Weather Instruments That You Can Use to Forecast the Weather

Most of us get our weather information from the evening TV weather news. Another good portion of the population actually watches and enjoys the Weather Channel.

Then there are those of us who would rather put it all together while making our own observations and forecasts using our own weather equipment and instruments. This portion of the population is known as "weather bugs, weather nuts, weather aficionados, weather hounds," and a variety of other names. The point is, these people enjoy and are sometimes obsessed by watching weather instruments and attempting to predict weather changes.

Like enthusiastic sports fans, these weather bugs can usually tell you just about everything there is to know about weather. They read about it, they watch it on TV and they go to all the online forums and weather chat lines. Many of them go to yearly or even monthly weather hound conventions. One thing is certain: every one of them will have his or her own weather station. Most of these will be wireless, digital home weather stations and they'll have sensors placed all over their own property and often throughout the entire neighborhood.

Though they don't have the high sophistication that NOAA and NASA enjoy, because these agencies are funded by the government, they do have preferences and specific models of weather instruments that they acquire as often as they can afford it. Some amateur weather forecasters have an array of tools and instruments that TV meteorologists would envy. It's all part of the fascination with weather and its various patterns and intricacies.

No self respecting weather buff would be caught dead without at least two of the following tools: anemometers, thermometers (indoor and outdoor), rain gauges, barometers, atomic clocks, weather maps of all kinds, including NASA and NOAA weather maps and even travel weather maps, hygrometers, psychrometers and any other weather instrument that they can get their hands on.

While most of these tools are found as separate components, each of them is represented in the home weather stations that are offered for sale. Depending on a person's budget, some of the weather stations are more sophisticated than others. Some specific brand names and models are preferred by some weather enthusiasts more than others, such as the WLS-8000 Weather Station. This rather pricey model features industrial grade high-resolution/highly accurate sensors, a large digital display, and 128K non-volatile memory with an integral clock. This system is fully addressable by PC via the RS-232 and it logs 4000 data points to memory. Up to the second real-time data transfer to a Windows based PC with included Weather View 32 professional software. 12 hour uninterruptable power supply is standard. This model goes for around $3750 which is comparatively cheap when you consider what the National Weather Service pays for their equipment.

However, there are wireless weather stations available that are not nearly as expensive and have much the same instrumentation as the WLS-8000. One such item is the Honeywell TE653ELW Desktop Weather Forecaster. This station includes many popular components and the readout screen can be placed on a desktop or even hung on a wall and viewed very easily anytime the consumer desires. This product is more than just a Weather Forecaster. It's a Wireless Indoor Outdoor Thermometer and Hygrometer, a Barometer, and an Atomic Clock with Dual Alarms, Calendar, and Moon Phase. The price is $79 online. This is quite a difference. To some, this is enough. To others, it's just the beginning of a good home weather station.

There are also portable, hand-held weather stations that one can put in the care and carry along with them to any location. It is usually no larger than an indoor telephone and gives the user a plethora of weather information. The Kestrel 4000NV Weather Tracker is the next generation of weather monitoring. You can now measure EVERY major environmental condition, easily and accurately, right in the palm of your hand. Barometric Pressure, Altitude, Density Altitude, Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed, Wind Chill, Dew Point, Wet Bulb, and Heat Index are all found in one pocket sized instrument. The cost? About $250.

These are exciting times for weather enthusiasts and the tools needed to forecast and observe the weather are very much available and at a cost that to most is easily affordable, to most folks. Nowadays, there's no reason not to have your own wireless weather station right in your own home. It may not be long until you're considered a "weather nut."

Gary Vaughn writes about Weather Forecasting Instruments and Personal Home Weather Stations at weatherinstrumentsinfo.com weatherinstrumentsinfo.com For more information, please visit our website.

Preparing For Disaster - Is Your Dog Safe If Another Hurricane Katrina Hits Your Town?

Our pets depend on us for their safety and survival. As pet owners, we have the obligation to know what to do in case a disaster strikes, which can occur at a moment's notice. Whether they are natural disasters such as fires, storms and floods, or man-made disasters such as terrorist attacks, the best way to beat it and come out it safe is through proper planning.

Even before Hurricane Katrina hit, there were no laws that protected pets. Neither was there any service for animals that needed to be evacuated, rescued, and sheltered during a state of an emergency. When the deadly storm hit New Orleans, there is a reported estimate of 600,000 animals were left behind, deserted, and hundreds died from drowning, starvation, and illness.

The devastating affect of the hurricane has pushed the local and federal government to either change their policies or develop new ones to include the safety of these pets and service animals. A variety of agencies are also collaborating solutions with the government and local animal rescues that will help protect pets in times of emergencies.

Establishing a good plan of action will ensure the safety and survival of your family, your pets including yourself. So, the best time to think about the safety of your dog is prior to there being a disaster. In addition, practical planning and preparation is essential to keeping your dog safe and sound during time of disaster. The following are a few safety measures that you should remember:

o You may have to ask a neighbor to help you with the evacuation, especially if you have more than one pet.

o Don't plan at the last minute-if you're away from your house when disaster strikes, select someone you trust to go to your house as fast as they can to rescue your pets.

o Make sure that you know exactly where you are taking your dog - during and even after disaster - until you can safely go back to your home.

o Make sure that you remember to crate train your dog. In a disaster, you should be able to put your dog in the crate as fast as you can and without much difficulty.

o Leave your home as soon as you receive notice of evacuation-you should never wait until the last minute.

o If the disaster does not strike, you should still evacuate until you know for sure that you and your dog is going to be safe.

o You should always keep a disaster supply kit for your dog in a easy location to find within your home. You will also want to include the following items: food and water (three days supply for each pet), a first aid kit, crate, can opener, leashes and harnesses, and newspaper or potty pads.

o Last but not least, make certain that your dog wears a proper ID tag with your current cell number securely fastened to his collar ...this number should be to a number that you carry with you every day.

Provided by Kelly Marshall from ohmydogsupplies.com Oh My Dog Supplies - the largest choice of dog feeders online, visit ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/elevated-dog-feeders ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/elevated-dog-feeders/

Space - Should You Care About Exploding Supernovas?

"Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people." The late astronomer Carl Sagan wrote and narrated those humbling words for his PBS Television series "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage." According to NASA, millions around the world saw the series. And millions more have read his book, "Contact" which was made into a motion picture.

Supernova SN 2006gy

In my previous article, "New Planet, Red Star," I wrote about headline news in the cosmos-the discovery of a planet in the constellation of Libra that might support life and therefore be habitable. Now NASA reports their space-born Chandra X-Ray Observatory and ground-based optical telescopes have discovered an exploding supernova, a massive star they call SN 2006gy. Is it as important? Yes and here's why.

The Universe Makes No Mistakes

The universe acts in accordance with natural law. Brainy humans figured out that physics is a good way for the concrete material brain to follow the logic of it. There's no hit and miss in the universe; matter and antimatter act and react in the same orderly fashion all the time. The planets orbit our sun in the same systematic trajectory. No alarm clock warns, "Hey, time to get moving, stay in your lane, don't bump into anything along the way." All space matter know exactly what to do, how and when to do it-which is more than you can say about us.
Since an exploding star like SN 2006gy is a dying star, astronomers hope to learn answers to how the first generation of stars died. Depicted by scientists as cataclysmic, these observers say explosions of stars the magnitude of SN 2006gy probably occurred often while the universe was forming. I get chills just thinking that at this moment astronomers are looking at the collapse of the largest supernova in the universe ever seen by man. Pretty awesome.

To put things further into perspective, Dr. Nathan Smith of the University of California, Berkeley said that unlike most supernovas that fade quickly, "the light from the explosion of SN 2006gy has remained bright since it began its disintegration in September of last year (2006)." That galaxy far, far away is called NGC 1260, some 240 million light years from earth. Yet its dying supernova is bright enough for us to see it happening.

Closer to Home

But a similar energy force may be ready to light up our own galaxy soon. A massive star called Eta Carinae, which is only about 7,500 light years distance from earth resides in our own Milky Way. Working together as a team, astronomers from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Texas, Austin expect Eta Carinae to explode as a supernova. Earthlings will have front row seats to the greatest show on or off the earth when we witness the death of one of our own galaxy's stars-far enough away to not affect us with radiation.

Said one astrobiologist, "Eta Carinae's explosion in our own galaxy could be the best star-show in the history of modern civilization."

Explosions vs. Black Holes

Until the discovery of SN 2006gy, scientists thought supernovas collapsed into black holes. But with the new data coming in, Dr. Nathan Smith at Berkley posits another view. "We have runaway thermonuclear reactions, the star explodes, spewing what's left into space. In terms of the effect on the early universe, there's a huge difference between these two possibilities. One pollutes the galaxy with large quantities of newly made elements, and the other locks them up forever in a black hole."

Does it Matter When You're the Matter?

If you have read science fiction or watched the television series Star Trek you are familiar with the term antimatter. But antimatter is not just science fiction. Since I'm no physicist, the best way I know to describe it is sort of like looking in a mirror and then meeting your reflected self in person and killing one another. When a particle and its antimatter particle meet, they destroy each other and in the process create a tremendous explosion. Antimatter is created and destroyed in stars all the time, including our own sun. In fact here on earth that kind of energy is harnessed for brain scans.Depending on advances in physics, according to Washington State physicist Kelvin Lynn, antimatter if harnessed in significant quantities at unimaginable cost, could propel space rockets to the farthest reaches of the universe. Its energy potential is inconceivable, beyond any nuclear explosion. In the past the government made it know that research was underway. Then came the gag order from the U.S. Air Force and silence. "I think," Dr. Lynn said, "we need to get off this planet, because I'm afraid we're going to destroy it." Apparently Lynn is not the only one with similar thoughts.

**The results of Dr. Nathan Smith and his colleagues' studies on supernovas will appear in a forthcoming issue of "The Astrophysical Journal." NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama manages the Chandra program for the agency's Science Mission Directorate. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory controls science and flight operations from the Chandra X-ray Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

My website is under reconstruction until 2010. Meanwhile, you can find me at newagejournal.com/2007/spirituality/the-eternal-search-for-who-am-i newagejournal.com/2007/spirituality/the-eternal-search-for-who-am-i

You can also read two chapters of my novel, The Sword and the Chrysanthemum, Journey of the Heart at samurai-archives.com/guestart.html samurai-archives.com/guestart.html

Buying a House? What You Need to Know Before You Start Shopping!

After the incredible Increase in pricing over the last few years, this is an incredible time for someone to be purchasing his or her new home. There is an abundance of properties available for sale, sellers have become much more negotiable and mortgage rates are still at a great level.

Before you begin though, you need to take care of several steps prior to beginning your home hunting expedition. The most important step is establishing with a mortgage broker or your bank how much of a mortgage you qualify for and how much you can comfortably afford to pay each month.

When you have discovered what you can safely qualify for, it's very important to get a signed commitment of pre-approval from your banker or broker at this time. If your commitment is just verbal, you could be leaving yourself wide open later. Bank employees change banks, brokers change agencies, and policies get revised. If any of these occur, your verbal commitment could change at the same time.

Some of your mortgage decisions will involve how much down payment you will be putting down on the purchase. If it is directly from your savings or other investments, it will be easier than if you have to sell your current home to acquire the down payment.

If you need to sell your home to come up with the down payment you may wish to consider selling your property first, before putting an offer in place. While sellers are negotiable, very few will agree to a condition of waiting 60 days, or 90 days, or even longer for you to sell your home. To prevent this, most Real Estate contracts include a clause that triggers a shortened period for you to remove your conditions if they receive a second offer. This could put your potential purchase into jeopardy and you could possibly lose a home you have fallen in love with.

You now know your price range; your next decisions are going to be what neighbourhood, and whether it will be a new home, or a used home. While it is important for you to do your homework, this is where the services of a reputable Real Estate agent can be invaluable. They will be able to guide you along and help with each and every step to make the whole process as easy as possible. This can range from providing you information on communities and schools to ensuring all of your interests are protected during both the buying and selling stages.

It's important for you to know as a buyer that you are not responsible for paying your Realtor a commission. Their commission comes from the seller of the home and is part of the agreement made with the seller or their Realtor. If you are selling your home with your Realtor this will be part of the Brokerage Agreement (listing contract formerly), that you will be signing.

While this is not a complete list of steps to take when buying a new home, hopefully it gets you started on the right path. Buying a new home can be both a frightening experience and one of the best occurrences in your life. Good luck and happy home ownership!

Bill Biko
investors.housez.ca investors.housez.ca
Helping people become involved in Alberta Real Estate and generating wealth while they sleep.

Home Refinancing Scam - Thieves Use Identity Theft to Steal Your Equity

Since the demise of the stock market in 2000, the real estate market has been booming. Investors who are justifiably cautious about investing in stocks have been investing in homes. This has driven the prices of homes in the United States to record levels. Long-time homeowners are discovering that they have a tremendous amount of equity in their homes as the values rise, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The past five years have been good to homeowners and lenders. Unfortunately, the past five years have also been good to equity thieves, who are using identity theft to steal the equity from homes, often without the homeowner's knowledge.

As the median value of a home in the United States is currently a little more than $200,000, there is plenty of incentive for the equity thief. The scam is relatively simple and usually involves homes that are completely paid off. The thief obtains a copy of the homeowner's Social Security number and a fake driver's license in the homeowner's name. Using this fake identification, the thief forges a quitclaim deed, a document transfers a homeowner's interest in a property to a third party. The document says, in essence, "I don't want this property anymore." The property can then be transferred to anyone the thief chooses. Once the transfer has taken place, the thief applies for a home greeneasylife.com equity loan, takes the money, and simply walks away. In an alternate scenario, the thief simply sells the house and pockets the money. As most agencies involved in real estate transactions are quite busy these days, property transfers of this type can often be accomplished without drawing undue attention.

This is just one of many scams that have sprung up in recent years involving real estate. While the authorities are certainly interested in catching the thieves, such cases quickly become rather complicated and few police departments have the necessary expertise required to deal with these cases, since they are fairly new. More often than not, the homeowner has little recourse other than to sue the mortgage company involved in the transaction. The best defense against a possible identity theft/equity theft scam is to protect your identity carefully and to avoid giving anyone your Social Security number if you can possibly avoid it. Failing to do so could cost you your home.

?Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to end-your-debt.com debt consolidation information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on homeequityhelp.net home equity loans.

How We Sold Our Home For Sale By Owner - FSBO - Within a Month

We listed our home in northern Vermont with a real estate agent in Autumn 2006. The advice given to us was "It's late in the year and things are moving slow. You should probably wait until next Spring to see if the real estate market picks up." Not very encouraging to say the least. So we agreed and withdrew our listing after the agent sponsored an open house and only one couple visited.

What do real estate agencies do? Well, they advertise your home on the web, via MLS, local newspapers and open houses. Other than getting a listing in MLS, you can do all of the other things yourself and probably better. Remember, you're selling FSBO (for sale by owner) and all your advertising efforts can be directed into one, powerful direction. The real estate agent has many listings to deal with, so his or her efforts to market your home could be diluted.

Here are some tips for selling your home quickly as a FSBO:

Place a block ad in your local newspaper. The best day to place an ad is in the Sunday edition. That is where people regularly go to view open houses and listings. If your budget allows it, good second choices would be the Friday and Saturday editions. Don't bother with the rest of the week unless you've got money to burn.

Open house how-to: Check your local Sunday newspaper ads for open houses. Many Realtors schedule their open houses within the same time frame, such as 1 to 3pm. That doesn't allow potential buyers much time to see all the homes they may wish to view. Your strategy is to start earlier, such as 12pm or later in the afternoon such as 2 to 5pm.

Preparing for the open house. Clean, clean, clean! Nothing entices a buyer more than a clean home. This indicates that a home has been cared for and well maintained. Make sure that everything is picked up, well organized and get rid of clutter. A buyer may be looking at a home in the $400K range. Imagine walking into an open house at a Colonial style home priced at $425K only to be greeted by gouged up wood floors, cluttered rooms and dirty kitchen counters. The next open house is a single level ranch priced at $350K. It is bright, spotlessly clean and shows like a new home. Which one would appeal to you more? Although a buyer may be more interested in the upscale Colonial, it's easy to shift gears and fall in love with the less expensive but much nicer single level ranch.

What about baking cookies and making bread? Forget about it. Go with some potpourri or scented candles instead. The homey, fresh baked goods routine is so much of a cliche that most buyers could care less. Also, do you really want people dropping cookie crumbs all over your carpets during an open house?

Get on the web. Other than the local Sunday paper, the next best place to sell for sale by owner is on the web. Do a search for fsbo's in your locality and see what comes up on page one of the search results. Check out the website's advertising rates, etc. Most importantly, is the site easy to use and find listings? If you were buying a home would this be the website you would use on a regular basis?

One of the most powerful and free places to showcase your for sale by owner ad is on Craigslist. Go to Craigslist and narrow it down to a search for real estate in your area. Simple ads are free but you can also add links and photos. Design an attractive web page for your fsbo listing and put a link in your Craigslist ad pointing to it. Get a 360 virtual tour done and link that within your web page.

Be prepared. Have a "sellers property inspection report" available for your potential buyers to view. This will answer many of their questions about your home and indicate that you are well prepared for a smooth, trouble free transaction. Make sure you have copies of a purchase agreement available as well. If you are able to obtain a deposit, it should be payable to your real estate attorney via an escrow account.

Don't talk too much. Give the potential buyers room to think and explore your home. Answer any questions briefly and truthfully. Do not "oversell" your home or change the subject as it can make buyers wary.

Follow up. Keep a record of names and phone numbers from buyers who view your home. Give them a couple days and then call to follow up with them. If they are not interested in your home, ask for any honest feedback they might have.

Communicate. When you get a deposit and purchase agreement, contact your real estate attorney as soon as possible and make sure all is in order. Promptly respond to any questions the buyer may have and make their buying experience as smooth as possible. Always be honest with answers to any questions but do not volunteer any information that you're not sure of. Best to consult with your attorney about such questions. Get everything in writing and signed by all parties.

Lot's more just plain common sense available at vermonter.com Vermonter.com

Home Health Aide Career Training Programs

Accredited vocational career training programs are available for students who wish to enter into careers as home health aides. Students can expect to study a variety of subjects in order to gain the skills and knowledge they need to pursue their desired career. Educational training is available at various levels including certificates, and associate degrees. By enrolling in an accredited vocational education program students can begin the training needed for a successful career in this field.

Home health aides are trained to carry out a number of tasks based on their place of employment and skill level. Students can train to:

prepare mealsmake bedscheck vital signsassist with exercisesdress and bathe clientsadminister medications...and assist with other daily living tasks. Students can choose to train for these skills at a variety of levels including certificate and associate degrees. The level of education will decide the length of study. Certificates in home health care typically require students to complete six months to one year of training and coursework. Once a certificate is earned students can pursue an associate level degree in the field. Associate degree programs can require that two years of study and training be completed in order to enter into the workforce. By gaining an accredited certificate or degree students will be prepared to start their desired career in the health care field. Training will require students to learn a number of subjects.

Specific coursework will vary by vocational school and level of study. Students can expect to gain a number of skills and knowledge in the medical and health care fields. Coursework may consist of subjects such as:medical terminologysafetyCPRvital signsinfection controlcare skillsmedical ethicsdisabilitiesmath...and many other relevant subjects. By receiving training in areas such as these, students will have the means to pursue their desired career as home health aides. Career options for students can include working with: elderlyphysically disabledterminally illmentally illAlzheimer's...and a variety of other patients. Careers in home health can allow students to further their education and become nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals. Training will provide the education needed to succeed.

By gaining an accredited certificate or degree in this field students will have the chance to work in a number of peoples homes while providing a variety of care. Accredited vocational schools and college are available to give students the opportunity to obtain the necessary education for their desired career. Full accreditation is provided by agencies like the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools abhes.org abhes.org/. Educational training programs receive accreditation by meeting certain standards that prove they will provide a quality education to students. By researching various programs and requesting more information, students can choose the program that best fits their individual needs and goals. Enroll today to start training in this exciting field.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Renata McGee is a staff writer for PETAP.org. Locate petap.org/categories/VSD/nursing-assistant-schools-colleges.cfm Home Health Aide Schools and Colleges as well as petap.org/categories/OSD/online-nursing-assistant-schools-colleges.cfm Online Home Health Aide Schools at PETAP.org, your Partners in Education and Tuition Assistance Programs.

Bad Credit Secured Personal Loan - Your Friend in Bad Times

Business loan are commonly designed to help new and established enterprenuers.You might have made excellent project report, done exclusive market survey, looked for the plant and machinery. All is well. What about finances? Without finance nothing will be materialised. Business loan will provide all the financial support that you need.

Small business loan is for procuring raw materials, working capital and for maintaining a cash flow. It can be used for the enhancement of your new or existing business. Large business loan is meant for buying fixed assets like land or building.

For acquisition of land and building, secured ask4loan.co.uk/business-loan.html business loan is ultimate. The rate of interest is drastically low and spread along a longer tenure. Monthly repayment and APRs are also low which makes borrowers comfortable in paying off the debt. Borrowers have to offer their property as collateral which can be seized if payment is not made timely.

Unsecured business loan is one of the most popular ways of getting finances instantly. A borrower can use unsecured business loan for working capital or for meeting the need of urgent cash. Interest rate of unsecured business loan is higher but payment duration is shorter. So, it is always convenient for entrepreneurs to pay off the loan early on priority basis.

Business loan is a large amount loan. So, borrowers should deal with utmost care. Loosing in deal will lead to huge loss. Keep on getting online quotes and compare them. If you are still not contented, seek services of loan brokers. They are all set to help you get the best interest rate free of cost because they charge their fees from lending agencies only.

About The Author

The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Ask4loan as a finance specialist.

For more information please visit ask4loan.co.uk ask4loan.co.uk

At Home Mom

There has been an enduring debate over whether or not a mother should be an at home mom and care for her children, or go back to her career and let a sitter take care of the children. Another question that remains is, "Does the family have the financial security to accommodate an At Home Mom?"

So if a mom decides to continue on with her career while someone else takes care of her children, does this mean she loves her child any less? Absolutely not, even though some individuals think so. But, different personalities call for different measures throughout the stages of motherhood. I personally know moms who are counting the days until they can get back to their careers while I also know stay at home moms that couldn't bear the thought of leaving their child for more than a few hours at a time.

Could a stay at home mom be called an unpaid full time career? The average SAHM works 96 hours per week. Caring for a child, changing diapers, cleaning, cooking, and staying busy for hours or days at a time with minimal sleep would rival any career out there. The fact that mothers love what they do makes it all worth while.

There are also other options that moms all over the world have resorted to when the financial means just aren't there. This involves moms working from home doing various tasks for large corporations or starting their own home business, making their own hours, and becoming financially independent, on their own. Large Corporations are now resorting to acquiring individuals to work for them from home. This saves companies massive amounts of money by cutting costs like office bills as well as management fees.

Money poses the biggest problem for families deciding if an greatfamilyopp.com at home mom is best for their lifestyle, making working from home a very viable and legitimate option if one income does not suffice. According to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), daycare costs for babies and toddlers in the United States can range from $4,388 to $14,647 per year with the average being around $8,150 per year. Work at home moms have the freedom and the time to spend time with their kids and make a potentially large income from home. This trend is becoming more and more sought-after as it is now a widely preferred way of life.

So all in all, you have some questions to ask yourself before making a final decision, "Do I have the financial resources to be an at home mom?", "Do I want to stay at home or continue on with my career?", "Do I want to start a business and work from home giving myself the freedom and time to raise my kids?" These are all important questions that should not be ignored when making the crucial decision of how to raise your kids.

Justin is a Mentor and Consultant for individuals and companies who want to make a solid income working from home online. If you want to be an At Home Mom and learn more about Justin and how he makes up to 4 figures daily just go to GreatFamilyOpp.com GreatFamilyOpp.com or email Justin directly at

Why Should You Buy Real Estate in Baton Rouge?

Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and is situated on the Mississippi River. It is known for its friendly people, vibrant culture, unique food, and lively music. It is home to LSU (Louisiana State University) and Southern University which provide the city with exciting sports venues and entertainment.

Baton Rouge also has the farthest inland deep-water port on the Mississippi River, six deepest in the nation. It is ranked within the top ten ports when considering the cargo tonnage. Because of this port, Baton Rouge is the center for much commercial and industrial activity. There are many large industry and chemical complexes that support the local economy with other growing trades including travel, finance, insurance, and health care. The two main railroad lines further establish Baton Rouge as a center for transportation and industry.

There are approximately 90,000 households within the greater Baton Rouge area and the cost of living is only 87% of country's average. There is an average of 214 days of sunshine during the year and mild temperatures averaging 80 degrees in the summer and 50 degrees in the winter. Current residents may entice you to consider making Baton Rouge your home with their welcoming attitude alone, but there so many reasons why this area is a great place to live and why it is a great time to buy.

It is true that the United States is experiencing one of the toughest economic crises since the great depression and that the housing market crash is partly responsible for the recession, but that doesn't mean it you shouldn't considered buying a home.

Lenders are currently fearful of borrowers defaulting on their payments and so they are being much stricter when it comes to approving loans. It used to be that anyone could be approved for a loan to buy a house, even those with poor credit and no down payment, but now you must have decent credit (at least 560-580), money to put down, and proof of a sustainable income that will more than cover mortgage payments.

If you meet this criterion, you ought to seize this opportunity. It is a great time to buy, especially in Baton Rouge. Interests rate are low (about 5%) as are home prices. You may now be able to afford the dream home you have always dreamed about. Even if you will lose money by selling your current home, you will more than make up for it in the long run when buying a new home.

Many people worry about buying into a market that has crashed and is continuing to fall. This is not the case in Baton Rouge. Most of the southern states did not participate in the real estate boom to the same extent as the rest of the country and thus it did not fall as far. Some real estate agents are even reporting the market as healthy and stable. The Baton Rouge area is faring very well compared to the rest of the nation and ought to be considered when making your next real estate purchase.

The real estate market in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is faring well compared to the rest of the nation. If you plan on investing in real estate soon, contact a realestatelouisiana.com Baton Rouge real estate agent so you can get the best deal for your money. Visit realestatelouisiana.com realestatelouisiana.com to start your search now.

How to Choose a Singapore Nanny

Singapore nanny - or more specifically, a nanny is defined as someone who takes care of children.

However, in Singapore, a nanny is also someone who not only helps take care of children, she also helps to do the household chores, wash the car and assist in other domestic work. She is also commonly called a maid, an "ah-mah" or a domestic helper.

In Singapore, the pace of life is extremely fast. Hence, having a Singapore nanny is more a necessity than a luxury. Most of these nannies come from the Philippines and Indonesia. Other countries of origin include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and even Nepal. Currently, there are about 150,000 foreign domestic workers in Singapore.

Under the Singapore regulations, it is mandatory that the nannies live in with the family. As such, it is very important to choose the right Singapore nanny for your family, and in particular, your children.

So, here's a step by step guide to choosing the right Singapore nanny for your family:

Step #1:

Firstly, you must understand clearly why you require the service of a nanny. It is normal for potential employers to expect the Singapore maid agency to find the "super" or "perfect" nanny. But, let's face it, as long as we are dealing with a human being, there is no such thing as perfect. Hey, even if it is a precision driven robot, it will also breakdown.

As such, do not expect the Singapore nanny to be an all-in-one perfect cook, great babysitter, spic and span housecleaner, eloquent waitress when you entertain at home, or even a Richard-Clayderman-equal pianist.

Just like any one of us, a Singapore nanny has her strengths and weaknesses. Know your number one priority and find a nanny that is especially strong in that. It's good to have the rest of your needs met, but bear in mind that there is no perfect nanny.

Step #2:

Having understood your needs, get to know the needs of the potential nannies. You can either get a professional Singapore maid agency to assist you with shortlisting candidates, or you can ask around to see if anyone knows of a suitable nanny.

Understand that just as much as you are choosing them, they are also choosing you. This is pretty similar to an IT professional looking for a job with a company. They are also looking for the right employer and work environment for themselves.

Bear in mind that most nannies have a preference in the work they do. Some of them love taking care of children, but they are not so good in cooking. Some of them are really great with dogs, but when it comes to house cleaning, they may not be up to your mark.

Understand your potential nannies' needs, and see how they match up with yours. At the same time, watch out for the chemistry that you, your spouse, your children and/or pets may have with the potential nannies.

You see, there are people whom you simply "click" with, and there are some whom you simply can't "click" with, no matter what. And, it doesn't matter that she may be the most skilled among the candidates. If it doesn't "click", it doesn't work.

Step #3:

Imagine that you are the HR manager of your family. When employing a Singapore nanny, it is important to interview her and do character reference checks with her earlier employers.

Here are a few tips for the interview:

1. Tell your candidates what are your needs. Let them assess whether they are able to fulfil your needs. Better yet, interview them at your house so that they can see for themselves, what is her work environment like.

2. Ask them this question: "Can you tell me about yourself and your work experience?" This open-ended question will get them talking and you will be able to assess how good they are in their communication skill.

3. Ask them why they are leaving their current employer. This may "throw up some dirt", so to speak. Sometimes, it may be due to their current employer leaving Singapore. At other times, it may be due to some misunderstanding.

4. You can also give them some hypothetical scenarios and ask them how they will react when something happens. For instance, if your child falls down, what should they do.

Step #4:

Having found the right Singapore nanny, you must then do the necessary regulatory paperwork. Please note that if you are a first-time employer, you must also attend an orientation course. Check with the professionals on where to attend the course. You can also attend an online course.

In conclusion, follow these simple steps, and you will definitely find the right Singapore nanny for your family!

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Real Estate Strategies for Retirees Between the Ages of 55 and 65

Some questions many soon-to-be retirees are asking right now is: When is a good time to sell my home? And, is selling my home a good way to make money for retirement? This article may give you some ideas about the wisdom of selling your home.

For many people, their home identifies them as a person. Community status is linked to a home. Sweat and hard work went into improving the home. So, even if it is financially smart to sell, people want to stay in their homes as long as possible. But, when the decision is made to sell, first find a place where you would love to live. Leaving a home is much easier if you are going to a place you love.

Next, as retirement approaches, crunch some numbers to find out if you can afford to live without selling your home. Then, it won't become a necessity to sell. Try to figure out a viable budget that will work for your life style before you retire. So, when your home does sell, you will have extra money to perhaps do something you have always wanted to do.

Homes that are worth a lot of money can be used as a retirement investment, especially if the retiree doesn't mind downsizing. Even before retirement, sell your home and move to that smaller dwelling and the profits from the sale of the house can be used for your early retirement, leaving investment accounts untouched until they are needed at a later time.

Investors will advise a retiree to diversify by putting their money into a number of different investments. If one doesn't pay off, then financial ruin will not result. That also means to not put all of your investment money into a real estate project, namely a home. Besides diversification reasons, real estate can never be moved quickly, so it is not considered a liquid asset. And real estate is not a great long-term investment. Often prices of real estate stay stagnant for long periods of time.

Many retirees will purchase a second home in the place they think they would like to live out their lives, such as the beach or the mountains. Maintaining a second home can put a huge strain on the budget and because real estate doesn't sell quickly, if the retiree decides they don't like their second location; they may not be able to sell at a profit. A better suggestion is to take vacations where you think you may want to retire, to try out the area. Then, if you decide it is a perfect place for you, sell your old home before buying a new one.

Some people try to tap into their gold mine by getting a home greeneasylife.com equity loan and using that money for other investments such as the stock market. This is a good strategy if done carefully because the stock market is not a sure thing.

If you decide that selling is your best option, many real estate investors advise to cut your price early for a quicker sell rather than leaving a property on the market for a long period of time. Selling your home while home prices are down is not necessarily a bad thing, because you can buy another home for less money, too.

Manny Couto is a Real Estate Broker-Associate in Kearny, New Jersey and will be happy to answer any questions you many have about your Real Estate. Whether selling or buying contact Manny at the mcoutorealtor.com Rosa Agency

Karen Vertigan Pope writes for Ciniva Systems, an award winning ciniva.com Virginia web design company.