The LuxMob Info Tags

When prospective lenders inquire about your credit standing,
they examine your record with certain expectations. Learn to
evaluate your own report and to avoid a credit denial letter,
you need to know those expectations.

The five most common reasons for credit denial based on a
credit report are as follows:

1) Delinquent credit obligations. Late payments, bad debts,
or legal judgments against you make you look like a risky
customer.

2) Credit application incomplete. Perhaps you left out some
important information or made an error on the application.
Any large discrepancy between your application and your
credit file can count against you. The lender will wonder if
you are hiding something.

3) Too many inquiries. Inquiries are made whenever you apply
for credit. Requesting your own report also counts as an
inquiry, but is usually not held against you. At the
creditor’s discretion, as few as four inquiries within six
months’ time may be considered a sign of excessive credit
activity. The creditor may then presume that you are trying
desperately to get credit and are being rejected elsewhere.

4) Errors in your credit file. These may arise simply from
typing mistakes, or from confusing your name with someone
else’s similar name. Since the credit bureaus handle
millions of files, the possibility for error is substantial.
Errors can be found and corrected only by carefully
reviewing your file for accuracy at least once a year and
then taking the necessary steps to correct any errors that
you do find.

5) Insufficient credit file. Your credit history is too
scanty for the type or amount of credit you requested. You
need to develop your credit history more fully before
qualifying for the level of credit you are now requesting.

Always examine your credit record before applying for
credit, because you dont want any surprises and have a
credit denial letter sent to you.

A credit bureau may confuse you with another individual,
carry erroneous information in your file, or perhaps include
false, incomplete or one-sided information provided by a
creditor.

Most of these credit denial problems can be resolved once you
understand the procedures.

Periodic checking of your credit report is important because
credit bureaus can and do make mistakes in their credit
information.

For More Infomation Visit: http://www.credit-repair-specialist.com
For The Very Latest, Articles And Tips On Credit Repair and To
Raise Your Credit Score Yourself Visit:
http://www.raise-your-credit-score-yourself.com

Mesotherapy involves the use of medication compounds injected right into localized areas of the skin for fast absorbsion into the dermis layer. This fairly new procedure has rapidly become the latest trend for eliminating localized fat deposits and cellulite. Some new studies suggest it may also have some anti-aging benefits. Mesotherapy claims to work by delivering tiny amounts of all natural extracts of vitamins and other pharmaceutical agents directly into the dermis, which then starts to melt away the fat deposits trapped inside the dermis layer which form part of the cellulite problem. It also claims to improve circulation, repair weakened connective skin tissue and improve lymphatic drainage.

After an injection of the mesotharapy medication, practictioners claim your body will begin the process of stimulation and start to heal itself. Mesotherapy is usually practiced to target localized areas on the body for cellulite treatment, however it can also be used over the entire body for overall fat reduction. Mesotherapy is virtually painless with little or no side effects other than possible bruising or swelling which will usually last about a week and clear up. Comprehensive scientific studies on the effectiveness of Mesotherapy at reducing fat and cellulite is limited in the established medical community. Mesotherapy has been practiced in European cities for well over a decade with generally positive overall annecdotal results and has also reported a good safety track record.

Mesotherapy Cellulite Treatment is a well practiced cellulite reduction procedure that can help thousands of people every day in the treatment of cellulite and has been accepted as a standard procedure in most European anti aging skin care clinics for the last decade. This hot new way of treating cellulite may cost less than other more invasive cosmetic cellulite treatments, and overall is generally considered to be quite safe if performed by skilled practictioners that provide the highest grade of injectible ingredients. The cost for Mesotherapy will depend on the location or area of where you live and doctor’s fees for this treatment will vary. Most patients start to see actually improvement with as little as a couple of treatments. As with any treatment you should consult your health practictioners and not be afraid of seeking second opinions.

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S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the Stop Cellulite Wrinkles information portal which reports on the latest Anti Aging Skin Care news and developments in the treatment of cellulite and wrinkles.

George Eastman, founder of Kodak is world renowned today. Digital cameras or cinematography, Kodak has excelled in all fields. In this article, we will view the rich history of Kodak’s rise.

It all started in the year 1879 for Kodak, when George Eastman obtained an American patent for his plate coating machine and started manufacturing dry plates. In 1888, Eastman introduced the concept of manufacturing films in rolls and thus made it possible for all to possess a camera. This Kodak camera came with film for 100 exposures at just $25. After the pictures had been clicked, the camera could be returned and the film would be developed and replaced just for $10.

This level of innovation started a period of no-return for Kodak. Eastman’s aim was that “you press the button, we do the rest”. He has achieved this through constant innovation by making the camera simpler to use and making photography an enjoyable experience today.

In movie making technology, since the Academy Awards have started, all Oscar “Best Movies’ have been shot on Kodak film. In fact, Kodak itself has won eight Academy Awards for scientific and technical excellence in cinema. Kodak has also introduced the concept of ‘infoimaging’. As the name suggests, it means communicating through pictures.

In the late 80’s, Kodak started to make great advancements in digital technology. It developed the concept of Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays which depicts information with the use of self-illuminated pixels and does not require any back lights for support. The OLED also provides clearer images, sharper contrasts, and lower energy consumptions as compared to LCD display units. In fact, it is Kodak who is considered to be the inventor of the basic technology utilized in a digital camera i.e. the pixel technology.

In the year 1990, Kodak introduced the Photo CD. This CD enabled people to store photographic images onto a CD and then view them on a computer. As a result, it became more practical for people to use a digital camera. Then, in the late 90s, several companies including Kodak launched digital cameras which could be used at home.

Kodak also tied up with Microsoft in the year 2001 so that digital camera manufacturers could use the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) through Windows. This would enable people to easily view and share their pictures through the Internet under an Windows operating system.

Today, as technology advances, Kodak has introduced several hi-tech digital cameras such as the Kodak Professional DCS Pro SLR/c. These cameras are capable of storing 13.89 million pixels, which makes them the digital camera with the highest resolution available in the market today.

The latest digital cameras by Kodak today are as follows:

Easyshare Point-and-Shoot Series: The C and CX series are simple and low cost cameras.

Easyshare High Zoom Series: The Z and DX series have extensive zoom and provide control to the photographer.

Easyshare Pocket Series: Small, compact cameras for travelers.

One time use Digital Cameras: Single use digital cameras.

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports.
http://great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

Introduction: Among the most feared of character types in a role playing game is the blaster. Whether a fire-throwing mage, machine-gun-toting soldier, or bomb-launching robot, these characters are respected not only for their ability to do phenomenal damage, but to attack multiple opponents at once. Their powers rarely come without cost, however, and the failure of their attacks is a larger setback for them than the failure of an attacker’s stable strikes.

Blasters are the tide-turners of battles, able to attack multiple foes at once for high damage. However, they are not generally as good at attackers at causing solid damage turn after turn. In some games, they are limited in the number of times they can use their powers. In some (such as QoTR), they require extra time or effort to prepare their powerful attacks.

In Quests of the Realm, the blaster is represented by the direct preference.

Player Tactics: When playing a blaster, you should take care to understand your limits. Oftentimes, a large-area attack used in a thick melee will damage your allies as well as your enemies, limiting your effectiveness. If you have a limit to the number of times you can use your high-powered attacks, make sure they count, and be careful if you expect to meet several encounters before getting a chance to recover. If you require extra time or effort to utilize your skills, do what you can to ready your attacks during lulls, before battles, or in other safe periods as allowed by the game.

You don’t want to go overboard with a blaster. One way or another, it will likely lead to burn out. Just because you can attack multiple foes doesn’t mean you will succeed to hit them all, and there are often abilities available that can counteract an attack for all involved. In QoTR, for example, defenders have an ability called “intervene”, which allows them to negate an action in its entirety. A successful intervention, thus, can counter a blaster’s powerful attacks for all involved, resulting in wasted energy.

Bear in mind both your damage potential and your ability to attack multiple opponents. Together, these advantages make you the best choice for dealing with large groups of fodder foes. Don’t waste extra effort dealing with individual opponents. With a blaster, it is all about getting the most out of every action.

Although all combinations can be effective, a blaster/attacker creates the potential for incredible damage, and also ensures that you have something to fall back on when you can’t use your high-powered attacks. A blaster/speedster can get off its attacks faster, which leads to swifter victory but also a higher chance of burnout. Adding a defensive ability to a blaster makes for a fearsome opponent, while a blaster/trickster can wipe out entire enemy forces without even being seen.

GM Tactics: Putting blasters up against the party is always a risk. Since they are such capable damage dealers, and can attack the entire party at once, they are incredibly dangerous opponents. A blaster of roughly equal level to the party, backed up by other opponents, can make for a good challenge. A higher-level boss blaster is a deadly threat, but might not last long enough to be useful, since most parties will concentrate immediate and overwhelming attack to defeat such a foe before it can demolish them. Groups of elite or fodder blasters create a complicated scenario, since everyone has to defend against every attack from the enemy group. Generally speaking, if you want the party to have a good chance of winning, you should keep the number of blasters in any enemy group low.

As mentioned, the best way to use enemy blasters is to join them with other character types. A particularly effective tactic is to get a blaster with strong defenses. There is a good chance that the party will concentrate (and waste) significant effort on that opponent, allowing other foes the opening. If they don’t, well, then they risk the power of the blaster’s attacks.

In role playing games, blasters are feared for their ability to deal significant damage to multiple foes at once. Players can use blasters to eradicate large groups of fodder foes quickly and deal significant harm to boss opponents. However, overuse of a blaster’s capabilities is likely to result in burnout, especially over a prolonged fight or series of fights. Enemy blasters can be devastating to the party, and are best kept to a minimum. In all cases, the ideal way to use blasters is not to try to pour everything they have into maximum-power assaults, but to use their puissant powers with deliberate decisiveness.

Copyright © 2006 Dustin Schwerman.

Dustin Schwerman has been playing RPGs for over a decade, using an analytical approach to critically evaluate the game systems (and so to create the most powerful characters he could get away with). He used the extensive experience gained doing so to create his own game, Quests of the Realm. QoTR focuses on unlimited character customization, relying on its author’s understanding to detect and counter game-breaking power plays. Though balanced, QoTR still allows players to create highly effective characters and run them through heroic story lines. To contact Dustin, read more of his writings, or learn more about Quests of the Realm, visit his web site, Quellian-dyrae.

You can get some gospel songs lyrics with mp3 songs from major commercial music services. The only problem is that you won’t get a lot of the stuff by older, more established acts. Let’s face it, the music industry is driven by what is new, hip and youthful. This applies to all genres including gospel music.

There are some free fan sites where you can find gospel song lyrics, but it can be difficult to tell if the lyrics are accurate. Your best bet is to try one the software applications that will scour the web for song lyrics and import it into your mp3 player. The larger lyrics directories will have gospel lyrics because they are user driven directories.

The lyrics can be submitted by anyone who has access to the text from the CD case, or by transcribing them from the radio. The open nature of the directories gives users the ability to create entire categories and update them if that genre is underserved.

Why do I suggest the software route?

The time factor. Since Christian music and gospel music in particular is still relatively underserved on the internet, a freeware application that searches for the lyrics while you are surfing the web, playing games online, or chatting on instant messenger is essential.

You don’t have to wade through tons of spam and amateur collections to get the complete lyrics from your favorite songs.

Also, you want to have the lyrics available while you are listening to the songs. It’s no fun to have the music playing on your mp3 player while searching your emails for the lyrics.

Where do I start?

Check with the music service where you are getting your mp3. If there is an option to search by genre, you can simply type in gospel song lyrics and wait for the software to update your files and save your changes. Look for discussion boards and user request services as well.

If you are getting your mp3s from a really large digital music site try to connect with other users who share your interest in gospel music and ask them if they have access to gospel song lyrics on their own or from a niche site.

About the Author

This article may be freely distributed as long as there’s an active link to http://www.rapidlingo.com
Syd Johnson
Editor

September of last year, I had a blonde woman about 30 years old, with long straight hair show up in my bedroom, sit on my bed and just look at me for a while. For lack of a better name for her, I named her Len, like the name of the alternative rock band that sings one of the cutest songs. She was visible, but you could kind of see through her, she was nice though, I could feel a lightness around her, but without her even ever having to speak, I knew what she was there for. I could feel vibrations from her and sensed what was happening. She was a temporary guide of mine. She stuck around…

Guides can be temporary or permanent, as well as they can be there to tell you about a past life or about something they want you to do career-wise. She literally inhabited my body in order to tell me what she had to say. She was very insistent about what she was telling me and since I had already been told what she was trying to tell me, I was reluctant to listen, because I had heard it when I was 20 and thought it was silly, so I blew it off.

She stuck around for days repeating herself and I realized I was hearing her from inside my own head, but it was a different voice, other than my own, and she repeated what she had to say until I acknowledged what she was saying. A few days of that, I acknowledged it. It was information about my own past life, my very first one, should I say. I was not into past life readings, before this, so it was kind of a surprise for me that she would repeat what I had already heard once before. I listened and she cleared out, satisfied that I had finally gotten the message.

A few days later, she returned… with a new message for me. A single word, “Kundalini, kundalini, kundalini, kundalini, kundalini…” and on and on and on and on. I looked through every single book I had in my possession. A channeling book was the only one that I had, in years of a collection of books and studying, that even briefly mentioned this kundalini thing. With reluctance to make her mad and have a need to come back and repeat it to me even more than she already had, I acknowledged that I heard what she was telling me with the intention of looking it up. She was satisfied and went away again.

Kundalini is serpent energy that is stored at the base of your spine, in your root chakra. A Kundalini rising occurs when the energy shoots up your spine out of your crown chakra. It can be painful with some really nasty side effects and it can take years to completely have your Kundalini rise up if it is not done properly. However, Kundalini rising leads to some very interesting psychic activity and awareness and something called Kundalini fire, which is a factor to healing. I learned to do those kundalini awakenings, to heal, either through distant, remote or hands-on method and to teach others to heal or teach. Only someone that has had their Kundalini rising can pass this on to others. With it, you can heal injuries and you can heal situations, provided that there are not blockages from unknown issues or problems that aren’t being dealt with, at the time. You can even heal those situations that stem from something in the past with Kundalini Reiki.

Tachyon Reiki is my favorite, though. Tachyon is zero-point energy, or equivalent to holy ghost or holy spirit energy, that when applied to any chaotic or disharmonized situation, zooms into and targets that disharmony and restores balance and harmony to it. It can be used for healing any situation under the sun. It is completely safe to our bodies. You can tachyonize water and drink it for better health.

I have had remarkable results in peoples’ situations with Tachyon. Even one from a criminal case where I was trying to work in the background. In this case, literally everything that could go wrong, did. It was unbelievable how ridiculously this case had been handled. It was stressing me and draining me because local authorities were just not hearing what I was telling them about it. I couldn’t get to the client to lay hands on them or directly apply the tachyon healing method to them, so I wrote this client letters and tachyonized the letters. I can literally go beyond prison bars, if I need to, to help someone, now. With months of Tachyon applied to the situation, the case is about to go back to court for an appeal. This case was one of the most challenging things I have ever dealt with in my life and my career. It’s going well, now, because I learned what Len was telling me. I can also help abused women and kids, being a survivor of it myself.

Malina Havard is the owner of A Mystical Creation, http://www.amysticalcreation.com, a site that offers psychic & magical intervention, protection, as well as psychic readings and other things at affordable rates. She is a Reiki Master and has studied independently for many years. Her first reading was performed without any divination tools when she was in high school and she has many spirit guides & animal guides as well as fairy folk and other beings around her. Malina knows that it is in her nature to help people, to heal and to teach. She is now offering people the chance to become psychic, through her guidance.

Let me begin with some of the eye - catching metrics that might
lead an investor to consider purchasing shares of the Journal
Register Company (JRC). This newspaper company has a price - to
- earnings ratio of 11.3, a price - to - sales ratio of 0.93, a
5 year average return on capital of 17.6%, and a five year
average pre-tax profit margin of 27.4%.

Now, for the bad news. The Journal Register Company has an
enterprise value - to - EBITDA ratio of 9.07 and an enterprise
value - to - revenue ratio of 2.24. Obviously, this company is
carrying a lot of debt. So, perhaps the multiples on the common
stock price are deceptive.

Before I go any further, let me take a moment to point out the
fact that, in the case of Journal Register, the shares you buy
are literally common stock; that is, the security is common to
all owners. This is a rarity in the publishing business, where
families often maintain control of their newspapers via
ownership of a class of stock with (much) greater voting rights.

So, how should an investor value the Journal Register Company?
Should he use JRC’s market cap or its enterprise value? I have
usually encouraged a full and careful consideration of all debt
when making any investment. In the case of JRC, such debt makes
up a large portion of the company’s enterprise value. Is it
really best to lump the debt and equity together to determine
the true price Journal Register is selling for?

I think it is.

There are situations in which the leverage inherent in a debt -
heavy capital structure works to the benefit of the common stock
holder. The most obvious example is a highly leveraged, growing
company selling at a bargain price. The increase in earnings is
amplified by the fixed debt, because the debt creates a sort of
break even point, much like a traditional fixed cost. Just as
greater production can give tremendous benefits to the owner of
a large plant, or greater sales can give tremendous benefits to
the owner of a large store, greater pre-tax earnings before
interest charges can give tremendous benefits to the owners of
common stock.

Does this scenario apply to Journal Register? Perhaps, but I
don’t think so. Long - term, the economics of the newspaper
business will likely be quite poor. Even for Journal Register’s
properties, I am projecting a fall in circulation with no end in
sight. Some may disagree with this assessment. However, I
believe they are being overly optimistic. Past performance is
only a good estimate of future performance insofar as the future
resembles the past. I believe the future of newspaper publishing
will be sufficiently different from the past to render any
estimate of Journal Register’s future performance based solely
on its past performance quite inaccurate. So, for the most part,
the leverage inherent to Journal Register’s capital structure
will likely be working against the long - term investor.

Economically, Journal Register’s assets are encumbered. The
legal reality is immaterial to the shareholder. The company can
not sell of its assets without either paying off its debt or
maintaining control over sufficient free cash flow to meet its
obligations. Today, money is cheap. It may not be so cheap in
the future. Journal Register is insulated from interest rate
changes on its current borrowings. However, the company can not
guarantee that, if it were refinance its debt as it came due,
interest charges would remain as low as they are today. This is
true for every business, but it takes on greater importance in
the case of the Journal Register Company, because of the
company’s debt heavy capital structure, today’s historically low
interest rates, and the likely future trend of newspaper
circulation.

Together, these three factors form a kind of perfect storm. But,
it is important that the facts be assessed calmly. There is no
need for exaggeration. The Journal Register Company is not in
any grave peril. There would be no risk of insolvency, if the
company did not borrow further, and committed its substantial
free cash flow to paying down its debt. A look to the recent
past suggests the company is unlikely to follow such a
conservative course. That is not necessarily a bad thing.

There may be value in future acquisitions. In fact, the current
climate is perfect for making acquisitions that truly add value
to the company. But, other companies with operations capable of
regularly generating lots of free cash flow have sometimes found
themselves in financial difficulties, because of an overly
ambitious capital structure and reduced profitability within
their chosen industry. I am not suggesting the Journal Register
Company will find itself in such a position. If it is well -
managed, there is no reason for Journal Register to face such
peril. But, it is rarely wise to assume a company will be well -
managed.

The problem with the Journal Register Company as an investment
is not the risk created by its debt. It is easy to overstate
that risk. The problem is the price. The Journal Register
Company is not as cheap as it appears to be. Newspapers will not
be going the way of the Dodo anytime soon, but they are already
in decline. This decline will not be reversed.

Investors need to remember the importance of growth. Newspapers
are not growing. There is no need to chase stocks with lofty
multiples merely to acquire some short - lived hyper growth.
But, there is a need to avoid companies that will not grow their
earnings. There are many stocks trading at higher P/E ratios
than JRC that are, in fact, better bargains.

Debt collectors are liars, cheaters, etc… They take advantage of every loophole possible and even break the law. They have been featured on almost every news program from CNN to 60 Minutes. There are laws in place to contain their harassment and collection efforts and to make this process more civil, but most figure the risk of getting caught is minimal and that the rewards of endlessly harassing and fleecing victims is far greater. We now have the power to take back our lives, stop them in their tracks and sue them for more than they are trying to collect.

First, lets start with what is actually owed and how most collection agencies work. Usually a unpaid debt is either sold or turned over to a collection agency. 95% or more of these debts are credit cards, store cards, gas cards, etc… These debts are then tiered according to age of debt, amount, credit, job history, etc… Generally most debts are bought for pennies on the dollar. Recent debt may go for $.15 to $.25 on the dollar whereas old debt that has had numerous collection attempts goes for $.05 or less and debt that is beyond the statues of limitations for the state the debtor resides in goes for less than $.01. So, for instance if you owed $10000.00 on a credit card, the debt collection agency paid at most $2500.00, but probably paid less than $1500 for it. Now, what’s interesting is that they will call and write you stating that you now owe $14000.00 or so stating that it has accrued interest and various questionable fees. This is all profit if you were dumb enough to pay that. A fair settlement would be $1700.00 or less. So, the point here is that you don’t ever owe what they are trying to collect from you - it is always far, far less.

Secondly, lets give you some more ammunition - The 1977 FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) gives you rights the debt collectors won’t tell you about. If you don’t want to hear from them again, its easy. Just write them a letter stating that you wish they cease all contact with you (make sure you put in the letter that - P.S. This letter is in no way an acknowledgement of the above listed debt(s) - that way they cannot even attempt to try and re-age your debt (add another 7years of collection and reporting to further harass). Send the letter registered return receipt requested mail and keep your proof of receipt. If they contact you after this for any reason other than to tell you they are either dropping the issue or taking it to court (99.99% won’t go to court as it costs them more money and their odds of getting anything are almost zero - even with a judgement) then you can sue them for each occurrence for $1,000. People win these suits every day - most settle out of court for a lot more than the original debt (just look this up on the internet under small claims court). You also have the right to question the debt and have the debt collector provide proof. Many debt collection agencies are being sued by many debtors for their failure to provide proof. Just look up Asset Acceptance on the internet - they are one of the biggest abusers of this federal law with thousands of outstanding lawsuits for harassing debt collection practices.

So, now you know how to stop debt collection agencies in their tracks. You know how to get relief - sue them! If enough people sue them things will change. Also use your state and local resources. State Attorney generals go after debt collection agencies that routinely break the law, Consumer protection agencies (the Better Business Bureau, etc…), the Federal Trade Commission goes after the worst abusers, and, of course, your state department of insurance and finance (whom actually licenses these agencies rto operate in your state). You state department of finance and insurance, or similar, has the power to fine, punish and even banish the debt collection agency from your state. Every state requires a debt collection agency to be licensed and put up a large financial bond (around $50,000) to operate in your state. Call these folks if you are having problems with a debt collection agency - they will get immediate results in your favor. Don’t threaten the collection agency that you have these rights - use them. Bring the collection agency to its knees if they are violating your rights.

The other problem is are these bills, debts even correct? Many hospitals, doctors, etc… have no ethics and will purposely double or even triple bill patients without insurance because they know they can get away with it. If you have a question about your bill demand a itemized bill and have this professionally examined. This will reveal things like overcharging ($100 tissue boxes, 1000 percent markup on medicines, etc…) We entrust these hospitals and doctors with our lives and then they screw us by double billing or worse. Right now there is no government policing on hospitals. Many times a debt collector will actually make up a debt or illegally pass one on to you from someone else (Asset Acceptance has been sued for this many times). Do not assume that you owe any debt and take them to task. If you do owe it, pay it, but pay the least amount possible, and pay it on your terms. If they break the law - make them pay!

If you have a problem with a bill make it known to your state politicians. If enough people do this things will change. Write to your local newspaper, tell a friend, do a press release. Tell others of their rights. Cigarette boxes come with warnings - shouldn’t debt collectors and debt collection agencies with their high propensity to skirt the law also come with mandatory warnings? The more the word gets out, the better the odds something will be done about it.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous patents and specializes in products that save the consumer money. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com or by visiting http://www.bestskinpeel.com

As a large majority of the general public drives an automobile, it is important to have certain resources on hand which relate to the car. Things such as insurance companies, auto dealers and automotive parts stores are all important businesses to have close by should an individual need their assistance. However, perhaps the most important business contact an individual should have is an auto body shop. As a good auto body shop is important for your car repairs and pocketbook there are a few ways an individual should go about selecting the best auto body shop in their area.

Consider Recommendations

Since many individuals use auto body shops, it is highly likely that one will know someone else who has also used a local auto body shop. As a result, asking for recommendations from friends and family members is a great way to select the perfect auto body shop. There are a few different reasons why considering recommendations is a good step to take prior to settling on a particular body shop. First, friends and family members will be able to state whether they have had a favorable experience with a particular auto body shop or not. Not only will they be able to comment on the overall cost of services but how the staff handled their automobile situation as well. This is a great point of reference when you are trying to find a shop that does good body work while charging a fair price.

Another reason to consider asking for recommendations from friends and family members with regard to choosing an auto body shop is to make sure that the company you are considering dealing with will treat the customer in an honest and fair manner. As any individual who has to put their car in the shop wants it to go as smoothly as possible, asking for recommendations with regard to auto body shops will help because you will be able to find a good shop with reasonable prices.

Have an Auto Body Shop Picked Out Before it is Necessary to Use

Because an inoperative car, due to an accident or otherwise, is already a stressful situation, one does not want to face any additional stress by having to find an auto body shop to fix their car at the last minute. For this reason, it is a good idea to have an auto body shop picked out before one even needs the assistance of one. This is also beneficial as the individual can check out the shop beforehand and ask questions of the staff, such as do they offer towing to their facility, for example, and receive answers to other important questions.

Warranties

Another factor to consider when wondering how to choose an auto body shop is whether or not the auto body shop offers warranty on any of its parts or services. Since warranties are frequently offered in auto body shops, if one shop doesn’t offer many warranties or any warranties at all, then that prospective customer may very well wish to keep looking for an auto body shop that does offer warranties on its parts and/or services. When a shop offers warranties it makes the customer feel as if the shop is confident in their work and will do a good job.

Payment Accepted

Another factor which may be a determining one when choosing an auto body shop is what types of payment the shop accepts for auto body repair. If the auto body shop only accepts cash and checks in limited instances which must be paid up front, then perhaps considering another auto body shop which accepts many different forms of payment, such as a variety of credit cards, may be the best bet. In addition, auto body shops may sometimes offer installment plans which can work out well for those who are on a strict budget yet need to have their automobile repaired as soon as possible.

Choosing the right auto body shop is a very important decision to make. By considering the previously mentioned tips when choosing an auto body shop, it may just help the individual choose the best possible one.

Ramey Bell is Sales and Marketing Director for First Choice Network and lives in Bellevue, WA.

FirstChoiceNetwork.com helps consumers locate trusted and qualified auto body and auto repair professionals close to home or work in the simplest way possible on the Internet.

http://www.firstchoicenetwork.com

To be honest this vacation paradise has been doomed and unused for the last five years plus. I was there in September 2004 and how quiet it was, which was great for us, but not for the local and Zimbabwean economy. Can you imagine being in the heart of the African wilderness, nothing around but a huge expanse of water, mountains and the knowledge that on shore there are really naturally wild animals? For me, Lake Kariba is the home of the “Houseboat”. Ever since I was in my teens I had heard of these houseboats. A floating holiday on a huge expanse of water. What I did not know was the size of these floating hotels and how large Lake Kariba really is. At a vast majority of our ports of call all you can see on the horizon is water.

Landing at Harare airport is much like arriving at any third world airport. Not too much different nowadays to the first world except being a lot smaller. The drive, in convoy to Kariba was pretty exciting due to the knowledge of the turmoil in the country and not knowing what to expect, although we did have some locals with us and they assured us that it would be fine. What a change though having been in Zimbabwe seven years prior, the degradation had taken its toll. Most service stations closed, fenced and locked- waiting for fuel. Driving through the countryside, desolate farms, barns with only shells, the timber and roofing scavenged for creating makeshift houses (shacks). Once a thriving farming country now reduced to a subsidence-producing nation. The drive to Kariba takes about 5 hours. Three hours plus out of Harare you enter the national park. Wow - no fences and the game is plentiful.

Turning off the main road, otherwise you end up in Zambia, is truly amazing. Don’t drive too fast as you are now really in the wilds with. We saw elephant aplenty, giraffe and lots of buck. Also the scenery is picturesque, winding down through hills and mountain passes, flat landscapes with the famous African bushveld and still knowing that you will be enjoying the next ten days on a fully catered for houseboat cruise - paradise. Driving through the last mountain pass and seeing the vast expanse of Lake Kariba is magnificent. I could not believe that it was so vast, also around the town of Kariba and towards the wall are mountains overlooking the water. The scenery is breathtaking.

I expected the houseboat to be small, old and dilapidated. What a surprise when I saw it and the crew of four, waiting with the welcoming drinks. It is hot, very hot. The houseboat has one floor at water level and one upstairs. Downstairs are the four cabins, kitchen (galley) and storerooms. Upstairs a vast entertainment area come dining room all under an awning with the sides open, the bridge where the captain drives the boat and then in front in the open is this plunge pool. Two tender boats get towed behind this massive house on the water powered by a huge diesel engine.

Once all the luggage, food and drinks were loaded the captain cruised us out of the mini harbour. I had often heard of Lake Kariba and the vast expanse of water, now sitting in the pool in the front of the houseboat, cooling down with an ice-cold beer, I could not believe the size of the Lake. We cruised out of the harbour into the open water and it was vast. The African landscape on the Zimbabwean side is picture perfect with the mountains sharply descending to the lake around the town of Kariba and towards the wall. South of Kariba town the mountains are further back from the lake and descend gradually towards the African bushveld which eventually the shore. An hour later and still in the pool relaxing with ice cold beers not too far away, we are warned to put on sunscreen protection from the harsh African sun and harsh it is. We hear shouts of excitement and there on the shoreline is a huge heard of elephants. The shoreline on the Zimbabwe side is about one and a half kilometres from us. To see them close up you need the binoculars. The Zambian shoreline is beyond the horizon of water. This gives you an idea of how wide this Lake really is. We move back into the shade of the entertainment area and relax in the many lounge chairs protected from the sun now by the huge awning. This must be one of the most relaxing holidays I had ever been on. Perfect for the afternoon siesta. We are cruising to our first port of call. The ports of call are remote stops on the cruise on either little islands or on the mainland in the nature reserve. There are no towns or villages but just wild animals that greet you i.e. no civilisation, don’t take your cell phone.

Late afternoon, plus 4 hours into the cruise we hear the engines slow and realising we have reached our destination. The captain gradually negotiates the houseboat almost onto the shoreline and the crew tie the boat up with long mooring ropes. We are now actually parked on the shore. The captain turns the engines off and there is silence like you have never experienced. You then start hearing nature. The hippos bark and we all look, sure enough there’s a family of hippos. I counted six. The two tender boats are loaded up with refreshments, the fishing equipment and snacks. We choose a boat and off we go. This is the highlight of the trip. Small bays along the shoreline abound but the captains of the tender boats, one is the captain of the houseboat and the other is the chief housekeeper, know these areas like the back of their hands, steer us to the best fishing spots.

As you can imagine the fishing is good (mainly bream) because you are in the wilds where not many humans venture. We keep the larger catch for supper and snacks. I was a bit sceptical about eating bream, I prefer saltwater fish and had never eaten fresh water bream before. The sun is now beginning to set on the horizon over the water. We are told that we must head back. There is nothing like a late afternoon cruise on the water with a relaxing gin and tonic and the beautiful African sunset. On the houseboat we head for the showers. Back up on the top deck we are greeted with a pre-meal drink and with darkness looming we chat about the events of the day. All of a sudden it is dark and the crew are summoning us for supper. Man they can cook. By eight p.m. everyone was bushed and retired to bed. Most of us slept on the deck upstairs on mattresses in the open. The older folk slept in the cabins downstairs.

Approximately four thirty a.m. you are woken by movement downstairs and a rich aroma of coffee being made. You have twenty minutes to wash, apply generous amounts of sunscreen lotion and have coffee and rusks before another adventurous fishing venture on the tender boats. The sun is rising now above the mountains, you can feel the heat and you realise that the rest of the day is going to be a scorcher. Between ten and eleven am we are arrive back with our catches and eager for some food. We are greeted with a magnificent brunch. While we are enjoying our brunch the captain starts up the engines and the rest of the crew are untie the moorings of the houseboat. He manoeuvres out of the bay and heads out back into the vast expanse of Lake Kariba. We are on our way to our next port of call. We finish brunch and some of us take a quick dip in the pool and relax with the gentle motion of the houseboat cruising along the lake. The rest of the day’s cruise is spread between siestas, spot the wild animals on the shoreline and playing card and board games.

We arrive at the next port of call with totally different scenery. A larger but we are greeted with a family of elephants. Now elephants are my favourite animals. Up close and in the wilds like this is one of the highlights of my holiday. The hippos are there too along with the wide variety of buck. The routine is the same as the previous day with the tender boats and fishing. This is by no means boring as there is always something to look at, wide varieties of birds with elephants appearing out of the bush, buck all over the place and the odd hippo close by in the water. Crocodiles are also plentiful but it is the hippos you need to keep an eye on, as they will charge your boat if you get too close to them. If they do then you will definitely end up being a meal for the crocodiles. After another very successful afternoons fishing we have another sundowner cruise back to the houseboat.

The rest of the trip is pretty much the same as the first day but as I have said it is always entertaining and never boring. So much wild life, fresh air and the days fly by. Evening star gazing is incredible, with falling stars and satellites moving around the sky. With so many hundreds of miles between you and the nearest city you can imagine the amount of stars you can see. We did not see the lions but heard them roar one or two evenings. The one-day after the roaring we could see the vultures hovering. The locals and the crew said they were waiting for the lions to finish their “kill” so they could move in after them. They must have been about five hundred meters from us.

Sadly, the time had come to return back to Kariba town. Some said they have had their holiday and now need to get back to their daily lives. I could have stayed on for longer. I would normally recommend this amazing houseboat vacation on Lake Kariba to anyone, however considering the state of the country of Zimbabwe at the present time is a no-no unfortunately. Who knows in a little while things might change for the better and this would become a very popular destination indeed?

Gary Pitman is a writer for the mySunSite which provides information and listings of vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, self catering, resorts and basically all types of holiday accomodation. Also there are a vast amount of articles on vacation destinations and more so take a visit to http://www.mysunsite.com.