What Are the Benefits of FELA?

Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) is a special act of congress passed in 1908(Century ago) to cover the large number of serious injuries and deaths that took place among railroad employees. The Law basically operates in two ways.

1. Offer fair compensation for injured workers. 2. Mandate railroad's duty to maintain safe working environment.

Safe working environment extents to;

1. Workers' tools 2. Equipments 3. Working conditions

Unlike a typical worker' compensation claim, compensation is not automatic in FELA. If the railroad employer failed to provide any of above, the employer is held responsible for any damages that result. Further more if the injury was caused due to negligent actions of a co-worker, the employer is responsible. It is always wise to consult with an experienced FELA attorney as soon as injury occurs, to increase chances to win the case.

These monetary compensation packages awarded to railroad employees who;

-Are injured while working -Sustain their injuries due to the negligence or recklessness of an employer (Included fail to provide proper working environment), fellow employee or equipment manufacturer. -File their FELA lawsuit within three years of the injury.

Why FELA?

Even though FELA is not automatic, FELA can offer higher compensation than states ' traditional workers' compensation laws. But it will take more time and effort to get the compensation. Please consult an experienced lawyer.

Types of injuries typically compensated under FELA include (but aren't limited to):

- burns - disfigurement - back, head and neck injuries - dislocations or sprains - fractures - loss of limb - permanent disability - traumatic brain injury - electrocutions - broken bones

You can claim for following.

- hospital bills - Past wages and future earning capacity - Pain and suffering - ongoing costs of treatments (including long-term rehabilitation) - permanent disabilities - pain and suffering

Pavers Installation

Brick Paver Installation:

Tools Preparation Arrange to hire a brick masonry saw and flat plate vibrator prior to the day you begin your paver installation. You will need some basic working tools such as carpenters level, tape measure, rubber mallet, rake, shovel, timber stakes, string line, broom, safety eyewear, 1 x ten foot length and 2 x lengths of one inch diameter piping.

Site Preparation The single most important phase of the entire pavement installation happens to be the preparation of the subsoil and paver bed. The overall strength of the pavement system is dependent upon the correct preparation and placement of the subsoil and base materials.

Mark out the area to be paved by placing wooden stakes around the area and then spray paint from an aerosol can to identify the area to be dug out.

Drainage Set out the grade levels by securing string line between the stakes, making certain to slope the grade away from any building structure. This will ensure that drainage from rainfall will not seep towards any adjacent building structures. Set up the grade at two inches in height for every eight feet of pavement length.

Excavate Site Now excavate the top soil and sub soil within the staked out area with the shovel and to a depth of at least ten inches in total. This will allow for a base material of five inches to be placed at the bottom of the excavated trench, next will be one and a half inches of setting sand to be placed on top of the base material and then allow three and a half inches for the thickness of the clay brick paver to be placed on top of the setting sand.

Compaction Of Base Materials Compact the bottom of the trench with the plate vibrator machine to make a firm foundation for the base materials. Place ¾ inch quarried gravel as the base material and compact it with the plate vibrator machine once again to provide a solid base for the setting sand to sit above it.

Setting Sand Lay the 2 pipe lengths eight feet apart from each other and parallel to each other. Place the sand to a height of one and a half inches in between the two lengths. Then using the 2x4 wooden length, be sure to level out the sand. Add more sand if you see any low spots. Make sure to level out any high sand spots too. When you have finished leveling the sand make sure that you DO NOT COMPACT THE SAND - because you will compact the bedding sand later on together with the clay brick pavers when using vibrator in the final stages of the installation. The final compaction of the pavers and bedding sand is necessary to allow for the proper interlocking method to take effect. It is the basis for the strength of the interlocking pavement system because the movement of the sand into the bottom and in between the clay paver joints makes them bond firmly together and bear the loads applied to the clay brick pavers in unison.

Installing Clay Brick Pavers After you have finished placing the setting sand correctly, you may begin to install the pavers. Begin installing pavers from the center of the site and work toward the outside edges of the pavement. Reason for this is to allow the trimming pieces to be at the outside edge of the pavement. Place the pavers about one eighth of one inch apart from each other. Check the string line to make sure you are moving straightly once every five feet of forward progress. Make any adjustment by resetting the pavers using a screwdriver so they sit straight. After the pavers are installed straightly, you need to install the edging material to prevent the paver from moving out of place. The edging material needs to be secured in place before you place the bedding sand and pavers.

Unsubscribe Verses Spam Email

Another email from who? I can't remember if I did sign-up for this email? Did we meet at a conference? Did I really say yes, let's stay in contact?

As an entrepreneur, it is very important that we communicate appropriately with whom we meet. Whether we are at a meet and greet, networking meeting, conference or even our own event, we must be cognizant of what we say to our "future clients." What is even more important is that we use the appropriate email system so that it states that they (the recipient) can unsubscribe at anytime. And, we must respect their decision.

The intent of the contact from the entrepreneur is not to bombard you with senseless emails over the course of the month until you receive the next monthly or weekly ezine. Their intent is to provide information that can be useful in two ways: personal or professional growth and remain in contact with you.

Recently, there was an email sent to me from a well know entrepreneur who wanted to assure her clients that she was not selling her emails and that if we wanted to unsubscribe please do so. She gave the area to where the unsubscribe button. However, the email continued with something that was even more urgent. "Please do not hit SPAM."

Yes, research had to be put into play, because like any other entrepreneur we do not want to lose the email account with the company that provides the service to send information to the clients.

Is it that serious? YES!

Unsubscribe means to stop a subscription; to reverse an agreement to receive something

Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately. (Spam)

As you debate as to unsubscribe or count that email as SPAM consider the following before you count it as SPAM...

Did I meet or contact this person at anytime (conference, book signing, workshop, etc.)? Did I give them a business card (i.e. a fishbowl at a conference, store, meet and greet, etc.)? Did I sign a list to remain in contact with them (i.e. via a website, conference list, etc.)?

If you can answer one of these questions, a suggestion would be to UNSUBSCRIBE.

If you get many emails especially with awkward information and there is a lot of gibberish, clearly it is SPAM.

Most business owners understand if you unsubscribe, and they will not bother you any longer. They want you to know that they respect your decision and want you know they are professional.

Just remember that in an entrepreneur's training, they know they must communicate and keep those lines of communication open. It's what they are in the business to do!

Resource:

Spam (electronic). (2012, July 1). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 17:49, July 7, 2012

Reviews on Top 3 Payroll Tax Software for Small Business

If you have a small business you know that you have to keep all of your financial records as organized as possible to ensure that you can make payroll accurately as well as file an accurate and timely tax return. There are many different programs for you to choose from, which can make the process of getting organized a bit overwhelming. Most programs today are very easy to use, and once you get the hang of it you can make payroll as well as tax payments very easy to deal with.

If you need help with payroll taxes you might want to look at a program such as QuickBooks. This program is manufactured by Intuit and is one of the leading programs for small businesses that need accounting software. There are several different versions available such as QuickBooks Basic, the QuickBooks Pro, as well as QuickBooks Premier. This online tax program has time tracking software that is nice, and the program is available for both Windows and Macintosh based computers. Many find that this has all of the features that they need because it allows them to do tracking, banking, invoicing, statements, and more all in one program.

Another great small business software is Small Business Money by Microsoft. This software has been created with business in mind and allows for users to create invoices, track spending, manage cash flow, handle payroll and so much more. There are different versions of this software available so that small business owners can find the version that best suits them and their specific needs. Many report that they like Money because it is very easy to use, without all kinds of extra bells and whistles that simply get in the way.

If you need help with payroll taxes and accounting you may also want to check out Peachtree. This is a great accounting software that will allow you to track spending, handle payroll, and do basic account management very easily. The software is meant to be used by small and medium sized companies and works much like Quicken and QuickBooks, though some prefer this program and its small differences that it has.

As you can see, there are many different programs on the market today that can help small and medium sized companies handle their payroll taxes and other day to day business maintenance. Many find that trial and error is the best way to find the program that works for them. Making a list of your basic needs will help you find the program that is best for you.

The Crack Of Dawn Short Stories Should End With A Twist

She came for him at the crack of dawn. He heard her cross the room and the small boy hoping to hide, slid deep beneath the bedding. But there was no escape that way. She ripped back the covers and dragged him sobbing from the bed. He begged and pleaded all the while looking up hopefully, but the look of grim determination on her pale face told him there was to be no mercy. He struggled to escape, but the hands that encircled his upper arms tightened, her bright red nails digging into the flesh of his skinny arms. He cried out, went limp, and when she changed her grip broke free and made a break for the door.

But he was there, and he filled the opening from top to bottom and side to side. It wasn't fair he couldn't fight them both. The figure in the doorway bent, large calloused hands lifted the boy, carried him from the room, dumped him on the bathroom floor and growled, 'Wash! And don't even think of trying the window. I'll be here, right behind you.'

He glanced in the mirror, the man stood behind him arms folded, his blue eyes as hard as ice. The boy's shoulders slumped, it was no good; he'd just have to get on with it. He washed and dried.

It hadn't been like this in the beginning. In the beginning they had been kind. The man would bend, ruffle his hair and ask him what he had been doing that day and he would look up at the red face with the warm blue eyes and the friendly smile and tell him all he knew.

She had been different too; she'd smiled a lot, had a habit of brushing her blond hair from her face that was nice, and best of all, she would tuck him in and read him a story at bedtime.

But it had all been a sham, a trick, to lull him into a false sense of security and he had been taken in by it. But last night when he sneaked down for a glass of water, he had overheard them discussing their plan to get rid of him. He'd tried to escape then, but the man had caught him and forced him back to his room.

The man led him from the bathroom to the kitchen, where they forced him to eat. She left the room and returned with a uniform and made him to put it on. Black shoes then socks, trousers, shirt and jacket, all drab grey except for the symbol on the jacket that was bright yellow. Next came the cap, also grey, with same yellow symbol on the front.

A satisfied look on their faces they led him out to the car. He was bundled in the back; she came with him and held his hands scotching any chance of escape. Ten minutes later they parked the car and walked towards the building. It was now or never, he made a break for it, he could hear the shouts and thump of boots behind him. He didn't get far; the man caught him before he reached the corner. He gave in then, but he wouldn't let them see him cry.

They dragged him past high walls with black railings, to the gate that had an archway above it bearing the same yellow symbol. When they pushed him through the gate he knew this was the end. He joined the line of other children dressed in grey, and shuffled through the door, it closed behind him. His first day at school had begun.

Worldwide Copyright Fred Watson 2006

How to Remove Wallpaper the Cost Effective Way on Plastered Concrete Walls

What you need

You will need a bucket, washing up liquid, a wide paintbrush, some floor covers, plastic bags, a scraper and a lot of hot water.

Prepare the room from water splashes

Move items away from the walls, especially electrical items and of course the pictures. Electrical sockets and light switches may need to be taped up for safety to stop water from getting to the electric wires. Lay your floor covers down next to the walls. If you have plastic sheets put them down first, then the cloth covers on top of them. This will stop the water from running off the plastic sheets onto the carpeting.

Apply the solution

Now that you have the room ready for wallpaper striping, there is one last thing to do just before applying the solution. You should remove the top layer of wallpaper. Some types of wallpaper have a plastic or vinyl top layer that water will not penetrate. To peel off the top layer, grab the bottom corner of a strip of wallpaper and gently peel it off. Peel the top layer off in a diagonal direction. If you are gentle and pull slowly, you can peel off a whole strip in one piece. Now you are ready to apply the solution. Put some hot water in a bucket with a good squirt of washing up liquid. Dishwashing liquid is a degreaser, it softens the wallpaper paste. Dip the paintbrush in the solution. In order not to get your room soaked, touch the paintbrush on the inside of the bucket to squeeze out the dripping excess water. You will have enough water on the paintbrush to soak the wallpaper. This will keep the splashing to a minimum. Hold the paintbrush with the bristles down, this will keep the water on the wall and allow it to run down the wall instead of down your arm on to the floor. You will be surprised how much water the paper absorbs. Do one section then do it again in about five minutes. Then go back again and do the first section then check to see if the paper peels off easily, if not, soak it again.

Remove the wallpaper

If the paper rips off in pieces, you need to soak it again. This will be when you need to use a scraper. When the paper peels off as easy as a sheet of wet writing paper, you have the paper soaked enough. The better you get, the less you will need to use the scraper and the less you use the scraper, the less damage to the walls. The water has to penetrate though the wallpaper and soak the paste next to the wall. Let the water and dishwashing liquid do the work not the scraper.

Clean up

There is no clean up. Clean as you go. Remember there is still paste on the paper and when the paper becomes dry, you have to remove it again. So boil, soak, peel and bag it as you go.

Now you have walls ready for decoration

Just let the walls dry for a little while. There will be a glossy shine from the small amount of glue left on the walls. This is no problem when it comes to decorating. You can always apply a wall sealer before you wallpaper again.

Popular Tattoo Designs and Meanings - Choosing The Right Tattoo

Tattooing, a form of art and appreciation, has become the subject of exhibitions in museums and galleries all over the world. Peeling off from the past seedy and disreputable practice, it now exudes an air of respectability in the art arena where new tattoo artists have introduced many original ideas and influences, causing the repertoire of tattoo designs, or 'flash', to expand enormously and become much more adventurous. There are now so many different designs to choose from a tattoo gallery or entering a tattoo parlour. It can be rather an overwhelming experience for many.

Do people who submit themselves to the tattooist's needle actually pick out designs for their meanings or for their decorative properties? Obviously, some would have a vision of what sort of image they are after and also, more importantly, some idea of why they are having it done. Still, there are some who would very much like to adorn this form of body art but are still indecisive on the design for tattoo.

I always consider tattoo more than a form of art piece. It shares a life with its owner once it is inscribed onto the body part. It literally becomes alive. Tattoos come in different symbolic, spiritual and religious meanings. There are tattoos who are more inclined towards a particular gender. Woman often choose butterflies and flowers, presumably because they are pretty but maybe also because they are feminine. Woman often see their tattoos more as an ornamentation or permanent 'body jewellery', opting a pretty bracelet wrapped around the wrist.

Male tattoos tend to be identity symbols rather than decorative devices, with traditional images such as snakes, eagles, black panthers or skulls being particularly popular. Men are keener on dagger dripping blood or dragons breathing fire, traditionally masculine images which speak of strength and valour. The tattoo is a masterpiece of non-verbal communication.

Some of the messages the images convey are specific and intended only for a particular audience, while others are more generalized. In traditional japan, the royal household has been represented by the chrysanthemum, which has now taken on the connotations of determination and steadfastness. The peony, on the other hand, symbolizes wealth and good fortune. One of the most popular motif in the west and east is the dragon which combines fire and water to indicate power and true wisdom. In Thailand, it is not uncommon to see good fortune tattoos as they are said to protect the wearer from evil spirits.

Of course, the only factors that will really limit your choice of tattoo are the skill of tattooist you choose, your own imagination and the depth of your pocket. There are aplenty tattoo galleries online or offline but that does not stop you from personalizing your tattoo and making it unique and special to you.

How to Win in Traffic Court - Practical Tips to Help You Beat Your Ticket

When you get a traffic violation, you really only have a couple of options. You can admit that you are guilty and pay whatever fines and fees required taking a hit on your insurance premiums or you can try to fight the ticket. There are many different motivations and reasons to fight a speeding ticket whether it's to save money or preserve your driving record for your job and one should be well rehearsed enough to be able to challenge a ticket or traffic violation.

The first thing you should do, although fairly obvious, is to dress nice and be respectable to the court. You are in a position where you are trying to convince the judge of your credibility. Your credibility is essential to proving anything that you have to say. Yes, in a perfect world one could come to court dressed sloppy and the judge wouldn't be biased but he or she is human and might subconsciously be unfair. Being respectful also goes a long way since you will be taken more seriously than being loud and argumentative.

You also need to know the violation that you are accused of. You need to look at the local laws and see what part of this law that you are accused of breaking. Sometimes there are exceptions. These laws and any and all exceptions might not be known to an officer who is just doing the best that they know at the time they gave you the ticket. If you can find an exception, that can be your case. If you can't find an exception, you at least know what they have to prove in order to find you guilty.

Sometimes winning means you end up not having to pay anything and the ticket is dismissed. Sometimes winning can mean getting a more serious offense reduced or getting some sort of deal worked out. For example, arguing for something like traffic school isn't a complete win, but when the offense won't be added to the points on your license and your insurance rates won't go up for the next 36+ months that can be seen as a win. So if all else fails a deal isn't exactly losing.

The Proper Use of a Durable Power of Attorney

It is not always possible for everyone to do their own business, and in many cases will need the help from another person to act on their behalf. In this case, they make use of a durable Power of attorney, which allows them to nominate a person they trust to do their business on their behalf. This particular person will then act in the same way, as they would have if they were the owner of the business. You have to, really understand what the word "durable" means in this case, which is that this person you are nominating will only act on your behalf when you cannot do it anymore. This normally happens when you are seriously ill, or you were in an accident and cannot work for a certain period.

As a business owner, there can probably be nothing worse than knowing you are ill and you have nobody to run your business. The amount of money you can loose will contribute to you not recovering as fast as you would have, when knowing you have somebody reliable looking after your affairs. If you nominate someone via a durable Power of Attorney, you will be the principle and the person you decide upon will be the agent. If something happens to you, your agent can sign on legal documents the same as what you would have done. This particular document will not come into action until the day that you cannot see to your business, of course only due to illness or an accident.

The law actually states that the person you do decide upon to act on your behalf must have integrity and be honest. They will not allow you to nominate someone who will do fraudulent business with your money, which protects business wise. The agent must act in such a way that whatever they do will be in the best interest for your company as well as for yourself. With a durable Power of Attorney, you only give your agent the right to act on your behalf, so if you agree to an amount, which you will pay your agent, you need to set this up in another written contract apart from this form.

There are some institutions, which will accept a verbal durable Power of Attorney, but when it comes to places like your hospitals and banks, you can be sure that they will expect this agreement to be in writing. This is mainly to protect your interests as well as theirs. Imagine you cannot look after yourself anymore and you are dependable on someone else, but not the agent you want to act on your behalf and this other person is trying to steal your money by indicating you have a verbal agreement. The amount of assets you can loose through such an act is endless, and therefore the written agreement is better, as it will help you the day when you cannot help yourself or talk for yourself.

Principles That Govern My Life

The strength and durability of a building is found in its foundation. The same is true in a life. What we accomplish and the effect we have on those around us is not only in what we do, but also in who we are. In fact, what we do is driven by who we are, what we believe and value and by the principles that we live by.

Principles give us direction in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. They are transferable to any given situation and will determine our direction. Those who do not have permanent principles will find themselves drifting along and making decisions that are personally expedient, short-term oriented and usually bad for their long-term success.

So I thought I would share with you the principles that govern my life. These are the ideas and concepts that drive my behavior, my career, and my family. I would encourage you to sit down and write out your own principles. Those that drive your life, or at least that you want to drive your life!

God first, others second, me third. Gale Sayers, the running back of the Chicago Bears wrote a book titled "I am Third." This is true. If I am to do and be what I want to do and be in this life, I recognize that I must have my priorities right. Some people think that the way to success is to put themselves first. This is short-term thinking. Yes, you may be able to accomplish much in the near-term, but long-term, the best is accomplished by those who live by the above.

Always be completely honest. You really only have your character when it comes right down to it, and honesty is the quickest way to determine your character. Live in such a way that you can be completely honest and be willing to accept the responsibility that being completely honest will bring.

Make it your goal to help others, income will come from that. Zig Zigler is the one who got me thinking about that. If you take care of others and their needs, you will earn your income. If you simply try to earn income, people will stop responding to you and you will have defeated yourself.

You reap what you sow. This is the most common truth on earth. You put an apple seed into the ground, you get an apple tree. An orange seed produces an orange tree. If you invest, your money will grow. If you eat right and exercise you will lose weight. If you are kind to others they will be kind to you.

The true measure of a man's wealth is in the things he can afford not to buy. This is one of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Things are great to have and so is money, but true riches are the priceless things we can't buy, like our family, our integrity and the sense of a job well done. Pursue true wealth.

Work smart - and hard. Some say you should work smart, not hard. I say work smart and hard. A good day of hard work is a blessing and ought to be appreciated. Hard work is what changes the world - as long as it is smart, hard work!

Follow through on all commitments. If there is one thing I can't stand it is when someone doesn't do what they say they will. When we don't do what we say we will, we essentially say that the job wasn't important, the people we promised it to aren't important, and that we can't be trusted. This is a good way to short-circuit your success.

Challenge others to greatness. There are enough people who will hold out the low bar for people to step over. I want to be a person who holds up the high bar, causing people to have to run and jump with all their might. And when they clear that high bar, I want to be there celebrating with them!

Find ways to generously give of your resources. The old saying is true - you can't take it with you. But you can spread it around to lots of people while you are here. If we wait until we die to give money away, we don't get any satisfaction in seeing how it is used and enjoyed. Write a few good-sized checks each month!

Treat people right no matter how they treat you. You cannot control another person's behavior. It took me a long time to realize that. I can only control my behavior. And I can choose to do what is right no matter how another person treats me. If everybody retaliated every time someone treated them bad, we would have a mess on our hands. Instead, choose to act appropriately at all times.

When relationships go bad, be the first to hold out the olive branch. Life is too short to leave a relationship broken. As much as it is up to me, I will pursue reconciliation, for their sake, and for mine. I don't want to get to the end of my life and wish I tried harder in my relationships. For this reason I attempt to restore broken relationships.

Regularly try new things. This is what keeps the spice of life going! Try new foods, go to new places, and make new friends. You will be amazed at the joy you receive and are able to give when you make it a habit to try new things. Break out of the mold, do something unusual today!

Treat everyone equally. No one is better than anyone else. I know people with tens of millions of dollars and people who do not have two nickels to rub together. They are both equally valuable and worthy of being treated as such. Don't fall into the trap of treating some people better than others. It doesn't matter what color they are or how much money the have or what country they come from, treat them with the respect and dignity each human deserves.

Use any success you have to help others. What good is success that only helps you? Instead, use the money you make to help others. Use the connections you make to help someone else up. Use the knowledge you achieve to give someone else a leg up. Take what you have and give to others so that they may join you on the journey of success.

Look down the economic scale more often than up. When I look up the economic scale too often I become greedy and unsatisfied. I become selfish. Looking down at others who have less than me on a regular basis keeps me humble. It reminds me of all of the blessings I have and keeps me thankful for them.

I want to encourage you to sit down soon and write out the principles that guide your life. It is an excellent exercise that will help you refocus and keep your life going in the right direction!

Many Former Students In Dire Financial Straits Reluctantly Contemplate Bankruptcy

Most students attend college with the idea of receiving a high income paying job when they graduate. But, in order to attend the college of their choice, they have to spend thousands of dollars in tuition fees. The cost of tuition is so high, that most of these fees are paid for with borrowed money.

As a result of these loans, the amount of student debt is very high in this country. Unfortunately, many graduating students have found no jobs waiting for them. As a result, without income, they remain unable to repay the funds that they have borrowed. Many, after a while, begin to seriously contemplate bankruptcy as a way to get out from under their debt.

When you file for bankruptcy, you will discover that some debts fall into the non-dischargeable category. This means that the monies owed will not be discharged as the bankruptcy goes forward. And that the filer will still owe those monies to the creditors.

When you file, along with your sources of income, debts, assets, and other details, you will have to list any student loans that you have. Unfortunately for those with student loans, thanks to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act law passed in 2005, these loans are now classified as non-dischargeable.

The law was basically championed through the U.S. Congress by the banks and financial institutions which thought that it was much too easy for the average consumer to file for bankruptcy and rid himself of his debts. As a result, it is much more difficult for consumers to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7.

Unsurprisingly, since the law passed, the financial companies have benefited by raking in billions of extra profits.

Even though, student loans are considered non-dischargeable in the vast majority of cases, there is one possible loophole that a small number of bankruptcy filers can slip through. If you can prove that repaying the loan will cause undue hardship on you and your dependents, the bankruptcy judge may rule that for an exception and allow you to discharge the debt. This is a very rare occurrence, however, and is not an outcome that you should depend on.

One option that some former students will be able to take advantage of, however, is a loan deferment. A deferment will allow you to temporarily suspend your student loan payments for a number of years. Hopefully, this will allow you to get back on your feet and eventually repay the loan.

The Cook's Companion by Stephanie Alexander

This huge volume, with 1126 pages, is a complete resource for all Australian cooks. It was first published in 1996, revised in 2004, and contains a wealth of information about ingredients and the way they can be used in recipes. It is ideal for someone starting out in the kitchen for the first time.

Alexander has been cooking for a long time and is dedicated to her craft. In the introduction to her book she outlines her views on food, including the production of food by economically sustainable methods, using fresh food, genetically modified food and the concept of producing and sharing food as a family.

At the start of the book there a list of utensils with a definition and a brief explanation of how each is used. It contains much useful advice for purchasing each item, for example it is recommended that saucepans should not be bought in a set as rarely are all sizes required and goes on to suggest which ones could be purchased as a starter set. This sort of information is invaluable for someone setting out on the adventure of cooking on a budget.

There follows a rather long section entitled "basics" in which are definitions of some of the less familiar ingredients and terms which is found in the book as well as frequently used preparations such as stock, pastry and batter. After this a very useful section related to measurements, quantities and conversions which has been included because Alexander understands that there are occasions that some recipes, such as bread, biscuits, cakes and pastries, require greater accuracy and new cooks need guidance to feel more comfortable when cooking. At the same time she encourages cooks to be adventurous and to test by tasting.

The rest of the book is devoted to chapters, organised alphabetically, each one based on an ingredient beginning with abalone and concluding with zucchini and squash. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction usually including a personal comment about the writer's experience with that particular ingredient, followed by a general account of where the product fits into the Australian situation. We find out about varieties and season, selection and storage, preparation and cooking and then are given a selection of recipes in which the ingredient is featured. On the side of each page is provided more useful incidental information such as how recipes can be modified by the addition of other ingredients. At the end of each chapter is a list of recipes where the ingredient used in other chapters. For example in the chapter on "eggs" there is a reference to "potato frittata" in the chapter on "Potatoes."

Alexander considers that this book will be worthwhile if it encourages young people to start cooking and experienced cooks to enjoy cooking more. It is certainly a very comprehensive volume which reflects her enthusiasm for food and cooking and on which, any cook, old or new, can depend and find inspiration.

Dealing With Dyslexia - What You Can Do About It

Dyslexia is a case often seen on children, but adults can also be dealing with dyslexia too. Most often, the symptoms include difficulty in learning which specifically includes writing, reading, spelling and dealing with numbers.

In very young children however, it is quite difficult to determine if you are dealing with dyslexia because children's learning process varies widely from one another. Of course, you can also attribute some of the learning difficulties to the late development of children.

Although most of the signs of dyslexia is related to reading and writing, you can however find some children with this disorder intelligent in other areas. Dyslexia can indeed occur in people and children in different intelligence level. Indeed, this disorder is not an intellectual disability. It is important to note that diagnosing dyslexia can also be difficult because its signs may also be similar to other disorders like the common ADHD. Some may get a dyslexia test to determine the problem.

If your child has been diagnosed with this learning disability, you can actually do something to help your child cope up with this problem. Here are some things you can do in dealing with dyslexia and help bring back your child's self-esteem.

- Assess your child's strengths and weaknesses. This is one of the first things you can do to help. By knowing where he is good at and where he is having difficulty, you will be able to know how to help him in areas that he needs more help and use his strengths to help him learn.

- Have constant communication with your child's teacher. In dealing with dyslexia and being able to overcome it, you can start by talking to your child's teacher and finding out what difficulties he often encounter at school, specifically in the learning process. It may help a lot if you also have skilled specialist teaching when it comes to reading.

- Find ways and techniques to raise your child's self-esteem. Most often, children with dyslexia often have low self-esteem as a result of their difficulty in the learning process, which is often emphasized especially with children. To help them in this area, you can encourage them by giving rewards and praises every time they achieve something in school. You may also help them engage in other activities or interests in school where they can excel and do good. You may let them do painting or crafting, or you may let them participate in sports or music, where they can excel. This way, they will also build confidence.

- At home, you can also help your child by giving more attention to him in doing his homework, and encourage him in the things that he can do well. It will also help to make him understand that the difficulty is not his fault, but of course, you have to encourage him to learn and succeed in the areas where he finds difficult.

- Help your child be organized by using colors. Dyslexic individuals are often disorganized and you can do something about it by training them. By training them to be organized, you can also help them to focus.

Dealing with dyslexia indeed requires time and patience and although this problem may not disappear at an instant, you can make it easier for your child to deal with it if you also give time and effort to help him deal with it from the start.

Why Buying a HUD Home Isn't Like it Used to Be?

Whatever happened to buying a HUD home as an affordable option?

A little background would be helpful for those who aren't aware that a HUD home is a home that was purchased with an FHA loan that the Buyer/Borrower was no longer able to maintain the monthly payment on, and the Lender would use the mortgage insurance to have HUD satisfy the loan. HUD then takes title to the property, has it appraised, and offers it for sale AS-IS; typically with the help of real estate brokers.

Sometime between 2002 and 2003 as the market was becoming an aggressive Seller's market; it was decided that FHA loans were too much trouble. The appraisal standards were stricter and Seller's were required to pay loan costs on behalf of the Buyer. As the sub prime industry was growing and creating conventional products with low or no down payment requirements, it became common practice that the only way a Buyer's offer would even be considered when competing with a number of other offers was if it included Conventional financing and not FHA.

This leads to what has been a drastic decline in the number of HUD properties offered weekly.

Ironically in 2005, HUD opened it's Good Neighbor Next Door Program which offers a 50% discount on particular properties that were only available to Teachers and Police Officers initially to include Firefighters & Emergency Medical Technicians. The goal is to contribute to community revitalization by requiring the participants to reside in the property for a minimum of 36 months. Although there are fewer HUD properties available there are now more participants.

There isn't anyone who wouldn't agree that it is ideal that the program be open to all who work in a public service capacity, but the truth is that with the decline in the number of properties and the increase of eligible participants; even fewer are able to actually acquire a home with the discount.

I have had the pleasure to work with at least 50 families with this special program that has a number of nuisances that require expert assistance.

As FHA financing becomes more popular with the implosion of the sub prime industry in early 2007, we anticipate there will be an increase in available HUD homes and an opportunity for those invited into the program in early 2005 to actually participate. We, of course, hope there are never too many HUD homes available as that would mean that many families would have lost their homes.

What Differences to Expect Between Different Welding Schools

Many students start learning basic principles of welding in senior high school all over the U. S. When they finished, they might ask themselves about how to further pursue some sort of welding career. Subject to available time and cash, different choices exist to what welding school to go.

By far the most flexible welding courses are provided by technology schools. The welding courses come as full or part-time option and several schools even offer night courses. Based on the number of hours an individual can attend weekly, welding accreditation is often attained within 8-12 months.

For students who don't require that flexibility, local community colleges or universities provide a much more structured and set program. These types of welding programs usually run uninterruptedly for a couple of years and offer you hands-on working experience and an Associate's Diploma.

Finally a number of universities offer full four-year classes to individuals who would like to develop their career by becoming welding engineers. These courses require a fixed term commitment and are generally really strict in their course offerings. On the plus side trainees can acquire a Bachelor's Degree afterwards and they can claim to have the very best certification for welders they could acquire.

Why was SENSE introduced?

In order to standardize welding classes, the American Welding Society (AWS) has outlined a set of specifications and recommendations regarding welding courses. This program has various recommendations and set guidelines regarding basic level welders, advanced welders and experts. The program is named SENSE (Schools Excelling Through National Skills Education) and is comparable to a quality label for training institutions.

The main advantage of SENSE is that individuals who have finished a specific level of this course will get a welding certificate that is recognized by all employers. All institutions which adhere to the SENSE rules must meet all specifications set by the AWS. A summary of these welding institutions can be found on the AWS website.

How to Select a Welding School?

Picking welding school needs a little bit of preparation in advance. Upon having verified that you can acquire the proper certifications, look into the school's web site for more details about the hours each week and also the tuition charges.

The schools' tuition costs may vary substantially and you should check all of them before you sign up of course. Higher or lower fees are not always a sign of distinct quality. If uncertain try contacting the institutions and ask for additional information. An even better option is to get into contact with a few students and ask them about their direct experience.

Financial Assistance Throughout Your Welding Training

Before applying for welding schools you might check if you are eligible for a scholarship. The AWS provides a variety of scholarship grants for upcoming welders who can't pay the tuition fees or need further assistance during the time of their studies.

Browse the AWS web site to get more details and information and the eligibility criteria for these kinds of grants. Trying to get a grant requires some planning ahead as most applications are only processed annually and the deadline is usually mid-February.

What are the First Steps?

You can find a lot of information on the internet and the official AWS web page ( http://www.aws.org ) is a superb place to start your research. Welding is definitely a career that doesn't finish when coming out of classes but rather un-wraps a lot of opportunities to focus into various specializations. Joining welding schools and courses doesn't only widen your horizon but the welding qualifications which you put in your resume could be a substantial asset for your own future.