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30 December 2009

Manchester City guide, including Manchester Hotels

Manchester is one of the most vibrant and dynamic places in the UK. Here you will find a wonderful variety of things to see, do and experience, whether you are shopping, eating out, enjoying outdoor activities or anything in-between. Manchester has been recently transformed thanks to the investment made for the highly successful hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Manchester not only gained a brand new stadium, but also plenty of modern architecture, fantastic shopping facilities, some great hotels and a bustling nightlife including a thriving student and gay scene. All this makes Manchester an exciting city to discover.


Places of interest:

Manchester holds galleries, museums, sculpture trails, architecture and glorious countryside to name just a few of the many exciting places to visit. While you are discovering the stories and treasures of all ten districts of Manchester you will enjoy a feast of sightseeing and things to do.
• The Lowry is undoubtedly one of the most visited galleries in Manchester. The Lowry building has a spectacularly modern design is every bit as fascinating as the varied art collection it holds and hence is a real source of local pride. It is named after the artist LS Lowry and there is a very fine collection of his drawings and paintings on display. The Lowry is also hosts two theatres and various shops, bars and restaurants.
• Manchester Art Gallery is a must for art lovers. The gallery has an internationally respected collection of art ranging from the early Dutch and Italian masters, through to the likes of Gainsborough and Constable. There is also a display of decorative art including ancient Roman earthenware to contemporary furniture, providing something for all taste to enjoy.
• Manchester United is one of the most well known football teams in the world. To find out more about this club visit their museum and take part in the guided tour. It is open most days, but there are certain restrictions on match days.
• Museum of Science & Industry is where you will discover all the interesting facts about Manchester's role in the industrial revolution and get the chance to see steam engines and locomotives, to modern day aircraft and star gaze in the planetarium.
• Urbis is set in a dramatic glass building rising high above the centre of Manchester. An interactive exhibition will lead you on a journey exploring life in different cities around the world. With four cascading exhibition floors to explore you need to allow at least ninety minutes for your visit.
Things to do:

In Manchester you will find all the shops you could ever desire and a few more besides. Acting as the Gateway to the North, Manchester also provides a perfect base to explore many of the North's attractions and is within easy reach of Blackpool, the historic city of Chester and only a few hours' drive to the Lake District, and the Yorkshire Dales.
• Heaton Hall and Park is one of Manchester's principal parks and is less than four miles from the city centre. Its rolling scenery provides an attractive setting for a wide range of leisure activities which cater for visitors of all ages. It is also plays host to many outdoor events, like summer fun days, theatrical productions, concerts and other major events.
• East Lancashire Steam Railway is journey back in time. It was opened in 1846 to link the Manchester to Bolton line with Radcliffe and was a popular passenger and freight route until 1972. The East Lancashire Preservation Society, with assistance from Bury and Rossendale Councils, saw the line reopened in 1991. The traditional station buildings and developments along the tracks have contributed to the Society being presented with a number of environmental awards.
• Wigan Pier is situated on the banks of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, and is one of the North West's favourite visitor attractions. At the heart of the centre is an authentic recreation of life in the 1900s. Here you can witness the Victorian way of life such as life below ground at the coalface and how the famous Lancashire pit brow lasses lived. In the ever-popular Victorian schoolroom you can experience the rigours of a strict Victorian education.
• Trafford Centre is a place where visitors marvel at a whole host of shopping opportunities all conveniently located under one roof, with the added bonus of bar and restaurant facilities and a cinema for relaxation during an exhausting shopping trip.
Food & Drink:

Manchester has a global feel and flavours all of its own, and can boast of thirty different nationalities of the finest cuisine. Having restaurants and caf's flying flags from around the world. Manchester offers a mind-boggling range of restaurants, whatever your budget. Ultra-chic or reassuringly traditional, Manchester's restaurants, caf's, pubs and bars offer rest and relaxation for all.
• 39 Steps is tucked away on South King Street and has quietly been busy making a very successful name for itself over the past 21 years. It specialises in providing an every evolving menu to make the most of the finest seasonal produce.
• Le Petit Blanc Brasserie is one of a number of Raymond Blanc's popular restaurants and like its sister establishments has a good reputation for serving up quality food in suitably elegant surroundings. The well-priced set menu will not break the bank.
• The River Room Marco Pierre White is situated with the very chic and sophisticated Lowry Hotel. Like the hotel the restaurant is highly elegant, as is the food which is widely considered to be some of the very best, if not the best in Manchester, with the added bonus of great views out across the river. This restaurant is both the ideal setting for an important business lunch, or a romantic dinner for two.
• Bulls Head is conveniently located right by the Manchester Piccadilly railway station and describes itself as 'Your local in the heart of the city.' It's a fine example of a good old-fashioned city pub offering an excellent selection of real ales and basic pub food including sandwiches, jacket potatoes and burgers.
• Lass O'Gowrie is a particular favourite with real ale fan thanks to a range of ever-changing cask beers on offer as well as boasting its own brewery. It is also a hit with the local student population, who come here to dine on the simple and reasonably priced food such as chilli and lasagne.
• Waxy O'Connors is a popular Irish pub and is a labyrinth of different rooms set across four levels. This is not the place for a quiet drink. It is a lively pub with live bands twice a week; as well as showing live sporting events on its big screen. There is a wide choice of both wine and beer and the food comes in the form of dishes as varied as traditional Irish stew, fish and chips and seafood chowder.
Manchester Hotels & Accommodation:

What ever you are looking for, from a quiet guest house, or a large conference centre, there is accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets in Manchester.
• Britannia Sachas Hotel
• The Britannia Country House Hotel
• Fairways Lodge & Leisure Club, Formerly The Villag
• Express by Holiday Inn Manchester East
• Best Western Willowbank Hotel Manchester
• Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel
• The Grafton Hotel
• Eleven Didsbury Park
• Monton House Hotel
• Novotel Hotel
• Didsbury House
• Chesters Hotel & Restaurant
• Copperheads Hotel
• Mitre Hotel
• Thistle Manchester
• Novotel Manchester Centre
• Radisson Edwardian Manchester
• Arora International Manchester
• Premier Apartments Manchester (Opening April 6)
Entertainment

Manchester is the life and soul of the region with more theatres than any other UK city outside London, a wide range of live music venues, two internationally renowned orchestras and a music and club scene of world-wide fame. You'll never be stuck for something to entertain you in Manchester.
• Manchester Evening News Arena is one of the best venues in the South East. The programme boasts an excellent line up of comedy, music, dance & theatre.
• Lowry Red Cinema entertains you with high quality contemporary dance, drama, visual arts, films, comedy, music et al.
• G-Mex is a great venue for music, comedy, cabaret and theatre.
With so much variety available whatever your requirements for a short break you cannot go wrong with using the exciting city of Manchester as a base. With history, culture, sport and scenery all available within easy reach and a choice of restaurants and bars where to end a day, why not give Manchester a visit.

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23 December 2009

Chevy Engines

I hope that the following article will help you to better understand this topic.
There are many people who love drive in cars which are reasoned as being reliable. Of the many brands which you will see on the roads is that of Chevy. This well known brand of automobiles has proved its reliableness time and time again. While the integral car is of importance theChevy engines which you will find under the hoods of the cars are the more significant aspect to look at.


These assorted Chevy engines that you will see are configured to bring power and mastery of the car to the driver. And since people have variable concerns for the surround you will find that theChevy engines can be found in Three types. The more environmentally safe engine version is that of an electric Hybrid engine.
You also will find that Chevy engines work with a diesel engine and that of a gasoline engine. While these are the main types of engines that you can find under the hood of a Chevy these dissimilar engines function in variable ways.
The exterior of the auto will not help you to discover which kind of Chevy engines can be found for the unlike models of cars that you will see. In order to get some info about these engines you should read books and documents aboutChevy engines.
When you look at the unlike Chevy engines you will find engines which are configured to provide you with a good deal of raw power. These powerful engines can be ones like the Chevy 350. This is one of theChevy engines which will provide your car with dozens of H.P. when you truly need it.
While this is just a small example of the types of Chevy engines that you can put in in your car there is a host of dissimilar models. These models can be from car designs as far back as 1963. You will also find V6 and V8 engines as well as the L3 and L4 versions.
For all of these unlike Chevy engines you should expect to find prices which are slightly expensive. If you are in need of a good engine for your Chevy then looking for an engine at these prices is not going to be a problem.
On the other hand you can look at the diverse remodeled Chevy engines to find one that is best for your car and your pocket. When you select the right engine you will have the ability of turning your everyday Chevy into a high performance vehicle... for more information on this topic, please check our web site by following our link below...
Thank you for taking the time to read my article it is greatly appreciated. Try searching through my other articles.
Michael Malega presents several chevy engines articles for your information. You can visit Michael's web site at: Chevy Engines

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16 December 2009

The good, the bad, and the ugly about luxury cars

The Good

Let's start with the obvious: you're movin on up and letting the world know it, whether or not it's true. That means more respect, better valet treatment, more dates. Luckily, in most cases there's some truth to back up the image. According to reliable car reviews, despite the increasing availability of features on lower-end cars these days, luxury cars still live up to their name by offering materials that look and feel better (i.e. real wood in the dash, real aluminum instead of painted plastic), soft leather (instead of hard leather, or leather mixed with vinyl), better sound insulation ' all standard. Luxury cars are also held to a higher standard of performance with more cylinders, better brakes and suspensions, and best of all, often trade up from plain front-wheel-drive layouts to rear-wheel-drive, making driving more interesting. Who wouldn't want their commute to be cozier and more fun at the same time? As a bonus, the owning experience will likely be richer all the way through, thanks to more courteous sales/service and a longer warranty.


The Bad

That stuff costs money. Stepping up from a compact-sized new car (say, a Mazda 3) to a like-sized luxury car (say, a BMW 3-series) takes a cool dozen grand. Worse, the increase grows exponential as you ascend in the range: from a Honda Accord to an Acura RL takes $25,000, and from a Toyota Avalon to a BMW 750i takes an extra $40,000. In other words, the cost of one big Bimmer is enough for two Avalons and change. And don't forget maintenance costs; ever seen the price of BMW parts?



The Ugly

It used to just be a matter of swallowing the price and writing the check, but many luxury makes have felt the need to prove the worth of their cars by confusing the hell out of the drivers. First it was Mercedes' COMAND. Then it was BMW's iDrive ' by far the worst of the bunch ' and finally Audi's MultiMedia Interface. To a lesser degree, heavy-handed electronics and interfaces have crept into Japanese, American, and British luxury cars as well. What good is that 14-speaker stereo if you have to stop and look up in the manual how to change the station? Some of these electronics have also proven to be quite troublesome, causing the average reliability rankings of their parent companies to nosedive. Nothing luxurious about that.



But if you have the patience and tolerance, the world's best cars are waiting for you. At a price.

Ian Velvet publishes MotorTrend.com's car reviews articles. His expertise in new and used cars is evident is all his articles. Newly publishing Ezine's online to illustrate and educate auto consumers.



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09 December 2009

Wondering How to Get a Cheaper Car Insurance Policy?

Protection and preparedness is one key to battle uncertainty. This is one good reason why car insurance is required for all of us to avail. But one question that may come up into your mind is that where and how to get a cheap car insurance policy?


This is one of the basic concerns of most people. We cannot deny the fact that car insurance is somehow expensive depending on the circumstances. But there are some ways on how to have a cheap car insurance that can provide full protection that every one of us needs.

These are some basic tips on how to get cheap car insurance:

Credit standing and history should be clean ' Make it to the point to have and to maintain a clean credit history. As much as possible, make this one your basic priority. A good credit standing and a clean credit history means that you are a reliable person in payment and financial matters and because of this, most insurance companies will be willing to provide significant amount of discount that most of us wants. On the other hand, if you have a bad credit history, you will forfeit your privilege to avail of the discount and would eventually pay a much higher premium.

Occupation with lower risk involved ' The nature of work you are engaged in is also one of the determining factors in computing your car insurance premium. Insurance companies have formulated their statistics based on their research on the jobs that often get into car accidents. And with years of study, they have seen the trend. If your job fall on the category of risky jobs, then the tendency is you would get higher car insurance quote, but one good side of it is that there are also jobs that are entitled for discounts. This may not be applicable for every one. But the best thing that you can do is to shop around and ask some insurance companies about this matter.

Drive a not so expensive or a low profile car ' The car that you drive also affects the quoted premium. You can see those people who drive high class cars or so called luxury cars. They would be paying a higher car insurance premium because of it. The main reason for this is that, these kinds of cars are very susceptible to theft and certain major damages. It is advised that you only use those not so expensive cars for you to have cheaper car insurance policy.

Equip your car with safety features and make it as safe as possible ' Along with driving a low profile car, it is also advisable that you put safety features in your car such as anti-lock brakes, seatbelt, airbags, etc. Most car insurance companies would offer lower payments to the owners of the cars with such features present. Online quotes comparison ' One of the best ways to have cheap car insurance is to look for it online. There are many websites available that can offer free car insurance quotes online. You should provide valid and honest answers for the questions for you to have a valid estimation of your quote. This may not comprise the actual premium cost but at least you will have a rough estimate of your car insurance premium. This is also one way to determine which insurance company provides the best premium quote with best coverage offered.

Online quotes comparison ' One of the best ways to have cheap car insurance is to look for it online. There are many websites available that can offer free car insurance quotes online. You should provide valid and honest answers for the questions for you to have a valid estimation of your quote. This may not comprise the actual premium cost but at least you will have a rough estimate of your car insurance premium. This is also one way to determine which insurance company provides the best premium quote with best coverage offered.
Aiden is a writer that handles a site that provides cheap car insurance quotes online (http://www.1carinsurance.org). For more useful resources and information about car insurance, please visit car insurance articles (http://www.1carinsurance.org/articles/articles.htm).


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02 December 2009

Assemble Your Own Kit Car

When you desire a sports vehicle, but don't like any of the current offerings, why not build your own? There is a vast range of sports self assembled cars, ranging from the basic Locost right up to The latest Italian exotica. This article will try to give you a taste of what you could be driving if you decide to produce it yourself.


So you have resolved to assemble your own sports car, but where do you start? I suggest that you examine a few models that you like the look of from a variety of manufacturers. Taking for example, a Cobra replica, there are a wide range of build options as well as cost and skill requirements. So you will need to decide how much you want to spend and look at your own capabilities before you make a final decision on a specific manufacturer.

Next, I suggest that you check out the manufacturers Owners Club. Many have websites or forums where you can post questions or check out possible concerns you may have. If the kit manufacturer offers poor support or poor quality components, the forums are where you are told!

Now you should have a shortlist of likely Sports car projects, a budget to work to and a fair idea of the mechanical skills required. You now should now be able to pick a kit. In order to make a choice, I suggest that you go to the kit car shows or manufacturers open days and talk to other kit car builders. Remember, they have significant experience in constructing your chosen model and can give you advice if you should get stuck with a particular problem.

Once you have handed over your money for a particular model, the work really begins. Even before the kit is picked up, you should track down the cleanest, most mechanically sound donor vehicle that you can. The better the donor, the better the finished sports car you will be driving. All relevant mechanical parts should be removed and cleaned as per the kit builders manual. If you are not fully happy with the condition of a part then it should be renewed. Don't gamble with your safety. It is advisable at this stage to get insurance cover for your kit project.

For most kit cars, assembling the vehicle is rather uncomplicated. Any manufacturer that has sold more than a few kits will have a detailed manual detailing every stage, in the right order. If you have problems then go back to the manufacturer, Owners Club or forums. You will be surprised at how helpful your fellow kit builders are. It is in the manufacturers own interests to make it easier for you as much as possible, and many have dedicated helplines for this purpose. After all, when you drive the car, you will become a traveling billboard for their product.

Now that you have assembled the vehicle you will need to ensure that any testing and required licensing is in order before taking to the road. Again, the manufacturer and Owners Club are the ideal people to give you a helping hand.

When you take your finished sports car on the road, you will feel a sense of accomplishment as you drive a hand crafted sports car that you constructed yourself.

Mark Heywood runs Premier Kit Cars, a website dedicated to helping enthusiasts select and build their own kit cars.


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25 November 2009

Gas guzzlers: the cost of running a car today

We're a nation of car users ' although not always by choice. Expensive and unreliable public transport systems have forced many of us onto the roads, but having a car certainly isn't a cheap alternative. The cost of owning a car, even if you don't use it much, is very expensive. There's vehicle licence duty, insurance, MOT and the depreciation in value, all of which add up. Combined with the costs of actually driving the car, from petrol and oil to tyres and servicing, it can really burn a hole in your pocket. However, there are ways in which you can keep costs to a minimum.


To keep or use your vehicle on any public road, you must pay vehicle licence duty (also known as road tax, car tax or vehicle excise duty) and display a tax disc on your car windscreen to show that you have paid the duty. Tax discs aren't transferable so you can't change them from one car to another ' you'll need one for each car. The cost of the vehicle licence duty is graded depending on the size, purpose, engine capacity, fuel type and CO2 emissions. So the more fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly your car is, the less you'll pay to tax it. Small petrol/electric hybrid cars such as the Honda Insight pay no duty, while the average small car will cost around '100 and the biggest gas guzzler up to '210.
Car insurance is another legal requirement. You must have at least third party cover to cover the costs of repairing other vehicles should you have an accident in which you are deemed to be at fault.
Policies normally run for a period of one year, although some providers accept payments in monthly instalments rather than one annual fee. Premiums are higher than ever now, but despite this people can be lazy about arranging their insurance, just renewing with the same insurer when the renewal quote comes through. It pays to shop around, though, as insurance companies don't tend to reward their long-term customers. Instead, most providers offer attractive deals to new customers, so it's worth getting lots of quotes. Most major insurers now have online quotation forms, so it's quick and easy to get a price. Remember to examine the exact terms and conditions of each policy, though. Some quotes that seem cheap may not include facilities that others do, such as legal assistance and courtesy car provision should your car need repaired. Also check the excess amount that you'll need to pay in the event of a claim ' cheaper policies tend to have larger excesses.
Insurance companies calculate premiums based on the perceived degree of risk of the person insured and likelihood of a claim ' young, male drivers who have only recently passed their test are regarded the highest risk. New drivers can help to reduce their premiums by taking the Pass Plus course offered by the British School of Motoring. It provides six hours of advanced training, including motorway skills and you'll get a certificate for completing it, which is recognised by many insurance companies. The course costs '100, but the savings on premiums can be two or three times this.
The heightened threat of terrorism, increasing demand for fuel from emerging economies such as China, and high rates of fuel duty levied by the government, have seen UK petrol prices rocket phenomenally over recent years. However, until viable alternative fuels become a reality, we'll have to pay the prices at the pump. Think about how you could cut down on the fuel you use, though. For a start, a smaller car will give you more miles per gallon. Try to share journeys with other people, or just walk or cycle if it's not that far. Have your vehicle serviced and the tyre pressure checked regularly ' keeping your car running to the best of its ability will reduce fuel consumption. Don't carry unnecessary weight in your car when you don't need to. For example, remove roof racks when not in use.
To keep your car safe and legal on the roads, you'll need to obtain an MOT certificate every year if your car is three or more years old. This test ensures that your car meets the minimum government environmental and road safety standards. It currently costs '44 for private domestic vehicles, but if you need any repairs or adjustments made to your car to pass the test, it will of course cost you more. It's wise to have a regular service as well as MOT to keep your car running effectively. Recommended service intervals are always given by the car manufacturer. Service costs between garages can vary considerably, particularly between franchised dealers and independent garages, with franchised dealers inevitably the most expensive. Watch out for labour costs in particular, which can range from '25 to '115 per hour. Following action by the Office of Fair Trading in 2004, vehicles under warranty are no longer required to be serviced at a franchised dealer of the manufacturer, so even if your car is new you can have it serviced at a cheaper independent garage.
Purchasing a vehicle is never an investment. As soon as you drive a new car off the forecourt its value starts to plummet. Depreciation is one of the hidden costs of running a car, but it is a very significant one. Value decreases quickly as a car ages, and it costs a lot to maintain, so you'll never make your money back on it when you sell it. Buying a second-hand car is a much cheaper option in terms of depreciation.
On top of all of these costs, motorists are bombarded with car parking charges and road tolls. It's just about impossible to find free parking in large towns and cities these days ' and some cities charge a congestion fee just for driving in the centre of town. Many key bridges are toll-paying and the UK now has its first toll motorway, a spur of the M6. Remember, if it's all too expensive, there's always the bus or train!
Biography:
Author: Benedict Rohan Website: http://www.mortgagenation.co.uk
Benedict Rohan works as a freelance finance writer

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16 March 2009

0% Credit Cards

These days, credit cards in the UK are competing with each other on two very attractive offers with a headline rate of 0%. These 0% credit cards will be either balance transfers; introductory purchases offers or a combination of the two. This article looks at how to get the best out these types of card and the things to that the credit card companies want you to do and therefore the things to avoid. There is a school of thought that believes that these types of card will soon be a thing of the past as they cost the credit card companies too much profit, as consumers get wiser to the pitfalls.

A balance transfer credit card is basically an offer of either a zero interest rate or very low interest rate for a set period. The typical period is 6 months although there are variations on this and there have even been some low rates set for the lifetime of the balance. However, these are becoming rare. Once, the offer period expires then the outstanding balance reverts to the standard rate on purchases. This is very important, as at this point the credit card company will hope the consumer will not take any action and so the company can begin to earn money on the balance.

A 0% purchase offer credit card has many similarities to the balance transfer offers. The introductory rate and period are usually 0% and 6 months in the same way as the balance transfer. Also, once the period expires the outstanding balance is subject to the standard rate on purchases. It is an important point to note that the introductory rate does not apply indefinitely on purchases made in the period, but only applies for the duration of the introductory period.

It is often the case that credit card companies will offer both the balance transfer and 0% on purchases on the same card. When this is not the case it is wise to keep balance transfers and purchases separate. This is because the balance transfer portion of an outstanding balance will be paid off quicker than the standard rate purchases. Therefore an increasing portion of the balance will be subject to the standard rate and the balance transfer portion will decrease at a faster rate. There is nothing to stop a consumer obtaining a credit card with a balance transfer and a separate low interest credit card for any purchases to be made. That way the benefits of the offers are maximised.

In summary the balance transfer and 0% purchase offers can be of great benefit to the consumer provided that the consumer understands how to use the offers to their advantage. A degree of discipline is required in managing repayments. Also, the cardholder should be aware of any penalties that may cause the offer to be cancelled. Armed with this knowledge then these cards can be made to work for the consumer, but remember that when comparing credit cards to pay close attention to the typical APR, which is, always stated where UK credit cards are promoted.

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15 March 2009

Choosing A New Credit Car

1. Choosing A new credit card

There are many reasons for applying for a new credit card. It may be your first card or you may wish to reduce the amount of interest you\'re paying each month or if you\'re lucky enough to pay off your balance each month you may wish to take advantage of one of the many reward schemes around.


To help you choose we have compiled a set of questions and answers. One thing to consider is that you need more than one new card. For example if you have an outstanding balance and use still make purchases you should consider switching to a balance transfer card for the outstanding balance and a seperate card for the ongoing purchases. This is provided you pay off the ongoing purchases of course.

2. What To Ask - Standard Questions

Scenario : You pay off your existing balance each month

Solution : Choose a reward scheme card. These will either pay be cash or may be points that can be used to purchase certain products.

Scenario : You have an outstanding balance but still make ongoing purchases

Solution : Transfer the existing balance to 0% balance transfer card and at the same time get an introductory purchase offer card. This way you can allow the introductory purchase card balance to build up, while you pay off the balance transfer card. You need to be very disciplined with approach though. If you have taken up a balance transfer then try to avoid new purchases on this card as repayments are weighted towards the lower interest part of the balance.

Scenario : You have a large purchase coming up

Solution : Apply for an introductory purchase card and then pay off the balance over the period of the offer.

Scenario : You have a poor credit history

Solution : There are some high interest cards around for people with a poor credit history. If you do obtain one of these cards then make sure you always make your repayments. This way you will slowly build up your credit rating, which will eventually make the lower interest cards available to you.

3. Can your existing card be improved

This is one option that most people completely ignore. It is entirely possible that you may be able to negotiate a new rate on your card, especially if you have another card with a lower rate. They can only say no, so what have you got to lose.

4. Should I close my existing card

Not neccessarily is the answer. You may be able to use this card in the future for a balance transfer. Also, don\'t forget that you normally get around 58 days interest free credit. So you may be able to make the odd one-off purchase and spread the cost over a couple of months.

5. Finally ...

Please remember the golden rule. Only borrow what you can avoid to borrow. If you are careful you can make the credit cards work for you, but if the credit card companies make a lot of money out of people allowing the spending to get out of control. Don\'t allow yourself to be one of these people.

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14 March 2009

Flight compensation: your rights

It's really no fun when you're stuck in the wrong place or left hanging around in an airport because of flight delays and cancellations ' and what's more it can leave you out of pocket. However, a new set of regulations that came into force in 2005 to provide enhanced compensation rights for passengers. Read on to find out more.


The regulations apply to all flights (chartered, scheduled and budget) to and from European airports with European airlines (whether or not you are an EU resident). If the problem is deemed to be the airline's fault, or within the airline's control, it will be liable to pay compensation to its affected travellers.
The amount of compensation you can claim depends on various factors, including the extent of the inconvenience caused, the distance you are travelling and the price of your ticket, but on the whole you are entitled to cash compensation as well as refreshments, two phone calls or other methods of communication, accommodation if required, a refund on your ticket and free transport back to your point of departure ' and/or alternative transport to your intended destination.
Extreme weather conditions such as snow or fog are of course not within the airline's control, so there is no obligation in these cases to compensate passengers. And some airlines deem problems such as technical faults or strikes to be 'exceptional circumstances' beyond their control so compensation claims aren't always straightforward. However, some airlines will provide refreshments and accommodation and perhaps ticket refunds on a good will basis.
Flights under 1,500 kilometres (935 miles)
For short haul flights you're entitled to compensation if you're delayed for two hours or more. You'll get free food and drink and access to two free phone calls, faxes or emails. If you're left waiting for five hours or more, you can leave the airport and demand a refund as well as an alternative flight back to your starting point. You can also claim '250 cash compensation if your flight is cancelled, you have been overbooked or you have been delayed for two or more hours.
Flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometres (935 to 2,210 miles)
Your cash compensation entitlement for delays of up to three hours is '200 and for delays over three hours it is '400. Again, you'll be provided with food and drink, overnight accommodation and phone calls, emails or faxes. A ticket refund and alternative flight back to your starting point will be given in circumstances where you are delayed for over five hours or your flight has been cancelled or overbooked.
Flights more than 3,500 kilometres (2,210 miles)
Long haul flights come with a compensation entitlement of '600 for cancellations or overbookings or delays of four hours or more plus the same entitlement to refreshments, accommodation, communication and alternative transport.
You shouldn't have to do anything to obtain your compensation ' the airline should offer it to you. However, if you don't get anything, your first step should be to contact the airline. If you don't have any success dealing with the airline direct, get in touch with the Air Transport Users Council, the UK consumer body representing air passengers and their rights. It will look after your case on your behalf and may refer it to the Civil Aviation Authority if necessary, which has the power to prosecute airlines for non-compliance.
Biography:
Author: Benedict Rohan
Website: http://www.mortgagenation.co.uk Benedict Rohan works as a freelance finance writer. Commercial Mortgage, Homeowner Loans, Remortgages


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04 March 2009

Car loans: access finance at great terms to purchase a car

In today’s fast paced life especially in metros or urban areas cars are very much in demand. It is because these mean machines not only assist the various individuals to commute from one place to another, it also adds a certain glamour factor. With more emphasis being given on comfort and space, the present day car comes in various shapes and sizes. However it is the price factor which makes it an expensive affair. To help those individuals who do not have the necessary financial back up, lenders in the finance market are now offering car loans.

These loans are especially meant to provide finances which in turn enable a person to buy his or hers dream car. The amount obtained under these loans can be obtained to purchase a car of any make or model. Moreover, borrower can also use the amount to purchase a used car provided it must be at least 5-6 years old.

For the convenience of the borrower, lenders offer these loans in secured and unsecured form. Secured form of the loans can be accessed only by pledging any valuable asset such as home, real estate as collateral. In fact, borrower can also pledge the car as collateral to secure the loan amount.

On the other hand, unsecured form of the loans can be accessed by the borrower without providing any valuable asset as collateral. This loan option is beneficial for borrowers like tenants and non homeowners. The interest rates for the loans are slightly higher but if a proper research of the market is undertaken, borrower can find lenders offering these loans at competitive rates.

Individual borrowers with bad credit history such as CCJs, IVA, arrears, defaults etc can also apply for the loans. To avail the loans, borrower must convince the lender that he is capable of repaying the loan amount with his monthly income.

Further using the online mode will assist the borrower to avail these loans at cheap interest rates that too instantly. However before availing the loans, borrower must compare the quotes to select a better deal.

With car loans, borrower can easily purchase a car that too at the best available terms and conditions.

source :
http://www.borrowcarloans.co.uk/

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03 March 2009

Wood Gas - The Future Biomass-Derived Fuel

Let's assume, that you own a farm. You produce grain and have a lot of straw. You'd like to make your energy on site from the biomass you have available. You might plant your fields with rapeseed or canola and produce biodiesel. But you'd need to get methanol and lye first, since both of them can't be made there! And you can use your biodiesel only in compression ignition (diesel) engines. And what if you have an old genset powered by spark-ignition (gasoline / petrol) engine? I think I might have a solution for you...

You'll make use of a technology that's more than 200 years old. It's greatest development took place during World War II in 1940s in Europe. At that time most of petroleum-derived fuels were used by military and there was no fuel left for civilians. So they made their own fuel, the wood gas from wood or charcoal. In some countries 95% of civilian transport (trucks, buses, even fishermen's boats) were fueled with this gas.

What is this wood gas? From chemical point of view it's a mixture of combustible carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4), dilluted with some water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2). This gas can be easily used for almost every internal combustion engine. Well... except for the most modern ones, they'd require to have their electronics to be modified.

How wood gas is made? When you heat wood it is pyrolysed, i.e. all the tars vaporize. When you add some oxygen, the carbon bound within the wood cells is burnt to carbon dioxide. The vapors burn too. When those burnt gasses pass through a layer of very hot char, they are reduced to carbon monoxide and hydrogen. A small amount of methane is also produced. When the gas is cooled and cleaned of any tars and particles, it can be used in internal combustion engine, boiler or any other device!

What do you need to produce your own wood gas? You'd need a device that's called gasifier. It consists of fuel hopper, gasifying chamber and a set of filters. It's very easy to build, the people during WWII made it out of old water heaters and stuff like that.

Is wood gas safe? Well, if you don't inhale it, you'll be OK. Carbon monoxide is very toxic and poisonous, so caution is required when using wood gas. From the engine point of view, if it's clean, it's safe. The tars might condense inside the engine, for example on valves, which might cause the engine to fail. The particles would probably destroy the contact surfaces on pistons and cylinders. If the gas is too hot the engine will not work (hot gas is diluted and has small energy content per unit volume), but it will not harm it.

Any drawbacks? One that's worth mentioning. Petrol engines will suffer 1/3 power loss -- the wood gas does have small heating value. Diesel engines will not suffer such power loss, since they work on stratified mixtures and because of that you can introduce more wood gas to recover the power loss. You'd need to leave some small amount of diesel to be injected to the cylinders to ignite the wood gas.

Interested? One liter of petrol / gasoline can be replaced with 2.5 - 4 kg (5.5 - 9 lbs) of wood. How cool is that!

source : http://alternative-car-fuels.com


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02 March 2009

Avoid Highway Robbery by Using The New Crude--WATER

HERE'S THE BAD NEWS.

Engines waste gasoline! Up to 80% of the high-priced gas that you pump doesn't get you anywhere because it goes UNBURNED to the catalytic converter. That means you are getting 0 MPG (zero, zilch, nada) from most of the over-priced gasoline you pump into your tank.

WHY DO COMBUSTION ENGINES WASTE SO MUCH GAS?

That's what they are designed to do--WASTE GAS--because every second of every day, everywhere in the world, every single gas and diesel engine on the planet puts money into the deep, deep, DEEP pockets of Big Oil.

Automotive and fuel technology has been deliberately held back, and people have been kept in the dark about AMAZING inventions and discoveries, in order to sell us lots of gasoline. Sorry, but that's how it is.

For example, the gas could be preheated and better formulated for better combustion--but it's not. The fuel vapor droplets could be smaller for efficient combustion--but they're not. The pre-set computer-controlled air-to-fuel ratio could be more economical--but it's not. The exhaust could be reprocessed to contribute to mileage (there are patents on that)--but it's not. Cars could be using a better carburetor design--but they're not because the patent for a 100 MPG carburetor was bought and buried years ago. Cars could be running completely on water fuel--but they're not because those patents were also bought and then buried along with the inventor (however, the patents ran out recently!). Even the hybrids that Big Auto is selling at luxury car prices don't optimize gasoline combustion and consumption.

HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.

You can do something about it, ONE CAR AT A TIME, starting with YOUR car.

How? By using ENERGY from WATER.

If that sounds impossible, or crazy, or delusional, I understand. This is something that none of our trusted sources of information--TV, radio, teachers, movies, professors, magazines, dad, scientists, books, Sesame Street--have told us about. Why? See the bad news, above.

I mentioned amazing inventions and discoveries. Many of them have very sophisticated technical patents on them. But the kind of water energy system I am talking about, the one that is affordable and do-able by ME and YOU in OUR cars (not by buying a Big Auto hybrid with a luxury car pricetag), is a do-it-yourself technology, specifically designed for beginners with basic tools and very limited budgets. A working system can be built at home for $20 to $200 worth of parts and installed in your car, truck, or SUV on a weekend. It's a 90-year-old technology that has been revived and developed into a simple, affordable, SAFE system based on low-cost hardware.

It works like this: The main component of the low-cost water energy system is an electrolyzer-a container of water with electrodes in it. The electrolyzer takes a tiny bit of electricity from your car. The electricity "splits" water into hydroxyl gas and feeds it immediately to the engine cylinders. The improved air/fuel mix gets very efficient combustion.

SPINNING WHEELS, NOT HEADS

Remember the bad news at the top? Remember I said that wasted fuel can be as much as 80%? In other words, even though you have paid $3.50 or more per gallon, you are only getting performance from as little as 20%--two gallons out of every ten--of the gas you pay good money for! It puts a whole new complexion on the phrase "highway robbery."

Our heads are spinning from rising gas prices. Now imagine instead that ALL your gasoline is working for you--it's actually turning your wheels and not just being turned into carbon deposits on your engine or exhaust from the catalytic converter. What would it be like for ALL that gasoline to be giving you mileage? It would be a WHOLE LOT MORE ECONOMICAL, that's what! That's what happens when you add the energy from water.

SEEING THE SEA OF ENERGY

Wondering how much energy is in water?

One gallon of water converts to approximately 1,833 gallons of combustible gas. One observer noted that a gallon of water in his water energy system lasted for about 2,700 miles.

"Energy from water" is hard to believe because we are misled by the appearance of water when it's liquied. It looks so, well, WET and noncombustible. But if we could SEE the sea of energy in the water--zillions of hydrogen and oxygen atoms ready to break out and be combustible gas under the right conditions--it would be easy to conceive that, indeed, water can be "burned" in an engine, thus taking advantage of a new "crude"--plain water.

Why aren't scientists telling us about this? Why doesn't it make big headlines? More bad news. Some of them just don't know about it, and some are paid to tell us about anything BUT this. Also, scientists are sometimes far behind empirical evidence from experimenters and inventors. Sometimes a true scientist makes an amazing discovery and is suddenly way ahead of everyone. What happens then? He or she has to fight all the other scientists that are way behind or too vested in the old paradigm. So who are the true scientists around here? A TRUE scientist could be anyone, including a scientist.

THE LAW OF CONSERVATION

Here is something to ponder from Patrick J. Kelly of http://www.PanaceaUniversity.org. He has a delightful way of tilting one's mind out of its box:

"The Law of Conservation of Energy is undoubtedly correct when it shows that more energy cannot be taken out of any system than is put into that system. However, that does not mean that WE cannot get more energy out of a system than WE put into it. A crude example is a solar panel in sunlight. We get electrical power out of the panel but we do not put the sunlight into the panel-the sunlight arrives on its own. This example is simple as we can see the sunlight reaching the solar panel.

"If, instead of the solar panel, we had a device which absorbs some of the energy that Quantum Mechanics observes and then gives out, say, electrical power, would that be so different? Most people say "yes!--it is impossible!" but this reaction is based on the fact that we cannot see this sea of energy. Should we say that a TV set cannot possibly work because we cannot see a television transmission signal?"

BUT ISN'T IT DANGEROUS?

We have been living and driving with danger for decades--it's called GASOLINE! Cars and trucks are planet-polluting bombs on wheels! But we are accustomed to it, right? And for the most part, we don't blow ourselves up.

But in the water energy system, I know, you think we're talking about tanks of compressed hydrogen in the car, but that's not how it is done! Here's the beauty of it:

Hydrogen is already compressed in plain water!

All we do in a water for fuel system is UNCOMPRESS and USE it--immediately, on-demand, in the engine! No hydrogen bombs on board. Just a container of distilled water! And the exhaust is--WATER! You split water, you burn it, you get fantastic mileage, you get a little water left over.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY

You can't get much greener than this unless you go for an engine designed to run completely on water, like the one that was designed and proven by Stanley Meyers when he drove across the United States on approximately 28 gallons of water. (You can see interviews with him on YouTube.) You can't get much more affordable, either. And because this is GREEN technology, and you will not be causing any damage to the car or the engine (far from it), your warranty will most likely be intact AND the government will owe you money for going green!

INSTALL WATER ENERGY SYSTEM, DROP JAW

You could pay someone to install your water for gas system. There are hundreds of people around the world who are constructing and installing water energy systems, as well as driving "watercars" themselves. These people save gas, save money, get much better mileage, and enjoy smoother-running engines and greatly reduced emissions. And that's why they are happy to do the same for you so you can save gas, save money, get much better mileage, and enjoy a smoother-running engine and reduced emissions.

Or you could do it yourself, in which case you would first get instructions, which are available on line. Then you would make a parts list and buy the parts from hardware and electronics stores. Third, you would construct the components of the water energy system, put them all together, and install the system, making all the necessary adjustments to it. You would now be the proud owner of a Water Hybrid Vehicle. And last, after picking up your jaw from the floor, where it has dropped in astonishment at your engine's mileage and performance, you would become an advocate of water energy, as I have.

BETTER COMBUSTION FOR THE MIND

To really grasp the implications and possibilities here, we must first clean the carbon deposits out of our minds. Using waterfuel is an approach to our cars and fuel that requires more participation from us. The whole water energy system consists of physical components PLUS your mind and attitudes about fuel consumption. To really optimize your waterfuel system, you will also be using fuel warmer, some Kiker wires to improve the spark, Xylene to add to your gasoline, a low-friction synthetic motor oil, a couple bottles of fuel treatment to clean carbon deposits from old unburned fuel out of your engine, a MAP sensor enhancer to keep the car computer from over-correcting the fuel mix back to over-rich, tires that are always fully inflated, and a real-time mileage tracker so that you won't have to use an entire tank of gas to know what mileage you are getting.

Perhaps the most important thing is this:

Trust yourself.

When you use an "alternative" fuel-efficiency system, you are an experimenter who is going against the herd and chances are, you are going to get some flack. Don't be fooled by self-appointed "experts" who don't have hands-on experience and say it can't be done. When they laugh or frown or condescend and say, "It's scientifically impossible," well, first of all, you know they are not "true scientists" (so why are they acting like they know what "scientifically" means?). Ask them if they have ever tried it themselves. You will find they have not. Further discussion might be fruitless, but you can try. Tell them to just wait and see. See for yourself. Don't wait ten years for big industry to do it because they don't want to GIVE you anything--they are only thinking about what they can GET from you while they continue making empty promises.

WHAT CAN A WATER ENERGY SYSTEM REALLY DO FOR ME?

Well…

How much will gas cost the next time you fill your tank?

A water energy system won't lower the price of ALL gasoline.

It will lower the price of YOURS. But don't just take my word for it.

Leslie Lackman is an advocate of the application of free, unlimited energies--mind, water, life force--to cars, health, wellness, and performance.

http://water4gas-4heroes.eoltt.com

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