Garret

Ask yourself these few questions:
1. Do you wake up each morning with tingling hands?
2. Do your feet tingle every time you sit down?
3. Do you just blame it on "sleeping on" your feet or hands?

If you answered "yes" to any or all of these questions, then I'm glad you're reading this. The tingling or numbness in your hands and feet may be a warning sign of diabetes.

This sensation of tingling or numbness has alternative names such as:
Loss of sensation
Neuropathy
Paresthesias
Restless leg syndrome
Sensory loss

Type 2 diabetes is gradual and many people aren't aware that they have it. Diabetes is a condition that causes the blood sugar level to be higher than normal. This high blood glucose, among other things, damages the nervous system causing the sensation of tingling or numbness.

If you're not sure if you have diabetes, look at these symptoms:
Blurry vision
Constant Numbness
Constant Tingling
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Frequent urination
Increased fatigue
Irritability
Unusual weight loss

Don't self-diagnose diabetes. You must see a medical professional for an accurate diagnosis. Still, you should keep a log when you notice these symptoms so you will be able to intelligently answer questions your medical professional will need to ask you.

Though not a complete list, some of the medical complications caused by diabetes are:
Eye Disease
Heart Disease
Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose)
Kidney Disease
Kidney Failure
Stomach Nerve Damage
Stroke
Urologic Problems

The reason why tingling or numbness isn't caught in time before it gets serious is because these sensations are similar to the feeling of having a foot or a hand "fall asleep."

Tingling and numbness is defined as an inability to feel anything when it touches your skin. Thus, the "falling asleep" sensation.

Tingling or numbness can be serious. Call your doctor immediatley if:
1. You have a rash.
2. You have dizziness, muscle spasm, or other unusual symptoms.
3. You have tingling or numbness has no obvious cause like them "falling asleep."
4. You have tingling or numbness in the fingers and/or wrists.
5. You have tingling or numbness in your legs and it worsens when you walk around.
6. You have pain in your neck, forearms, or fingers.
7. You urinate more often.

These symptoms of tingling and/or numbness will be worse at nighttime.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your life is not over and you definitely aren't alone. If you want something to help keep your diabetes under control, Diamaxol is a safe and effective product that will help you take control of your diabetes so your diabetes won't take control of you.

Here are three easy steps to help ensure your health and safety:
1. Eat a healthy diet
2. Exercise regularly
3. Take Diamaxol

Put this idea on your list of things to do. For a vacation treat, visit the three well-known lakes found in the Panhandle of Idaho. The Panhandle lakes are legendary and big.

Twelve U. S. States have land protrusions called panhandles. The Idaho Panhandle is the northernmost region of the state, bordered to the west by Washington, to the east by Montana and to the north by Canadas British Columbia. This slender arm of land is the home of just over 20% of Idahos 1.4 million population.

Drive into the Panhandle from any direction and you will be driving along a lake, river or stream. While the three largest lakes, Lake Pend Oreille (Pond-er-ray), Coeur dAlene (Cor-da-lane) Lake and Priest Lake are predominant, more than half of the total surface waters in Idaho are found in this northern section of the state. Lake Pend Oreille is 65 miles long and 15 miles wide at its widest point. Coeur dAlene Lake is 30 miles long and up to 3 miles wide and Priest Lake is 25 miles long. These lakes provide for excellent boating, sailing, and water sports of all kinds, plus world-class fishing.

A 37-pound Kamloops trout has been taken at Lake Pend Oreille, and prize-winning Dolly Varden trout and lake trout are often caught. Chinook salmon of over 40 pounds and tasty kokanee trout are hooked in Coeur dAlene Lake, and Priest Lake is the location of the worlds record for the giant Mackinaw trout and for trophy rainbow trout. Boat launching facilities are available at these lakes, and boat and watercraft rentals are also offered. Campsites are plentiful on all three lakes and marinas and resorts ranging from rustic to world-class can be found on each.

The center of activities for Lake Pend Oreille is the quaint town of Sandpoint on the lakes northern end. This town of about 7,000 is an emerging art colony featuring many art galleries, boutique shopping and specialty restaurants. Sandpoints City Beach and Park is a popular summer attraction for locals and vacationers alike, and nearby Schweitzer Mountain is the Northwests premier ski resort in the winter. Any time of the year, it provides an outstanding view of the lake below.

The city of Coeur dAlene is the hub for activities on Coeur dAlene Lake and the surrounding area. The city is the largest in northern Idaho with a population of less than 40,000. Set on the north shore of the lake, Coeur dAlene is a great jumping off spot for water sports and a wide variety of other outdoor recreations. Silverwood, the Northwests largest theme park with its new water park, Boulder Beach, is just a short drive north of the city. The park features 60 thrilling rides, including three big-time roller coasters.

Priest Lake is west of Sandpoint following the Panhandle Historic Rivers Passage on U.S. Route 2. This scenic route is one of six designated Scenic Byways located on the Panhandle. When you arrive at the little town of Priest River you are closing in on the peaceful setting for Priest Lake. Turn north on State Route 57 and follow the river to the lake. If you are looking for solitude and fun, this is it.

Not everything in Northern Idaho is on or related to the large, pristine lakes. For example, there are 6 Idaho State Parks on the Panhandle. These include:

• Priest Lake State Park, on East Shore Road, off State Route 57
• Farragut State Park, on State Route 54, off U.S. Route 95 near Athol, Idaho
• Heyburn State Park, State Route 5, off U.S. 95, between Plummer and St. Maries
• Coeur dAlene Parkway State Park, off Interstate 90 in Coeur dAlene
• Round Lake State Park, on Dufort Road, off U.S. 95 near Sagle, Idaho
• Old Mission State Park, take Exit 39, off Interstate 90 at Cataldo, Idaho

Three National Forests lie in northern Idaho. The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are an aggregation of the Coeur d'Alene and portions of the Kaniksu and St. Joe National Forests. This 2.5 million acres of public lands are managed by the U.S. Forest Service. These lands offer up an endless list of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, biking, fishing and hunting, and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter months.

With this abundance of possibilities, a visit to Idahos spectacular Panhandle Lakes Country makes a lot of sense. Put it on your short list of things you just have to do.

Granstrom, who resides in Idahos Panhandle, has a website devoted to the Gem State. See his site at http://www.idaho-insider.com for more information on Idaho.

Spelling can be a very difficult thing to master in 1st grade. Although your child is young, it is important that your child begin learning the basics of reading and writing at a young age to develop good habits toward education.

Learning 1st grade spelling can be a challenge for your child, but can also be very fun for them. Spelling bees often take place in schools to help encourage the kids to participate in group activities and learning their spelling.

It is important not to scorn a child who has difficulty learning their spelling words. By scorning the child you will be discouraging them from wanting to learn at all. Try to help your child at home learn their 1st grade spelling words.

Try the following tips to help your child effectively learn their 1st grade spelling words.

Generally kids are given a spelling list at the beginning of the week to take home and learn. Usually the words on the list have something in common with each other. Sometimes its a common syllable or sound. Try having your child write out simple sentences to grasp what the word means.

Get your child to read books to you. This will help your child understand the words and know how to pronounce them.

Every week take the words your child is learning and have them write out the definition of the word. This will create a 1st grade dictionary for your child. Try these steps to help encourage your child to learn new words and actually spell them correctly.

http://myeducationarena.com is a education information portal founded by Jakob Culver.

To find out more information about this topic and more visit the website =>http://myeducationarena.com

David Gilmour, like his Pink Floyd predecessor Syd Barrett, played a Telecaster initially, but he soon became one of the first British rock guitar legends to favor the Fender Stratocaster and to create a signature sound with the instrument. His parents bought the Tele for Davids 21st birthday, and he played it for a year (including on the Saucerful of Secrets record) until it was lost by an airline.

Upon officially joining Pink Floyd, Gilmour purchased a custom Stratocaster (the first of many) at a Cambridge music store. During the early Pink Floyd years, Gilmour played a Strat almost exclusively, taking full advantage of its wide tonal palette and vibrato bar in his style. He used a Lewis 24-fret electric guitar on rare occasions for its extended range, as in the solo of Money, and continued to employ a Tele sporadically in the repertory. Gilmour strung his electric guitars with Gibson Sonomatic strings made of a customized light-top (using the standard E and B for the B and G) and heavy-bottom set gauged .010, .012, .016, .028, .038, and .050. He used a Herco heavy-gauge pick.

David Gilmours earliest amp setup with Pink Floyd consisted of a Selmer 50-watt head with a 412 speaker cabinet. By 1970, he found his signature sound with a stack made of Hiwatt 100-watt heads with WEM 412 cabinets. The Hiwatt/WEM combination can be heard conspicuously on Meddle and Dark Side of the Moon. In the studio, he sometimes added a Fender Twin Reverb combo amp with two 12-inch speakers to his lineup for certain parts, as on Dark Side of the Moon.

David Gilmours early Floyd effects consisted of a Binson Echorec tape delay (like Barrett, he used this device from his first days with the band), a Dallas-Arbiter Fuzzface fuzz box, Uni-Vibe pedal, Vox wah-wah pedal, a DeArmond volume pedal, and Leslie and Yamaha RA-200 rotating speaker cabinets. The latter were routed through the output sections of Hiwatt heads and then to WEM 412 cabinets. In 1972, his effects boxes were mounted in a custom cabinet, and his array of processors grew to include a second Binson Echorec and a second Fuzzface, an MXR Phase 90, a Crybaby wah-wah, an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger, Big Muff fuzz, an Orange treble and bass booster, and a custom-built tone pedal.

Additionally, Gilmour used studio effects like ADT (Automatic Double Tracking, a favorite studio processor first developed at Abbey Road Studios for the Beatles), Kepex for tremolo, various tape effects, studio echo chambers, and backwards guitar. He also employed an EMS Synthi Hi-Fi guitar synthesizer (heard on Time on Dark Side of the Moon), and usually played a lap steel or Fender twin neck pedal steel guitar for slide parts. He used various acoustic guitars on early Floyd tracks, later settling on Martin D-18 and D-35 models in the 1970s, and, depending on the song, alternated between fingerpicking and playing with a plectrum.

Andy Ng is a self taught guitar enthusiast. He have played guitar for the last 5 yrs and still going strong! He is also a leading expert on the art of building homemade effect pedals. Pick up tips, techniques and just plain guitar talk at his blog! http://www.guitareffectssecrets.andy-ng.com

What is Whey Protein

Whey protein is a high quality protein powder from cow's milk. Milk has two proteins: Casein (approximately 80%) and Whey Protein (approximately 20%). Whey protein is more soluble than casein and also has a higher quality rating. Whey Protein is also often referred to as the "Gold Standard" of protein as it is the most nutritious protein available.

If you're not convinced, Whey Protein is one of the 5 Basic Bodybuilding Supplements

What is the difference between Whey Protein Isolate from Whey Protein Concentrate?

Whey protein isolate is the most pure and concentrated form of whey protein available. It contains 90% or more protein and very little (if any) fat and lactose. Whey protein concentrate has anywhere between 29% and 89% protein depending upon the product.

Benefits

Whey protein is a naturally complete protein, meaning that it contains all of the essential amino acids required in the daily diet. Whey protein has the ideal combination of amino acids to help improve body composition and enhance athletic performance. Whey protein also contains a rich amount of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs). BCAAs are important as they are metabolized into muscle tissues directly. Whey protein is also east to digest and is efficiently absorbed into the body. It makes very good Post-Workout Shakes.

How To Squeeze More Results Out Of Each Scoop Of Protein Powder You Take

Elevated cholesterol is another factor associated with heart disease and whey protein has been shown to reduce cholesterol in a number of animal and clinical studies. Certain bioactive components in whey protein may be responsible for the cholesterol reduction however additional research is needed in this area.

Whey protein contains many of the same components found in human breast milk and for this reason, is a key ingredient in a wide variety of infant formulas, including those for premature infants.

Side Effects

There are no documented side effects provided a person does not have an allergy to dairy proteins or does not need to restrict dairy products for medical reasons. If you are allergic to dairy proteins please consult with a physician prior to consuming any type of whey protein.

References:
http://www.wheyoflife.org/

Darcy is currently studying and researching into Sports and Exercise Sciences. He Co-Owns and http://www.supplementtracker.com Contact: Darcy[at]supplementtracker.com "Our body is like a delicate piece of art, every portion and every detail has to be sculpt carefully and patiently to get what we want" -Darcy

Major Parts Of Aluminum Railings

The major parts of railings are bottom posts, verticals, top railings, and center rails. All the parts are available from a DIY workshop or the parts can be separately purchased and assembled together. It is not difficult to make good-looking railings. The effort required is also not very high.

Tools Required For Making Aluminum Railings

You may not require very many tools. You require some skill in cutting and fixing screws. The tools you would require for are

Tools Needed:

• Circular saw
• Wood workers Clamps
• Hand saw
• Rough files 8 long
• Power drill and drill bits of 1/8 3/16 & diameter
• 3/8 Hex head driver
• Level
• Tape Measure
• Chalk
• Twine thread
• Hammer
• Scriber for marking aluminum
• Safety goggles
• Hand gloves and
• Mask.

The materials required for are

• Aluminum formed sections 2X4 and 4x4
• Wooden Inserts
• 3/8 Hex heads
• Bottom posts
• Aluminum cleats

While making aluminum railings please refer to the local building codes and select the material that is allowed in the local codes. Not doing so may cause problems later on. So please be careful. If the design is to be approved by the local builders association or architect, get the approval before starting.

Making Plans

Please prepare design for your aluminum railings. The sketches will help you in firming up the material requirement. This way you will not make any purchases that you do not require. Even if the dealer is ready to take back the unused material, the dealer will not pay for transportation of material back to store and may have some deduction for the returned material.

Method Adopted for Railings

The method of making straight aluminum railings is as follows

• Bottom support: The bottom support can be fixed to the wooden flooring at the bottom with help of anchoring bolts.
• Preparation for railings: After fixing the bottom supportprepare the complete railing on a level floor and erect it in the bottom support only when it is completely ready
• Center rail inserts: Either you can use the clamps made for fixing center rails, or you can use the wooden inserts. For fixing wooden inserts, some skill is required. On two opposite sides of 4x4 post, you can cut a rectangular hole (of inside dimensions of center rail) on opposite side so that a wooden inserts can be fixed and bolted the rail with 3/8 hex bolts.
• Verticals and middle railings: The verticals and middle can now be assembled and loosely attached to the bottom support. At this stage, not all the 3/8 screws will be tightened. When the entire railing has been put up, the screws can be tightened up starting up from both ends and meeting at the center.
• Inserts for top rail: The wooden inserts for top railings can be fixed up now. It is easier when the complete railing is made. The wooden inserts can extend about half the depth of top rail so that fixing up the top rail is easy. The wooden inserts should be fixed up in the verticals with screws so it does not move
• Top rail: The top rail will have slots of the size of wooden inserts and spaced so that the top railing goes into these slots easily. The top railing is to be fixed to the verticals with help of cleats. This will ensure that the top rail does not move and the usable portion of top rail does not have any protruding bolts.
• After the screws have been firmly fixed up they will need to be protected with silicone sealants.

Adam Peters is a freelance author who contributes adding articles to a deck and porch railings website http://www.deck-porch-railings.com ; where you can find more articles about aluminum railing plans and deck designs

Many people approaching retirement age develop a strong sense of things left undone and plan their retirement around getting them accomplished. Returning to school, taking up a new hobby, writing their memoirs, setting aside newly available time to spend with their grandchildren, or traveling are just some of the things they may do as retirees.

And one way a senior can maximize the available to accomplish all those things left undone is to decide to join a senior living facility, and be freed of the responsibility of caring for a home.

With the oldest member of the Baby Boomer generation--the largest in history--now having reached retirement age, providing for the needs of senior citizens has become big business, and senior living facilities are multiplying rapidly in anticipation of getting their share. They are all competing for a piece of a very large pie, those seniors thinking of residing in a senior living facility can use the competition to their advantage.

Retiring seniors will be able to choose a senior living facility from among from independent living retirement communities, or assisted care or nursing homes. And because there are so many options, seniors have every right to review services and amenities offered by the ones in their areas, to determine which is best suited for their individual needs.

Do They Meet Your Needs?

Choosing a local senior living facility is really no different than looking for a single-family home; the expense, security, comfort, and the attractiveness of a location are all important factors in the decision. The seniors looking for retirement facilities should have a clear idea of the positive and negative aspects of each locating they visit, making a record of the staff qualifications, whether they offer meals, housekeeping, and transportation, whether or not there is medical assistance readily available, and the number of social, athletic, and educational opportunities each provides.

Does the senior living facility encourage seniors to remain as independent as they can, and provide them with the opportunities to do so? Is the staff interested in keeping the residents physically fit, or do they simply assume that aging is a slippery slope and that increasing physical frailty cannot be slowed?

Deciding factors

If, after making you onsite visits, you know that the senior living facility you choose will be one of only a couple you can then use other criteria to determine your choice. Expense will be the deciding factor for a great many people, all other things being equal. But some may choose based on the proximity of the facility to family or friends, whether or not they allow pets, or even how close they are to favorite activities like golfing or shopping.

A senior living facility may be the final home for many of its residents. With that in mind, dont wattle for anything less than the place from which you can embark on your retirement adventures knowing that its the one place to which youll be happiest to return!

You can also find more info on Senior Living and Adult Community Centers. Seniorliving-review.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about Senior Living.

What is Spondylosis?

Spondylosis (spinal osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disorder that may cause loss of normal spinal structure and function. Although aging is the primary cause, the location and rate of degeneration is individual. The degenerative process of spondylosis may impact the cervical, thoracic, and/or lumbar regions of the spine affecting the inter-vertebral discs and facet joints.

Lumbar spondylosis refers to any narrowing of the spinal canal. Cervical Spondylosis refers to a degenerative process of the cervical spine producing narrowing of the spinal canal producing compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Causes and symptoms:

As people age, shrinkage of the vertebral disks prompts the vertebrae to form osteophytes to stabilize the back bone. However, the position and alignment of the disks and vertebrae may shift despite the osteophytes. Symptoms may arise from problems with one or more disks or vertebrae. Osteophyte formation and other changes do not necessarily lead to symptoms, but after age 50, half of the population experiences occasional neck pain and stiffness. As disks degenerate, the cervical spine becomes less stable, and the neck is more vulnerable to injuries, including muscle and ligament strains. Contact between the edges of the vertebrae can also cause pain. In some people, this pain may be referred (that is, perceived as occurring in the head, shoulders, or chest, rather than the neck). Other symptoms may include vertigo (a type of dizziness) or ringing in the ears. The neck pain and stiffness can be intermittent, as can symptoms of trapped nerves (radiculopathy). Radiculopathy refers to compression on the base of nerves that lead away from the spinal cord. Normally, these nerves fit comfortably through spaces between the vertebrae. These spaces are called intervertebral foramina. As the osteophytes form, they can press on this area and gradually make the fit between the vertebrae too snug.

The poor fit increases the chances that a minor incident, such as overdoing normal activities, may place excess pressure on the nerve root, sometimes referred to as a pinched nerve. Pressure may also accumulate as a direct consequence of osteophyte formation. The pressure on the nerve root causes severe shooting pain in the neck, arms, shoulder, and/or upper back, depending on which nerve roots of the cervical spine are affected. The pain is often aggravated by movement, but in most cases, symptoms resolve within four to six weeks.

Cervical spondylosis can cause pressure on the spinal cord. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal-- the area through the center of the vertebral column occupied by the spinal cord. Stenosis occurs because of misaligned vertebrae and out-of-place or degenerating disks. The problems created by spondylosis can be exacerbated if a person has a naturally narrow spinal canal. Pressure against the spinal cord can also be created by osteophytes forming on the inner surface of vertebrae and pushing against the spinal cord. Stenosis or osteophytes can compress the spinal cord and its blood vessels, impeding or choking off needed nutrients to the spinal cord cells; in effect, the cells starve to death.

With the death of these cells, the functions that they once performed are impaired. These functions may include conveying sensory information to the brain or transmitting the brain's commands to voluntary muscles. Pain is usually absent, but a person may experience leg numbness and an inability to make the legs move properly. Other symptoms can include clumsiness and weakness in the hands, stiffness and weakness in the legs, and spontaneous twitches in the legs. A person's ability to walk is affected, and a wide-legged, shuffling gait is sometimes adopted to compensate for the lack of sensation in the legs and the accompanying, realistic fear of falling. In very few cases, bladder control becomes a problem.

Magnetic therapy treatment of Spondylosis:

It is relatively easy to treat Spondylosis with magnetic therapy. As stated above the main causes of pain in spondylosis is muscle and ligament strains plus pressure in the nerves in the neck and spinal cord. Placing magnets around the area damaged by spondylosis will speed up the healing process in muscle and ligament damage and reduce the pressure on the nerves. Because much of the pain that is experienced from spondylosis is referred, this means the cause is in one area e.g. the neck ad the pain appears elsewhere e.g the arm and hand, you do not have to treat all of the painful areas individually. For example if you have spondylosis in the neck the swelling and pressure upon the nerves in the neck can cause pain, pins and needles and numbness to radiate down the arm and into the hand and fingers. There is no injury in the arm or hand but the pain is caused by the neck is felt there. By applying magnets to the cause of the problem, which is spondylosis in the neck, as soon as the symptoms in the neck have been relieved then the pain and numbness in the arm will reduce as well.

There are many magnetic therapy devices that can treat the neck, shoulders and back area. Although spondylosis is mainly thought of as a neck and shoulder ailment it is also possible to have lumber (lower spine) spondylosis. The treatment for lumber spondylosis remains the same to treat the area of injury with the magnets and any referred pain will also be reduced.

Common magnetic therapy treatments for cervical (neck)spondylosis are:

1. A magnetic therapy necklace or neck wrap. Most magnetic necklaces are higher strength than functional wraps. To efficiently treat widespread spondylosis that affects the neck, shoulders, head and arms, super strength magnets (2,500-3,000 gauss/250-300 millitesla) need to be applied. If a necklace or wrap is worn with a least 8 of these magnets the magnetic field will be able to reduce the symptoms in the neck plus the shoulders, head and arm areas with out any other magnets.

2. Magnetic therapy pillow pad. If a person is unable or does not want to wear magnets around the neck area, a magnetic pillow pad can be used as an alternative. The pads are placed into the pillow case and only used at night time. It is advocated that magnets are worn 24 hours a day 7 days a week until the symptoms are gone, but if they ca not be tolerated during the day then the best alternative is to use them at night time, as this is the time when the body enters its healing phase, so the penetration and uptake of the magnetic field is at its strongest during sleep.

Common magnetic therapy treatments for lumbar spondylosis are:

1. A functional magnetic therapy back strap or support. The strap or support needs to be placed directly over the area of damage. Magnetic straps tend to be narrow around 1.5 inches wide so they are very easy to wear. They can be placed low around the back over the hips to ensure they contact with low lumbar spondylosis, but they can also be worn high around the thoracic (chest) area in high lumbar or thoracic spondylosis. Most narrow straps have adjustable fastenings to give the wearer flexibility of placement. These types of straps are the most comfortable and easy to wear. How ever if the damaged area is around waist height a wider more supportive belt may be required, provide support whilst bending. Supports are most beneficial to people with an active lifestyle who make vigorous movements through the waist area, such as golfers and builders. Whether a narrow strap or a wide support is chosen the same rule applies it must be worn night and day until the pain has gone, so it is advisable to try both types of strap before purchasing.

Debbie Shimadry is qualified magnetic therapist and pain nurse specialist. She appears on several BBC radio stations as an expert guest on magnetic therapy and is also the managing director of leading magnetic therapy company worldofmagnets.co.uk. To find out more on how magnetic therapy can help you, visit magnetictherapyfacts.org.

Most probably you have heard of several success stories in franchising. Perhaps you have given it a lot of though and are thinking of wading into the business just to test the waters. Before you do, here are some other questions you might like to chew on just to determine if franchising is indeed for you.

Have you manage to limit you choices of a franchise to a specific product or service? You must have at least the basic knowledge on the franchise business you are planning on getting into. If you have an extensive military background perhaps a security agency franchise might be a better option for you than a pre school franchise.

Do you have enough money to purchase a franchise? Most franchise offers have a projected return of investment period. However, this does not mean that you will recoup you money on the specified time. Have the money to spend on at least three months or more on your business after the stated ROI period.

Do you have the right character for a franchisee? Franchisees often have to work within a specific set of rules. That is why franchisees have to be ready to follow the companys operations manual by the book. If you have your own ideas and has the habit of experimenting with it, you might find franchising too restrictive for your entrepreneurial spirit.

Of course you have to do some research on your prospect franchisor as well. Is the franchise organization financially sound and stable? Is the product or service idea competitive enough to withstand changes in the market? More importantly, is the product or idea sellable in your area? It will definitely not bode well for you if the parent company goes bankrupt while your business is still up and running. For this reason, always check the annual growth records of your prospect franchisor. Ask for the statistics on the growth of the franchise as well as the growth of the individual franchisees under the system.

How much support does the franchisor give to the others within the organization? Are they open to new ideas that might be able to gain a larger market share for the business as a whole? Do they lend franchisees a hand when they are in financial trouble? Will the franchisor be able to invest some time on you in learning the ropes in managing your franchise?

With these questions, you should be able to get a clearer picture on where you stand in your franchising plans.

The Franchise Guide writes about Franchises, Franchising and Franchise Opportunities.

As interest rates begin to creep forward, many people will not buy that next home or investment property because they can no longer afford the loan. Below are three methods that are quite common and can get a borrower a lower interest rate than the brand-new 30 year fixed mortgage loan. Of course, many negative side effects can crawl out of the wood work with these methods, so one should prepare themselves and be careful.

1.) ARMs - ARMs are adjustable rate mortgages, meaning that the interest rate on the loan periodically adjusts, usually every six or twelve months. Initially, these types of loans will get one a lower interest rate than the compared 30 year fixed mortgage, but be very careful. Detail will not be delved into, but be careful because if interest rates are rising and most likely will be in the future, the interest rate on the ARM will surely rise every time it is evaluated; thus making the monthly payments in the long run considerably higher than those of the compared 30 year fixed mortgage.

2.) Loan Assumptions - One can sometimes assume an ARM loan form the home seller, thus giving them the interest rate of the older loan. This is a crafty way to get an ARM that has a lower interest rate than the new ARM loans being offered. Of course, 30 year fixed loans are rarely assumable, so with assuming an ARM loan, the dangers mentioned above in method one may also apply to this method.

3.) Seller Financing - Some home owners actually own their home. Often, these people will offer attractive financing with lower-than-average interest rates. Seller financed property may initially cost more than comparable property. But, with the lower-than-average interest rate, the buyer can easily afford to pay more for the property because the low interest rate balances the cost out.

In addition to the above three loan types, there are additional methods that can be used to get lower interest rates, such as, raising the points on the loan, excellent credit, or a large down payment.

The author is the founder and owner of ManageYourRentals.com and LandLordDocuments.com

Your driver's age is considered with fleet insurance companies, drivers have to be over 25 with at least two years driving experience. But not to worry, you can insure your vehicles for any driver but your premium will probably be higher, you have to take the good and the bad.

Your drivers must obviously have a full UK driving license and be licensed for the vehicle they drive for your company. For instance, they must have a class one HGV license to driver 32-ton articulated vehicle. Most fleet insurance companies will allow any driver to driver any vehicle but if you employ older drivers with more experience, you could fall into a different category and be liable for a smaller premium cost.

If your company has a bad claims record, the terms of your policy can change and higher excess will be wanted from insurance companies. If one of your drivers has a bad claims record, the insurance company can ask for an increase for that driver. A poor claims record can mean stricter terms are applied and higher excesses.

Your cover can vary between your vehicles; let me explain you can insure difference vehicles with difference cover, comprehensive, third-party fire and theft, or third-party only. You can increase or decrease your excess for certain vehicles to lower the cost of the premium. You may benefit from cheaper legal expenses if your vehicles are insured under one fleet insurance policy. Your vehicle windscreens can be covered for a much lower price under a fleet policy too.

Risk Management for your vehicles can be managed better if all your vehicles are insured on one policy. If you insure your vehicle with different insurance companies, then each company can take a different look to price your policy and this possibly will cost your company more cash. A fleet insurance policy will make sure all your vehicles are covered properly and reduce the risks for your business.

Do you want to learn more about commercial van insurance to help protect your commercial vehicles the cheapest way possible. If you have more then one commercial vehicle learn more about fleet insurance services, I invite you to visit http://www.van-insurance-britain.co.uk

By Robert Mcleary - The Commercial Insurance Expert

Copyright 2007 - Robert Mcleary. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, give author name credit and follow all of the EzineArticles terms of service for Publishers.

The fantastic location, year-round mild climate, striking white sandy beaches and clear blue waters of Cancun have contributed much to making it one of the most outstanding tourist attractions in Mexico and on the world map. Cancun is visited by more than three million people from all over the world each year. To accommodate the increasing number of visitors, Cancun has an amazing variety of hotels ranging from luxurious 5 star hotels to small boutique style hotels. There are in excess of 140 hotels in Cancun featuring over 25,000 rooms. These include standard rooms, club rooms, family suites, honeymoon suites and presidential suites.

Cancun boasts an internationally renowned hotel zone which is a fourteen mile thin island, shaped like the number seven. The hotel zone features the best nightclubs, bars, restaurants and shopping malls. The luxurious hotels within the hotel zone provide a great base for daytime activities such as snorkeling. Luxury and all inclusive hotels line Cancun's beautiful beaches, while cheaper and budget hotels can be found in downtown Cancun. For short vacations, guests can choose the all-inclusive hotels where all meals, beverages and entertainment are included. Most of the hotels have rooms designed with views of the Caribbean and the Nichupte Lagoon. Family groups can decide on hotels that cater exclusively to families with many exciting features for children.

In Cancun, the eminent hotel chains combine luxury and comfort with supreme hospitality. Sports facilities, ample entertainment options and recreation activities for every interest and age are available. Guests can savor excellent cuisine at the restaurants and bars and enjoy in-room dining and 24-hour room service. Most of the hotels are equipped with state-of-the-art conferencing and meeting facilities and have trained personnel to assist business travelers. Some of the Cancun hotels make necessary arrangements for weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries, family reunions and get-togethers.

Major Cancun hotels include Hilton Cancun Beach and Golf Resort, Hyatt Regency, JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa, Le Meridien, Ritz-Carlton and Sheraton Cancun Resort and Towers.

Cancun Hotels provides detailed information on Cancun Hotels, Cheap Cancun Hotels, Cancun Hotel Maps, Cancun All Inclusive Hotels and more. Cancun Hotels is affiliated with Cancun Spring Break.