with the most competitive construction pricing in the area. We continue to educate ourselves about the new home improvement books and building systems in the construction industry. If we have any doubt that something might not work we don't use it. We have found some of these products to be the root of some major home building problems.

Click on the Home Remodeling Ideas to get more information and a possible online estimate for your home improvement project.

Where is Heaven

Many people live their lives with the assumption that Heaven is out there somewhere and is completely separate from life on earth. Many are taught that Heaven is a mystical place only accessed through death of the physical body. But in actuality, the spiritual planes of reality and the physical earth plane interpenetrate one another in the same point in space. Each plane has its own unique energetic structure that vibrates at its own frequency. The physical world is the lowest vibration of energy and actually lies within higher vibrational planes.

We can routinely access some of the higher, less dense planes through sleep, meditation or prayer. Whenever we are in an altered state of consciousness, we align with higher vibrational planes of reality and may come to have an expanded awareness that we dont experience in a waking state.

In the case of meditation , as we connect with our higher self, our creativity may be awakened or we may experience a light bulb moment that gives us a better understanding of who we are or of a situation going on in our lives.

As we dream, we are whisked off to a land of symbolismthe secret language of Spirit. Dreams can offer clues that can help us to resolve matters in our current waking lives. Through our dreams, we may also come in contact with deceased friends or family members or even catch a glimpse of an event that hasnt happened yet. Dream interpretation is a very useful tool that can bring the workings of Heaven into our awareness.

In prayer to the God of our understanding, we place ourselves in a position to be humbly conscious of the limitless possibilities that Heaven offers us. By recognizing the opportunities open to us, we can act on them and bring them into manifest.

Heaven is not a place, it is a system a system of subtle energies that are constantly stirring about and creating new effects that help shape and transform our daily lives. The earth plane is not separate from this system; it is merely the physical component of it. The system that sustains us in life is the same system that sustains us in death.

Karin Nemri is a Spiritual Counselor, Aiijii Healer and inter-nationally known Lecturer/Presenter. She has a private practice in Connecticut. You may wish to visit her website, http://www.SoulutionsofLight.com to learn how Spirit works through her to help others.

All About Copper Gutters

The need for gutters and downspouts is just a fact of life for nearly any homeowner. Unless you want to get wet coming out your front door or worse yet, get a leaking basement or major home damage, then you'll need rain gutters. One form of gutters that are quite popular are the copper gutters. Here's a look at everything about this type of rain gutter.

Copper gutters are good to have for many reasons including the fact that they will never rust or rot away. They can stand up to whatever Mother Nature throws your way better than any other type of gutter system.

Copper gutters add a distinctive style and flare to your home that is unlike your standard run-of-the-mill gutters. Their style is immediately noticeable and recognizable. It adds a sense of visual appeal that can only be found with copper.

They also add value to your home and require less maintenance than aluminum or other materials.

The one area you will only need to keep an eye on is with oxidation. Copper gutters will oxidize and turn green over time unless you treat them. There are several sealants available that can be applied to keep your copper gutters looking golden and shiny.

On the other hand many people prefer the greenish look, especially in older homes made from stone or stucco. It gives them a stately appeal. You'll see them on homes that grow ivy as well.

Copper gutters are not cheap as you might imagine. Prices run about 75% - 100% more than standard aluminum gutters. The upside is that due to their longevity you will make the money back over time.

Leaving the gutter installation to professionals is advised with copper. It is trickier to handle and you should really know what you are doing in order to avoid costly mistakes.

If you are looking for a beautiful gutter system that will stand up to the elements and last a lifetime, copper gutters may be your best solution.

By the way, you can learn more about Copper Gutters as well as much more information on all types of gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-Z.com

Are Home Remodeling Costs Down?

Lately we've been inundated by doom-and-gloom news in the media about the real estate market. But if you're planning to stay in your home and remodel or upgrade a rental for future resale, there is actually some good news to report: it's becoming less expensive to remodel as the market slows down and the law of supply and demand kicks in.

A year or so ago, the market was on fire and building materials and labor were scarce and expensive since the demand for both was equally hot. Construction material was in short supply, if you could find it at all, and finding skilled craftsmen for your project was an exercise in frustration. That situation was made even more difficult by the demand for rebuilding areas of the country that had been hit by Hurricane Katrina. On top of that, delivery costs also rose, due to a spike in gas prices. All of those factors contributed to cost increases of as much as 50 percent in certain areas.

The good news about all that? With the slow-down in the real estate market, materials are more readily available and construction people are actually looking for work to fill their schedules. Gas prices came down briefly, though they've begun to rise again, but the other pressures have lessened, which means that the cost of many common remodeling projects has decreased by 20% or more.

That's especially good news if your project is relatively small. During the height of the real estate boom, many contractors turned down smaller projects or told home owners to wait until they could get to them. However, many contractors are now actively trying to drum up work as the market continues to soften.

The downside of remodeling with an eye toward increasing your property's value is that, at least for the near term, your upgrade probably won't immediately pay for itself like it would have in the last few years. Since real estate prices have declined significantly in many parts of America, your remodeling project won't do much from an investment standpoint as it used to. Recent surveys have suggested that even the most popular upgrades, bathroom and kitchen remodels, are only returning about 80% of their cost.

The bottom line: this may be a good time to schedule that major remodeling project you've been wanting, assuming you're not doing it to quickly turn around and use the upgrade to increase your profits. If you do want to sell for top dollar in a buyer's market, you can increase your profits by turning your home into a buyer's dream home using less expensive faux paint techniques.

Whether you want to remodel or just decorate your home, you can benefit from exploring Flip That House with FAUX. See the controversial home that was on Flip That House at http://flipthathousewithfaux.com/book.html Enjoy your home!

Copyright 2007 Jeanette Fisher

Video Book Review - The Magic of Beleiving, by Claude Bristol

I don't need to write anything, watch the video

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended books, More on Claude Bristol

Greg is currently working on a personal development library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

50 Self Help Classics
Studying On Faith Alone

Feng Shui to Prosperity

How well do you know feng shui? Well, the Chinese were the first ones who established this concept and philosophy. Back then, they used it as part of their burial rituals. They think that there is a natural way of arranging things in harmony with the surroundings. They thought that there is the pattern of flow of energy in the universe and one can use it to promote prosperity and to improve one's well-being.

The Chinese have a great belief in the art of placement, which is popularly known as feng shui, and this has become a part of their lifestyle. When they want to build their house, decorate a room or rearrange the furniture, they use feng shui to let the positive energy flow freely. The world is composed of energy. In the concept of feng shui, there is that invisible energy called chi, which is surrounding us. However, not all chi is positive.

There is also negative chi and feng shui's goal is to decrease or prevent the creation of negative energy in a certain space. Feng shui experts say that sharp angles across a room or house can trigger the creation of this negative energy, thus it should be refurnished or countered. Moreover, feng shui deals with colors, shapes, and sounds as well. Many people have been using feng shui tips and admitted that it has significantly brought them good luck. Aside from that, it has given them prosperity in their relationships with business and other people.

In feng shui, the physical locations of objects in the environment play a great role. You can notice the different feeling when you see a red rose and a white rose. What do you feel when you have a sight of a red rose? You might feel a certain passion or powerful energy. But when you see a white rose, it can give you a relaxing and calm feeling, right? Yellow colors give you a refreshing spirit while black gives a powerful feeling.

If you want to improve your life, you can try feng shui and tell if it works for you. The main goal of it is to shift the positive energy towards you and your environment. You usually spend time in your home and this is where you could start applying good feng shui. Consult a feng shui expert to let you know the best way of arranging the furniture or the kitchen to create that perfect balance and harmony.

Who would want to have a happy and prosperous life? Most of us would want to be successful in all our endeavors and in fulfilling our careers. Feng shui's aim is to add to that and ensure that there us a balance in the way the surroundings and the objects are located. No matter how big or small your house is, it does not matter. As long as you are willing to arrange or build it with the concept of feng shui, nothing is impossible. If it has worked on so many people, chances are, it would also work for you. Most Chinese people believe in it and it worked for them. This is the reason why it has been popular and adapted by many other countries, even Westerners.

Even though it came from the Chinese, people from many parts of the world have embraced it. However, feng shui is not the ultimate solution to success. It is merely a tool that you can use to change your life. Together with hard work and determination, it will be more effective and it can help you in many different ways. Feng shui tips are there, all you have to do is to apply it in your home and see for yourself if it can work wonders.

Learn how to make your life happy and prosperous by visiting The Feng Shui Tips

Small Business SBA Loan Info - Is Anyone Out There Making Loans? Will the Federal Government Bailout

In the first two articles we talked about the prospects of small businesses finally receiving needed capital and some of the sources you can turn to. So assume you have selected a couple of smaller SBA lenders and are now ready to give your pitch. How do you present yourself? What information or documentation should you furnish? Let me tell you it is not going to be easy. Here are some suggestions to soften the blow:

Don't be intimidated. For some reason, people are naturally fearful of meeting bankers. Maybe it is the fact that their personal information will be disclosed or the prospect of rejection. Or simply that their whole livelihood may be at stake (Thanks, Sue, that really gave me a comfort level). Don't be that way. Take the mind set that they are in business to help you. They don't really have ice water in their veins (well, maybe lukewarm on a good day).

Dress appropriately. Unless you're a lawyer or planning to go to a funeral later on, you don't have to dress in a business suit. That's all pass. Business casual is fine, with a clean, well manicured look. That's right. First impressions are everything. In other words, look the part. One of the best impressions I ever received was from a large building contractor who showed up in his company truck with a well-pressed uniform (and company logo) he and his employees use, complete with tools and a hard hat. Well, maybe drop the tools. He just looked like a busy successful contractor.

Leave the hype behind. Bankers absolutely hate the used car sales mentality. You're not selling to one of your customers (Ooch, that hurts). Quiet and understated is good. Stop waving your arms.

Brief and to the point. Heck, they are not making loans anyway and have nothing better to do. Come on--you know that's not true. They like you to get right to the point. And remember actions speak better than words. Talk really is cheap to a banker.

Bring a business folder. I will never forget one meeting I had with a prospective lender in which they brought a well organized business folder (I loved the tabs) with the initial business plan, current financials, and a budget. I didn't ask them to bring it since it was the introductory meeting. This will really impress them. This does not mean you will be turning over the file at the first interview. Let them glance over the file briefly but then find out exactly what they need and tell them you would like to spend a little bit of time putting it in the format they are requesting. Showing you are organized is a good thing.

Meet in person and not by phone. There's no way you can find out if they are interested in loaning you money by phone: "Absolutely, come on in, we'll be happy to discuss it with you." Now that really told me a lot. As far as I know they're only interested in opening up a new account. There's no way you can find that out by a phone call. It disguises their true intentions. It's much harder to bluff in person. That way you can look them in the eye and ask if they're really planning to loan money.

Ask the tough questions. Don't be afraid. You can do it. The typical prospective borrower simply asks their terms, amounts available, and how long it takes. This tells you almost nothing. Here are some better questions: 1) Do you typically loan to small businesses in the same industry as myself? Are there certain industries you stray away from? 2) I'm looking for a bank that specializes in helping small businesses. Are you one? 3) How many small business loans have you personally made in the last 30 days (say this is politely because you're hitting them right between the eyes). Were they unsecured? What were the range of loan amounts? 4) Has your bank held off any in making loans because of the credit crisis? 5) I'm a big boy/girl and you can tell me like it is. Is your bank really making business loans at this point? 6) Are you making unsecured loans at this point? If so, tell me exactly what my qualifications should be? 7) What credit score should I be have? 8) Can you tell me exactly what procedures will be followed after my application, including how long it takes? 8) If you require real estate equity, will it have to be 100% backed by real estate? Will you take trade fixtures and equipment? 9) What debt to equity should I expect (for example, if it is 75%, that means if you have $100,000 in home equity, you would only be able to get $75,000), 10) Are there any special problems or concerns I should know about because of this tough economy? 11) What amount of positive cash flow should I have to support the loan?, and 12) What kind of personal and business financial documents will I be preparing?

Examine your credit report before the interview. Get a recent copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. Give the banker a summary of your situation. They're not interested in long stories: "Yeah, my mortgage company was taken over by ABC and they didn't even let me know. I usually get my mail on the first of the month and found out two months later that I was sending it to the wrong place. You know I call this woman in the bank four different times and she told me four different stories. I then talked to her supervisor and he said . . . So I wrote a letter to.... And followed up with a conversation to ... And that was when I was transferred to ... But then I wrote the Better Business Bureau and they said. . . Alright already. We get the point. Don't be so defensive. Be prepared to tell them, short and sweet, the following issues:

1) how many credit cards or other revolving debt you have, and the approximate limits and balances

2) loan balances on your mortgages and the conservative fair market value of your home

3) unsecured loans or lines of credit previously taken out

4) the total amount of debt that you owe

5) the approximate amount of your assets

6) current credit score (that's right, you have to pay extra through Experian to get this, but it is worth it).

Talk to the right person. This might be difficult. You could very well be talking to a lower level person that will have nothing to do with a decision on your loan. Before the meeting, very professionally ask if you can talk to the person who would be primarily making the decision.

What you will use the money for. Bankers love to know precisely what you will be using the money for and how this will increase your income. Simply telling them that you need to expand or use it for cash flow needs is like whistling in the wind.

Talk past performance. Remember, talk is cheap for the future. Everyone claims that they will make millions next year. A banker is more interested in the actual historic figures the last few years.

Positive cash flow. There are some loan programs, such as the SBA Community Express Program that only ask about gross income. But other programs will require your net cash flow. Be prepared to describe it.

Positive, positive, positive. Bankers only want top hear the positive, not the negative. They all know that you need money. But you have to play the game. It is the kiss of death to use such phrases as: "I could really use the money now", "We need this money quickly because of cash flow needs", or "Our business is at a point if we don't receive this money, it will jeopardize its success" (That really shot yourself and the foot). Whatever you do, never used such words as "desperate", "trouble", or "needed it now", even if it is true. Instead, talk in terms of expanding your business to make more income.

They love budgets. It shows you are the type of person who has spent the time to map out future success.

A new bank is OK. Some people think the only chance they have is to make an application with their existing bank they have had for ten years. Wrong. That's no guarantee if they're not interested in loaning. In fact, a new bank might be even more interested because they needed new business and your new business account. Don't be afraid to go to a new bank.

Sue Malone
442 Diablo Road, Suite 137
Danville, CA 94526
Email: info@StrategiesForSmallBusiness.com

Sue Malone is a small business advocate and founder of Strategies For Small Business, a company devoted to providing SBA Loans for small business owners, whether as start-ups or for the expansion needs of existing businesses. For six years she has been the nations #1 provider of SBA Community Express Loans, having funded over 25,000 businesses in all 50 states. For a free loan consultation or for more information on the programs, visit our website at: http://www.StrategiesForSmallBusiness.com Or call (925) 899-8449.

2008 Strategies For Small Business. All rights reserved.

Countertops and Your Kitchen Remodel

You should not only have a wonderfully designed kitchen, but you should also have a kitchen that looks good and feels good. You need to also have a kitchen that is practical. You will want to consider the kitchen island as a way that you can fill a big space, but also a way that you can prepare foods more quickly and have a casual dinning table. Think about all the fun you can have learning to cook new things, or just when you want to entertain in your kitchen.

You can design the kitchen island with the classic butcher block or you can use a counter top that brings out the drama. You will also find that the kitchen island will allow you to have extra space to work in preparation and a place where you can sit and have a casual dinning experience. You will want to consider the fact that islands can have multiple purposes.

There are some that are L spaced and then you have just regular square or rectangular shaped. You can have them custom made so that you can extra space for storage and extra space in general. Kitchens that are wide open tend to look very dull and boring. If you use the island as an accessory then you will be able to suit all you kitchen needs in practicality and style. You should consider having stools for the island too. You will want to purchase or build the island so that you can have something that really brings all the space and style together. You will find that there are so many ways that you can use the island.

As for the benefits of the island, you will want to consider the fact that you will be able to prepare your food easier. You will also be able to enjoy it as a design when you choose your surface top. You will also want to consider adding storage underneath. It can be a place where your kids eat breakfast. It can be a place that centers the kitchen. You will want to consider some of the options that you have with the island and consider drawing up plans to have one installed into the kitchen. For those who do not have a big kitchen, you will want to consider getting a small kitchen island that is pre-made for your liking.

When you look at the kitchen island as a way that you can incorporate your dcor, you will be able to make a huge impact on the way that your kitchen looks and how the kitchen operates. You need to consider the deals that you will get locally and on the Internet. You will also want to think about all the styles that you could incorporate into your kitchen.

Johnathan Bakers's short articles are published on plenty of websites associated with kitchen island designs. His writings on kitchen islands can be encountered on his webpage as well as various other web pages.

Bathroom Decorating For A Zen Like Spa Look

Bathroom decorating can be fun and challenging but when it ends up giving you the relaxing feeling of a Zen like spa it is well worth the effort. Here are some tips on how you can get this relaxing feel in your bathroom

You should use soft colors and neutral tones colors for your Zen bathroom. Matching colors with your wall paint, towels and shower curtains is key so get paint cards that have your paint colors on them and bring them shopping with you when you buy your bathroom accessories - that way you will get a perfect match.

In the bathroom, consider accessorizing with artwork on the walls, as well as toiletry and toothbrush holders, towel racks, towels and decorative soaps. You want to end up with a minimalist look so don't put too much in. Consider sleek designs for the hamper and wastebasket.

If your bathroom is big enough it could include shoji screens, plants and furniture with simple lines as well as a table water fountain and some bamboo. Window treatments for the Zen bathroom decorating theme should be simple and plain. Try updating your windows with bamboo blinds. After you get the ideal look on your windows, you might realize the walls are drab by comparison. To overcome this, try hanging watercolors or oriental silks in frames around the room.

While you may not think about it much, flooring plays a vital role in your interior design style so putting in bath mats to compliment your Zen decorating theme can really improve it's style. The best type of flooring for the peaceful and serene style is organic woven mats which you will want to purchase in neutral tones.

For some decorative touches which will help tie together your Zen decor think about a lotus bowl with 1 flower, rice paper lamps, and Asian pottery to accent your room design. You could also add towels that match your wall colors rolled up and stacked in a bamboo basket just like you might find at the spa.

Your Zen bathroom decorating theme can be a snap if you take the time to plan it out adequately. Simply buy the pieces on your plan and put them in place - your room with have the feeling of a peaceful spa before you know it.

Visit http://bathroomdecoratingguide.com for more great tips on decorating your bathroom in a variety of popular bathroom decorating styles.

Temporary Ceiling Repair

Is 2012 Really the End of the World?

Maybe just the end of the world as we know it. No, the world is not going to implode or explode or be completely destroyed in any form for that matter. 2012 is a new beginning, not an end.

There has been so much said about all this, from the bible, from Nostradamus, from Edgar Cayce, from the Mayans. In 2012 we will truly be able to experience heaven on earth. For some, this has already started. We are already feeling these changes. There are many people on this earth who have Ascended from the 3D reality to the 5th Dimension reality already. The Earth herself has ascended from 3D to 5D. In 5D time and space are different, they do not exist in the same way as they do in 3D. This is why so many people are having experiences outside what the "norm" has been the past few thousand years.

Some people think the financial meltdowns etc. are really bad news. It is just a change, different things going on, it doesn't have to be bad news. Everything is perception. A lot of people are being forced to change the way they have been thinking, or the way they have been doing things. So much of the world's issues right now are related to the old 3D ways crumbling. It is a new beginning, not an ending.

Jesus (or whatever Ascended Master you relate to based on your religion or lack thereof), IS coming. It is the Christ Consciousness in us all. Jesus "the man" is not going to just show up one day to save us. Its not quite like that. The consciousness of Jesus will show up for us all as soon as we realize that we have access to it. It is your own greatness, your own Christ Consciousness that will save you. Your realization that you are God. We ourselves are the second coming.

What makes things so hard is the separation from the divine light and love of all that is. For many years people have turned to religion, or leaders that tell us that things are outside of ourselves. Those in perceived power don't want us to know that the power of EVERYTHING is within us. We are all one.

The talk of hellfire and hell coming to earth for those that do not accept Jesus into their lives is true in some ways, but not in the literal sense that some organized religions would have you believe. It has to do with those that accept they are the creators themselves. Those that can see and feel their own greatness will truly be creating a heaven on earth for themselves and those around them.

Those that rely on (or "worship"), things from the 3D reality -- money and ego and external power -- truly will be in a hell on earth. Earth and her energy is changing, has already changed. We, as a species, are learning that we can create whatever we want here. It has very little to do with ego and power. There are many on the earth right now who are here to help with this transition. Many lightworkers who are ascending and "getting it" are here to help you. Many are actually devoting their lives to helping others remember where they came from and what divine beings they are. The first wave of Ascension is over. There are many Masters on this plane of our planet right now. Willing to help you to realize you don't have to stay stuck in 3D any more. Many people think Jesus is a saviour, as in separate from you, that will come and rescue you from your life, your existence, yourself, your perceived sins. God is not going to "make people go to hell". What kind of loving God would actually make people go to hell? If all one does is worship money, control or power they WILL likely end up in their own hell. This will be their own doing (or undoing) though. It will not be something that is done TO them.

Look at how things are right now. The world financial crisis is HUGE. Anyone who is very centred in, or worships, money or power at this point in time is RIGHT NOW in their own personal HELL. God certainly isn't putting them there. It is their perception of their time on earth that is putting them there.

Those that are suffering right now just need to look inside themselves, at the Christ Consciousness, at the God in THEM. Hanging onto the old 3D reality and the worship of external things like money or power or ego is what is causing them suffering. The always wanting more is causing suffering. There is enough on this earth for everyone. Some say they don't believe that...I've had people tell me to my face that I'm full of you know what just for suggesting such a thing.

The reality of it though....at least MY reality of it is that there is enough for all. If we take the greed, the control, the lusting for external power away, there is enough.

All through the bible it states that God is in all of us. Therefore, Love is in all of us.

Religions made the devil up to scare the heck out of people. There were, and still are, those that do not want you to know your own greatness. They don't want you to know what they know. If everyone knew, there would be balance. No one would be better than, or richer than. Everyone would just "Be".

Religions say the devil "fell from grace" because he wanted to be God-like. What better way to make people shun their own greatness, their own connection with God. Scare the crap out of them so that when they start to realize their own greatness, and that they are not just a "part of Source (God)", but that they are indeed Source (God) themselves, the creators of their own lives and spiritual journeys, they get afraid and experience more separation. As soon as people realize their greatness, no one will be able to control them. That is very scary for those that think they have the power over the masses.

We are all God-like. We are all creators, God is Love, we are all a part of God. This scares a lot of people and there are certain governments and religions that don't want people to know this, so they make up stuff like the devil or demons to scare people. They don't want the general population to realize their power, they would lose their own place in society; in the 3D reality they have created for themselves. Imagine if everyone knew just how much like God we are, how much a part of God we are.....no one could control us anymore. No one would have the power to "make" us fearful. God is Love.....the "devil" is fear.

So, is 2012 the end of the world? I certainly hope it is the end of the world as we have known it up to this point.

Do not fear the changes, embrace them. Connect with Source in your own way. Find and connect with your own internal Christ Consciousness, your own greatness.

When things are done with Love and not fear, nothing but God and Love can shine through.

There are many things going on. Being a psychic lightworker myself (for lack of a better term), I know that what I see and do, anyone can see and do. The biggest challenge is to KNOW that you can do it. It is just a matter of being open to it and having the realization that we are all Source.

Remember where you came from, remember your divinity. Connect with your own Christ Consciousness. Experience the bliss every day, feel the love every day. Live with Love not Fear of what is going on on our earth. Its all good...

I am a psychic living in British Columbia, Canada. I have been psychic since birth and have been doing psychic readings for others for the past 25 years. With these psychic readings I help people to enhance their own personal growth and assist them to realize their life path. I am also a medium and often when I do readings I have contact from the other side, whether from a loved one who has passed over or Spirit teachers and guides. Visit Psychic Medium for more information on psychic readings.

James Van Praagh

Construction Estimating - In Southern California

Many contractors use a blank sheet of paper (or worse yet, the back of an envelope), or construction estimating forms, or just a word processor to estimate their jobs. There are also cost books that have thousands of prices in them that are used by many contractors to create estimates for their jobs. If this is you, you're probably losing thousands of dollars every year.

After talking with thousands of contractors over the years it's clear to me that this type of estimating is not the best way of doing it. The challenge is that it's difficult to spot duplications and missing items in your estimate, if it's more that a couple of dozen items.

I believe that the best way to create your estimates, no matter how you do them, it to do them by, what I call, sections. Many people have different names for section, like tasks, classes, categories and so on. Simply put, sections are a way of organizing your estimates in a way that reduces the probability that you'll make an error. Sections are, for example, Site Preparation, Foundations, Framing, Roofing, Electrical, Landscaping, and so on.

The reason this reduces you likelihood of making an error is that every item you add to the estimate is put into a section. Digging and pouring the foundation and items associated with that go into the Foundation Section. All the framing items (labor and materials) go into the Framing section, Roofing items go into the Roofing section, and so on.

So, let's take a look at how this works. As preparing the estimate you put each of the items into the appropriate section. It's also a good idea to total your costs for each section as well.

When you've finished the estimate, you now go back and review each section. Looking at the total for each section gives you an idea if you're in the right ball park to begin with. Then you review each of the items in each section to make sure you don't have any duplicate items. As you're reviewing each section you finally review that everything you need to complete, for example, the foundation is in the Foundation section. You go through each of the sections to confirm that you've got everything you need in the estimate you're going to give to your prospect.

You'll find lists of sections at:
http://www.construction-estimating.com/Sections
which you're free to use and modify to fit your specific needs.

By the way, if you're not at least using a spreadsheet to prepare your estimates, you should do that as well because a spreadsheet will automatically do your calculations eliminating errors in mathematics in your estimates. For the small cost of a spreadsheet and the time to learn how to use it, you can save yourself hours of frustration and errors in your construction estimating.

Christopher Carpenter is the developer of LiteningFast Estimating. LiteningFast is an estimating program that helps you estimate faster, easier and more accurately. It's integrated with QuickBooks to provide job cost.

It was introduced to the market in 1994 and currently has over 3,500 users in the US, Canada, and around the world.

You can find more information at contractor construction estimating. You'll be glad you did.

Information about construction estimating software for contractors is available.

Concrete Patio Gofer Damage

Learn How to Communicate With the Younger Generation

Before I became a senior citizen, I thought I was keeping up fairly well. Then, after retirement, I began reflecting on how few actors and singers and other popular icons I knew by name any longer. I also became aware that I had allowed technology to outrun me. When observing video games, I remembered how much fun PONG used to be. Magazines became suddenly overrun by teen driven products and jargon and styles.

The sad part of all of this was that I was failing to learn the language my son and my grandchildren were speaking. And, when you don't know or can't speak the language, communication becomes severely limited. The good news was, in my case, that the younger ones are and remain very tolerant of their dad and granddad. But, with my own inabilities I still suffer some inferiority in trying to stay current.

Perhaps, some of my own experiences will speak to yours:

*Whatever you do, don't try to fake it. You will get caught every time. They can sort out sincerity and honesty very quickly. They had rather respect you than for you to think you are cool.

*Spend as much time with them as you can. That is a tall order. The "children" (and don't ever call them that) in your life have overwhelming demands, but they will always find joy in having time with you. So, work at making it happen.

*Communicate by phone and email. Not easy, because of distractions, but give it a try and don't give up.

*When together, give up your own need to dominate the conversation and the directions it takes. Ask questions, seek explanations out of their experience and from their world.

*Avoid being judgmental. This is probably the toughest task of all. It is also the one that will earn the most respect and camaraderie. I wish I had learned this one at age 25.

*Be sure to find out what their interests are, what turns them on, what dimensions of life and the universe they live in gives them the most satisfaction.

*Be sure to demonstrate interest. Don't feign interest, be interested!

*When possible, and invited, include their friends, so that you can learn by observation and participation what their life is all about.

*Don't be easily offended. You will only lose.

*Check your embarrassment quotient at the door.

Most of us senior citizens know how special it is to be with children and grandchildren and to learn from them. They will want to be with you more! You both win!

Article provided by Dr. Jerry D. Elrod. For information on retirement, Baby Boomers and everything related to Seniors, please visit my blog at http://seniorcitizenjournal.blogspot.com

Masonry How To's - Home Tips

Materials

Brick is considered as the strongest masonry material available. However, pure brick is already rare in the market and buyers who find it are surprised of its high cost. Brick comes in assorted colors.

Cleaning is easy and dark stains that may develop overtime are cleared with a regular cleanser. Over time, some parts may come loose between each other and these loose joints can damage your interior walls. It is fixed through a process called tuckpointing where the joints are filled with mortar.

Stone is another popular material among designers and homeowners. It is installed by starting at the top going down to ensure that no mortar will drip once it is completed. A good contractor will build the stone exterior with a stud frame to properly support the structure. Proper maintenance of the stone masonry is ensuring that it resists cracks brought by water through proper sealing. It retards the absorption of any liquid.

Concrete block is an efficient and economical material. It is made of Portland cement, gravel, sand and water. Like stone, a water sealant is also needed to avoid a weakening of materials. It is sprayed on the wall free from dust, oil and grease.

Problems

Some of the problems encountered in wall maintenance include moisture from cracks, weakening joints, discoloration and staining. This can be fixed by sealing the wall properly.

Also, the walls may be leaning on a different angle or sinking down the ground because of poor concrete at the bottom or compaction. The bricks, stones or concrete may also develop cracks due to aging. If there is too much pressure on the wall, it may develop bulges at the back side or worse, large cracks and crumbles. Call a professional contractor and have your wall inspected once you notice these problems.

Andy Denton of http://www.Realty.com

Floor Repairs

Putting God on Trial

I was listening to something interesting the other day when someone mentioned putting God on trial for some of the atrocities in the world. If God is the creator of the universe and all that is, or all that ever will be, how can we put him on trial, he's our creator. We can't put our spiritual master on trial can we, he'll just escape anyway if we convict him, won't he. He's got to be smart enough to break out a prison.

As a child I often thought about God and why he would allow such suffering throughout the world. It never made sense to me when I was child and it still doesn't make sense to me today. Why would the creator, want us to suffer, with even the littlest of problems. Other religions have explained it as if God was teaching us a lesson and that's why we have hardships in our lives.

Do you think God ever went through these hardships? Did God have problems finding a job or gathering some food? Does God even eat? Okay now I'm getting off the topic here,(I wonder what God does eat)... if children do something wrong, most of the time their parents will discipline or correct them. If adults to things wrong, the government will discipline and reprimand them. Sometimes these punishments can be severe. It depends on the crimes committed.

If man has to be put on trial for committing crimes like murder, genocide, and general atrocities towards mankind, should God also be put on trial or is he above man because he's God. I can't imagine the creator of the universe ever being put on trial for man's crimes against humanity or other men, but it seems like someone who is all powerful and all knowing could help his children out of this little mess that we're in today.

Couldn't God help us like we help our children. We as parents might not have all the answers, but we do not claim to have them. We are not all powerful and all knowing, like we would assume God to be. When is God going to help us solve some of our major world problems, like genocide and starvation.

Putting God on trial might not solve all of our problems today but it would be nice to have some help with our problems. If he created us to please him, do we have to go on trial one day, for all the things we did or ignored while we were alive. Something to think about isn't it.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development. Check This Out What Happened to the Wise Men's Gifts

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

Raised Door Threshold

Building a Deck Steps & Stringers Video

Stair building tips for installing lights and decking, handrail tips and some deck advice.

For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com

Stair Building Help

Water Damage Repairs

Feng Shui Tips For Your Home and Garden

The entry to a home or the doorway into rooms is where your first view is encountered. Doorways and entrances to anything should feel welcoming. They should be clear and the pathway should allow ease of movement.

The Chi, (or energy flow), should never be made stagnant at this point. Pictures and ornamental decorations in this area should be pleasing and round leafed plants in pots attract prosperity into the home. Another tip to remember is that if you have doorways from front to back that are visible, the flowing of energy should be stopped from escape.

A Feng Shui cure for this problem, can be by placing a plant as suggested to the side of the entry: thus creating an environment to capture the Chi flow. The essence of creating good flow and attracting harmony, involves placement.

Feng Shui recognizes that small problems can have a major effect on your life, and that a well kept home will always have better chi than one where maintenance tasks have been allowed to pile up. The minor problems and inconveniences that plague a poorly maintained home can restrict your freedom of movement, cloud your ability to understand a situation, make it difficult to take advantage of opportunities, and waste your resources.

Think of Chi as an important guest you wish to welcome to your home, and make your formal entry - and the access to it from the street - as inviting as possible.

The principles of Feng Shui can be applied to your garden as well. By applying Feng Shui principles to your garden you can attract positive energy, wealth and good fortune. Given below are a few tips and ideas on how to Feng Shui your garden.

The most important principles of Feng Shui in the garden are curves and proportion. Your house is the Yin energy and your garden is the Yang energy. The Yang aspect in Feng Shui is about light and space. Try to incorporate all the five elements of Feng Shui in your garden as much as possible.

- Use a pond, birdbath or fountain to represent the water element.
- Use a sundial or bronze statue in the garden for metal.
- Use trees and shrubs for wood.
- Use plants or flowers that are red and orange in color to represent fire.
- Use earth to represent the earth element.

Water features such as pools, ponds and fountains are beautiful and encourage beneficial chi. They also symbolize prosperity and create yin (feminine) energy.

You can create more Yang (masculine) energy by using garden lights to add light to the garden's dark areas. Remember balance and harmony is the key to a Feng Shui Garden.

Please take the time to visit our site - http://www.GardenandHomeDecorSite.com - to help with creating beneficial Chi in your environment.

We offer beautiful stone water fountains, wall fountains, garden planters, bird houses and feeders, garden furniture and hammocks, garden statues and plaques.

In addition, we offer home decor such as an array of different types of candles, glass sculptures, vases, and table-top fountains. Turn your garden, patio, deck, or home into the oasis you have always dreamed of.

Plywood Floor Repair

Is Money a Big Part of Organized Religion?

Where do you think most modern day religious organizations would be without money? Is money really a big part of modern day organized religion or is that something in the past. Why do certain scriptures require their believers to donate a portion of their earnings?

Does this money improve the lives of religious believers? I'm asking these questions because most people won't. Most people don't even no where the money they earn is going. If you donate money to a religious organization and they choose to hire someone to install stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary, is this really going to help the congregation. Is this a want or a need?

When does a religious group become too powerful for its own good. Do you think the Catholic religion, which at the time of me writing this article, is the largest organized religion in the world, by itself, is very powerful or driven by finances. This organization has seeked wealth and power for centuries, creating an establishment that has its hands in everything all over the world.

Is it fair to have religious leaders living a life of luxury, while some of their followers suffer and go without food or shelter. Should some of this money go towards the aid of others who choose not to believe in the religious culture of their patrons?

Why do some people give money to their religious organization, even though they can barely survive. Are these people driven to contribute money because someone makes them feel guilty? Some of these people give money and time, even at the expense of their own family. It's just not fair, when I see people who are barely scraping by but give faithfully to an organization that promises them a better life after they die.

Your rewards for living a good life on Earth will be received after you die and are allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Does anyone have any proof of this? If you choose to base your life entirely on faith instead of seeking knowledge and wisdom, or even questioning your religious doctrine, you're not doing yourself any favors.

Money plays a big part in organized religion and honestly does a lot of good throughout the world. Christianity has had a large impact on the United States of America but only time will tell if it was a good thing or not.

If you have extra money and desire to give it to a religious organization of your choice, feel free, but if you're giving 10% of the money you've earned and really can't afford to, I wish you would take the time to research what your church actually spends it's money on. If your church is building another church in Mexico but you don't have enough money for food, clothes or other necessities, I would suggest that you let other people donate their extra money instead.

It might not be mentioned anywhere in your religion, but I'm sure your God or the ultimate Almighty power of the universe you believe in, does not want anyone to suffer or go without, because your religious organization chooses to make you feel guilty if you do not contribute a certain amount of money, for whatever reasons they can possibly come up with.

If everyone that believes in this interpretation has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, wouldn't Jesus be suggesting a life kind of like Mother Teresa but without any money. She wouldn't be allowed to ask any wealthy people for money, let alone use it if she acquired it somehow.

Have you ever ask yourself is there any Hope in Religion .

Would it be safe to a sound that by asking for money from a wealthy person would mean I would not be going to happen. Does it say anything in the Bible about using money from a wealthy person for great earthly deeds and you get to go to heaven but he does not. If this is starting to sound a little confusing, welcome to my world. There are very few people that follow organized religion, that even ask these questions, let alone seek the answers and find the truth and keeping an open mind to future information that possibly could change the old answer that they accepted as a truth but now realize, the possibility that the old information could be wrong.

If you were a religious leader and could not answer some of the major questions that you yourself had, would you continue living a life of confusion or seek relentlessly to find the answers until you are satisfied. Knowing that if you were satisfied with the answers to your questions and now your religious beliefs have changed considerably, would you retire or quit working with the religious organization you were involved with.

This is one of the biggest obstacles for most people that seem to get comfortable in their religious environments. If the interpretations of a you Bible verses are incorrect and can be proven, either scientifically or through translation errors, does this mean that there are more verses in the Bible that could be incorrect or misleading.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Wayne Dyer

Growing Up Around Christians - Rethinking Organized Religion

I was born in the 1960s and raised in Southern California, United States of America. During that period of time, and in the area I was raised, there was basically one religion that dominated every aspect of mine and my friends lives. That religion was Christianity. When I was in elementary school, I knew one Jewish boy and he looked different than the Christians and even talk different. He was very smart and spent a lot of his time reading, instead of playing at recess.

There were no Muslims or Hindus and it was a predominantly white environment. The first black students I seen was when I entered the eighth grade and by the time I finished high school, I could count all of the black students I had met on both of my hands. So now you have a pretty good idea of my life, living in a white neighborhood that was 90% Christian.

As you can guessed it, I was raised a Christian, but not a regular Christian, I was a Methodist and proud of it, until my parents got tired of the church elders asking for money or if my father could help build the new church. My father explained to them, that he needed to work to support his family and could only contribute, what ever he could to the church and no more. They were very unhappy and made it uncomfortable for us to go to the church anymore.

Hard to imagine, isn't it. Christians asking for money and then when they don't receive it, getting mad at one of their brethren.

Well it was time to switch churches and we are now going to the Crystal Cathedral Church in Garden Grove California. These people had everything and it was a large church. This was before they built the massive glass structure that is presently the church sanctuary. I enjoy going to this church, because we didn't have to go to Sunday school and got to sit with the adults to worship.

By the time I was 15, neither one of my parents were going to church anymore and my life didn't seem to change that much, even though I prayed every night with my brother. Maybe that was it, I didn't have to go to church as long as I prayed every night... By the time I was 18 years old, I was more confused about organized religion than ever before and this included Christianity.

How can someone kill in the name of God? The Muslims were doing it, the Christians were doing it, the Muslims were fighting the Hindus in India and it all seemed normal. It didn't seem normal to me, when I was supposed to love my neighbor and live a life like Christ who never seemed to start fights or even get mad. Maybe a couple of times, over some money, in the Temple.

I have chosen not to be a part of organized religion. I'd figured out that most of our religious beliefs came from our upbringing. This seems to have brainwashed us into believing we are better because were right and know for a fact, that we have chosen to belong to the right religion. What if were not right?

I want to ask you a question, do you think that other religions are wrong and yours is right? If you really spend some time and think about this, you will see, that your religion is not that different than someone else's and neither was their upbringing. Most religious followers, belonged to the religion of their childhood.

Who Is Jesus?

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a spiritual videos filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

Deanna Davis

Imagine a Brotherhood of Man Living in Peace

Imagine There's No Heaven, It's Easy If You Try, No Hell below Us, above Us Only Sky, Imagine All the People Living for Today. Imagine There's No Countries, It Isn't Hard to Do, Nothing to Kill or Die for, and No Religion Too. Imagine All the People Living Life in Peace. Think about It.

It's hard to imagine, with the information today and even 50 years ago that most people still believe in religions all over the world, just because they were raised to believe in them. Religions of the future will have to adapt to change, a little faster as more people read articles like mine to promote education within your religion.

Find out a little bit more about Your Religious Freedom

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religous help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Developing Wealth Building Habit

Vessel Sinks Becoming More Innovative

Interests on home remodeling have been largely increasing nowadays. As a result, owners who want to personally design their own bathroom look for newer prototypes of bathroom vessel sinks. People often overlook the need to pick the right vessel sink for their bathrooms. Most people do not know that vessel sinks can be combined with properly chosen faucets to convey a unique design into the bathroom. The wide selection of vessel sink models and distinct faucet designs allows you to use your creativity to pamper your bathroom's over-all look.

Except the commonly used traditional sinks, there are many types of sinks that are released on the market. The material used in making sinks has been improved from the usual porcelain or ceramic vessel sink to a broader selection of materials such as glass, marble, brass, etc. Choosing the right vessel sink is based on your own preference. Recent remodels of the vessel sinks utilize glass as its main material due to its customizable features which may be in variations of colors, textures, and shapes. The glass vessel sinks may be personalized by embossing them with customized designs. Other vessel sinks that you may find on the market are made of metal, marble and other kinds of materials.

Glass sinks using tempered glass are mostly incorporated in newer designs provided for bathrooms. This glass material is subjected into a heating process using a high temperature and then abruptly cooled. The technique is used to strengthen the internal structure of the glass.

The thickness used for above-counter sinks may vary from to inches. These are ideal figures to add strength on the glass used. The glass material can last long if they are carefully maintained. People who are not interested in using glass on their vessel sink may choose from other materials such as china, stone, copper, marble, brass and stainless steel.

The vessel sinks also comes in wide selection of shapes. The shapes of the vessel sinks may vary from different styles such as square, oval, fluted, round, floral and other customized designs. These shapes may be accompanied by a suitable color to compliment with the shade used on your bathroom.

There are points that you should remember in buying the ideal vessel sink. Owners often neglect the appropriate faucets to be installed with the new vessel sinks. The procedure in installing the vessel sinks is included on the aspects to be considered. Please note that wall installations are more difficult compared to the usual installation.

The users of the bathroom should also be considered in remodeling your vessel sink. Counter type vessel sinks may not be reached by small children. So if you want to accommodate the needs of all the members of your family, you may want to reconsider on which type of vessel sink is to be chosen. Other factors to be considered are the vessel sink's width and depth.

The vessel sinks and faucets should also be placed accordingly on bathrooms with installed mirrors or medicine cabinets.

Looking for vessel sinks? Check our complete guide to the best vessel sinks - types, installation tips and where to buy.

Complete Installation Of 3

Religious Fundamentalism Can Create Problems

Religious groups can easily justify their actions by using religious text to benefit and promote their beliefs. The Muslims can sling quotes out of the Quran to justify their treatment towards women as second-class or even third class citizens in society, often removing certain rights from them because they weren't born men.

Shouldn't these women be treated equally. This is where religious fundamentalism evolves into religious fanaticism.

Christians can often use the same tactics to justify their beliefs and Christianity. This list goes on and on and has created hardships in the past on some people in our civilizations and will continue to do so in the future. As long as people continue to turn a blind eye to evil religious and government leaders, atrocities will take place and some of them will even be supported by those who eventually will become accused are victims of their own wrongdoings.

Does anyone remember the Ku Klux Klan? If you live in the south eastern part of the United States, there is a very good chance that you have heard of them or even know someone who belongs to this organization. The Ku Klux Klan was responsible for hanging African Americans throughout the early 1900s to prove that the white race was superior to the race of black people. Their religious beliefs fueled them with righteousness.

If this going on anywhere in the world today, may be issues about abortion or gay marriage. It seems like an oxymoron, if we allow gay people to get married, we won't have to worry about the abortion issue.

Some Christians, but most Americans look at this as a shameful part of our American heritage. It's not something that most Americans would ever support today. I would like to point something out about the Ku Klux Klan, they started out as a Christian organization and made examples out of other white people who weren't conforming to their ideal Christian society.

There are stories of people that abused their wives and the Ku Klux Klan set them straight, one way or another. If it required beating the crap out of them or killing them, something needed to be done and they are morally obligated to perform the task as Christians. These people took their Christian beliefs to an extreme.

When are we as a country and the world going to start fighting religious fundamentalism at its core and stop the atrocities that are going on today, using religion to justify their wrongdoings.

Create Personal Power

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

One Step Away From Success