Slowing the gas price roller coaster

(ARA) – Gas prices are on a roller coaster ride again. A bargain these days is anything under $4 a gallon, which is especially difficult since it’s summer and everyone’s hitting the road for vacations. Inching closer is fall’s “back-to-school” drive cycle. In short, there is a lot of driving ahead and higher gas prices are now the norm, so it’s time to look at ways to alleviate the pain at the pumps.

A good place to start is eye-level with your feet – your car’s tires. You may look at tires as black, round utilitarian objects, but truth be told, these technical wonders – when properly maintained – are gas saviors that can slice hundreds of dollars off your annual gasoline bill, according to Dan King, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.

“The first thing is to always make sure your tires are properly inflated,” says King. “Tires that are underinflated by eight pounds per square inch (psi), for example, can reduce vehicle fuel economy by as much as 2 percent and tire tread life can also be reduced by as much as 25 percent.”

King says for the best driving savings and safety results, make checking the tire pressure a monthly routine. “It only takes five minutes,” he says. “If you’re not doing it once a month, chances are you’re driving on under-inflated tires.”

Use the tire inflation numbers usually labeled inside the driver’s door, fuel door, glove box or in the owner’s manual. (The number on the tire’s sidewall is the maximum inflation pressure.) Over-inflation reduces the tire’s contact patch with the road, while under-inflation puts extra weight on its sidewalls and causes an unsafe increase in tire temperature.

Certain types of tires – ones with low rolling resistance (LRR) – can help save fuel, too. “LRR tires are designed to minimize the energy wasted as heat while the tire rolls down the road,” King says. “That results in improved fuel efficiency. Studies show driving on LRR tires alone can save about $100 annually.”

Yokohama’s AVID ENVigor tire is a good example of the expanding LRR tire technology. “It’s an excellent low rolling resistant tire that saves fuel and combines performance, comfort and long treadlife,” King says.

King also offers other fuel-saving tips:

* Keep your tires properly inflated. Once a month, when the tires are cold (at least three to four hours after the vehicle has been driven), check tire pressure with a reliable tire gauge. Be sure that the valve stems have a plastic or metal cap to keep dirt out and seal against leakage.

* Replace your air filter. A clogged air filter blocks the air needed to burn fuel efficiently and wastes gas.

* Keep your car tuned-up according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule to keep all systems in good working order, which can optimize your mileage.

* To prevent skidding and hydroplaning, tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. An easy test: place a penny into a tread groove. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you’re driving with the proper amount of tread. If you can see all of his head, you should buy a new tire.

* Built-in treadwear indicators, or “wear bars,” which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread will appear on the tire when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. When you see these wear bars, the tire is worn out and should be replaced.

* Visually check your tires for signs of uneven wear. You may have irregular tread wear if there are high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Consult your tire dealer as soon as possible.

* Tires should be rotated at least every 6,000 to 8,000 miles and the alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to scrub, which lowers mileage and causes unnecessary tire wear.

* Slow down. For every five mph you go above 60 mph, you’re using more gas, and, ultimately, paying even more for each gallon of gas.

For additional tire care and safety tips, visit www.yokohamatire.com or www.rma.org.

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Renovating your home? Renovate your insurance

(ARA) – Whether you are upgrading a kitchen, adding on a master suite, or gutting a newly purchased structure, you need to reassess your insurance needs both before and after your renovation.

It’s common to plan every major step of the renovation. But one thing that’s tough to plan for is the unexpected. What if an oily rag left unattended starts a fire and your home goes up in smoke? The remodeling work done to date may have an impact on your homeowners insurance – unless you let your insurance agent in on the plans ahead of time.

For example, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company policyholders are required to let their agent know about any renovation projected to increase the replacement cost of your home by more than $25,000 in order for the crucial full-cost replacement coverage to remain in force.

“Your insurance company and your agent can help you find gaps in your coverage related to remodeling and establish appropriate replacement costs,” says Don Soss, vice president of personal insurance at Fireman’s Fund. “We can also make sure your contractor and subs have adequate liability insurance in case of damage to your property from poor workmanship or carelessness.”

In addition, risk managers at the insurance company can provide advice to minimize the possibility of fires, theft, and mishaps. Good risk management practices also minimize potential project delays. This may be a good time to add security and safety features such as water flow monitoring devices or upgraded burglary and fire alarm systems.

One of the most common issues is maintaining a secure environment during the work phase. For example, contractors often disable a home’s existing fire alarm system because dust and particulates generated by construction tend to trigger false alarms. It is important for temporary measures such as fencing and alternate alarms to be in place to keep the property secure.

Demolition debris should also be secured so it can’t become airborne in high winds. Toxic or explosive materials need to be stored and handled appropriately, and rebars should be capped to prevent injury to workmen and residents.  

Often, the family moves to temporary housing during a remodel. It may be a good idea to put art collections and other valuables that could be damaged in an offsite secure storage facility for optimal protection.

Even before your work is complete, your agent can go over your current homeowners insurance and make sure you have the replacement value of your home updated. This will reflect increases in construction materials and labor, changes in building codes, installation of new safety devices, changes in square footage, and custom features and appliances.

Top tips for homeowners considering a renovation:

1. Contact your agent before construction starts for coverage of your remodeling work and the value of your completed home.

2. Make sure your contractor and subcontractors have adequate liability insurance. Many contractors carry the generally recommended limits of at least twice the replacement value of the home.

3. Ask the contractor to maintain adequate safety and security devices such as fire and burglar alarms.

4. Save all records related to your project (receipts and appraisals). Store copies of these records in a secure off-site location. Videotaping your house and possessions is also recommended.

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, July 15, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ — Bayer CropScience (http://www.bayercropscience.us), one of the world’s top innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and traits, has announced that it is a presenting/season sponsor of the North Carolina Theatre. Bayer is donating more than $25,000 to the theatre this season. The North Carolina Theatre’s mission is to strengthen the cultural vitality of North Carolina by cultivating musical theatre appreciation. It strives to produce outstanding professional Broadway musicals and to develop the next generation of artists through youth training, performance and outreach programs.

Bayer CropScience is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees live and work. Over the years, it has sponsored a variety of cultural and educational events as part of its commitment to valuing people and their different perspectives and cultures

Read More:24-7 Pressrelease

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As a small business owner, you know that any moment could be your next business opportunity. Therefore, you would never want to lose an opportunity because you were missing one of the key tools in your marketing arsenal.

Whether it’s checking in with the email marketing company you work with to make sure you’re staying in contact with your customers , or revamping your website, now is as good of time as any to take inventory of your marketing efforts. If you’re looking for a place to start, here are 10 marketing tools – some old-school and some new technologies – that you don’t want to be caught without.

1. Business cards: No matter what type of business you own, you need to be able to pass on your information so those you come in contact with will know where to find you.

2. Customized business forms: Whether it’s invoices and statements or sales transaction forms, including your logo on documents is an easy way to make a professional impression on the people you do business with.

3. Brochures: They provide an easy way to let those you meet know what you’re all about when time is short to explain.

4. Promotional items: Putting your logo on useful items given to your potential clients will keep your business front and center.

5. Special events: There’s no better way to introduce new people to your business or promote interaction with loyal customers than hosting a special event.

6. Websites: Make sure your website is up to date and accurate. Your business domain name should accurately reflect the name of your company. It may also be worth it to purchase similar domain names that you could envision your customers using to ensure they’ll be headed to the right place when they search for you on the Web.

7. Social media: Facebook and Twitter are free to use, and are an increasingly effective way to interact with customers and spread news about your company.

8. Email marketing: Keep your clients aware of new developments at your business by sending out a weekly or monthly newsletter.

9. Search engine marketing: Tailor your message to specific demographics using marketing directly related to where your clients are searching from and what they are searching for.

10. Marketing analytics: Analytics programs can tell you what type of marketing works best for you.

By taking stock of all the tools in your marketing arsenal, you can figure out how to improve your message and make sure you aren’t missing any opportunities to attract new business.

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Insurance industry catching the eye of job-seeking African-Americans

(ARA) – Americans are more interested than ever in identifying new job opportunities in growing industries. While emerging opportunities in technology and health care industries have won a lot of attention, another long-established industry is poised for growth – insurance.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts demand for insurance will continue to rise, and the industry will experience “significant growth” over the long term. As baby boomers age, their need for different types of insurance products will likely increase.  This is also likely to be the case for their adult children and their families.

The growth in the industry should be of particular interest to African-Americans seeking a high-growth profession, some industry watchers say. That’s because demand for insurance products and services that meet the needs of the African-American population is expected to rise, and with it the need for insurance professionals who know how to serve the market.

“There is a greater need in the insurance industry for professionals educated and experienced in African-American culture,” says Jodi Webster, a district manager for Farmers Insurance Group in northern California. “The industry is realizing — and responding to — the need to provide education to the African-American community on the importance of having the proper insurance in place, especially in the life insurance arena.”

In addition to the opportunity to fill a high-demand role that will help educate their community, African-Americans might find a career as an insurance agent interesting for several other reasons, says Webster. A Farmers agent for five years and district manager for eight, Webster feels an insurance career as an agent offers the opportunity to be self-employed, in control of one’s own professional destiny and provides an unlimited income potential.

“As an agent, I was an independent contractor, not an employee,” she says. “For agents, there’s a huge opportunity to serve an evolving, growing African-American marketplace. Plus, you get to be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. The investment required to start an agency is affordable and you gain the benefit of corporate branding and support.”

Major insurance providers are also realizing the value of agents who can culturally connect with the African-American community. Farmers, for example, recently launched its African-American Market Expansion, which aims to provide products and services to a growing market segment. As part of that initiative, the company has focused recruitment efforts in the African-American community to expand awareness of career opportunities with the company.

“This initiative will help Farmers better serve the African-American community’s insurance and financial needs,” says Faye W. McClure, Farmers vice president of strategic marketing. “The campaign aims to increase Farmers’ exposure to the second largest minority group in the nation.” Farmers African-American Market Expansion will initially focus on eight states; California, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, Alabama and Tennessee.

As a people person, Webster says, the opportunity to serve the African-American community has been professionally and personally rewarding. “I like the opportunity to coach and mentor people to develop successful agencies,” she says. “It’s rewarding to help them develop their ability to realize their dreams and provide themselves and their families with a comfortable lifestyle.”

“Need for insurance knowledge and education continues to grow in the African-American community, and so will opportunities for agents adept at serving this community,” she adds.

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Junk Removal Company Targets Greener Techniques (335) (NewsUSA) – Stuff happens. We all have it. Too much of it in fact, if you believe the late George Carlin. It starts slowly (at first), but over time seems to manifest into unmanageable (and sometimes unfathomable) piles to the point that you need more than good friends, a pick-up truck and a free weekend. Enter 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. The Vancouver-based franchise success story has built its 22-year reputation on not only giving people their space back, but doing so in such a way that the carbon footprint left on Mother Earth is light — an important point for folks who need the room but not the guilt. “At 1-800-GOT-JUNK? we’ve found that many customers assume their junk will wind up in the landfill, which is not always the case at all,” said Brian Scudamore, founder and chief executive officer. In fact, Scudamore prides himself on the fact that more than 60 percent of customers’ junk doesn’t see the light of the local dump, but rather gets diverted to recycling centers, second-hand stores and charitable organizations, such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity that will hand-sort the junk for resell. There are even some places where the junk is converted into renewable energy sources. Scudamore hopes to raise this percentage to 75 percent by 2014. “We’ve really stepped up our focus on environmental sustainability in response to the demands of our customers,” said Scudamore. “For every job we do, we have the tracking and reporting tools to share with customers exactly what we collect and how we dispose of it,” he added. To make people feel good about where their “stuff” is going, Scudamore uses an in-field Environmental Tracking System that allows franchise partners to educate the customer about what happens to their junk once it’s taken away. “Junk removal is a competitive business, and in order to maintain our advantage, we have to implement environmental best practices, then continue to raise the bar,” he said. For more information about 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and its franchise opportunities, visit www.1800gotjunk.com/ca_en/franchise/franchise_stage_1.aspx.

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Free Appliance and Electronics pick-up for recycling, Stoves, Dryers, Heaters, Freezers, Refrigerators, Computers, Washers, Radios, TVs, Tools, Metal Furniture and other appliances that you are trashing or nedd recycling. We pick-up free and disasemble and properly recycle all parts.
We pick-up in Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Holly Springs and some outside surrouning areas. If you have these items to be removed and it is out of our pick-up area you may still call us and we may be able to remove the item or find someone else to pick-up item. Please do not set your item out untill you have got a confirmation of pick-up form us. Do to high gas prices you must set-up a time for us to pick-up these items and confirm your address and what is to be picked up.

We also have these items checked for salvaging or repair, if repaired we give to persons free, or charge for repair cost and parts if needed only. We do not repair these appliances ourselves and not in the repair business, but we will try to salvage and donate appliances if repairs is not costly and is worth the effort and not just a delay to end up in landfills. Call 919-324-8905 OR 919-803-4425
If no answer please leave voice mail and someone will contact you and set-up a time to remove your items at your convenience. Thank you; Tools-and-Things

Help conserve water through your gardening and lawn care practices

(ARA) – As temperatures rise this summer, so do the risks of droughts. Water shortages can be a threat to your home and community. That’s why it makes sense for Americans to conserve water as a matter of course. The best place to start is right in your own backyard.

What can you do to conserve water? Here are a few important tips:

* Capture rainfall – Make the most of the rainwater that Mother Nature provides. Rain barrels are effective in capturing the rain that falls on your roof; reuse the water for your plants. Other rain capture techniques, such as rain gardens, can help capture rainfall and keep precious water on your property to replenish the ground water.

* Water wisely – When rainfall is insufficient and supplemental watering is needed, do so effectively by:
- Aiming water at the base of the plant
- Watering in the morning to limit evaporation
- Using a moisture meter to ensure that roots have received enough moisture
- Allowing established grass to go dormant during periods of drought

* Landscape by local climate – Choose drought-tolerant plants that are native to your area. These will require less water under normal circumstances and be able to survive during parched times.

* Feed your grass and other plants – Well-fed plants will grow deep roots that capture and store water. A 10,000-square foot healthy lawn, for example, can absorb 6,000 gallons of water from a single rainfall. That’s a month’s supply of water for a household of two.

* Mulch is a must – A two- to three-inch layer of mulch around your plants will hold moisture in the soil and control storm water runoff. Mulching has other benefits, including preventing weeds and adding nutrients to the soil as it breaks down.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company recognizes the important need for nationwide water conservation and, through water management technologies, the company has developed grass seeds, lawn fertilizers, potting mixes, soils and mulches to help consumers use less water when gardening and caring for their lawns.

Making these water conservation practices part of your backyard routine will help your area’s water supply, particularly if everyone does their part.

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Keep your home pet-friendly and fresh

(ARA) – Of course you love your pets, but let’s face it: Sometimes they smell. And whether you are hosting guests or trying to sell your home, the last thing you want visitors to remember is an offensive odor. Luckily, there are a number of ways to eliminate those less-than-pleasant pet odors and let your home’s personality shine.

Refreshing walls
Paint is one of the most dramatic and cost-effective ways to give your home’s interior a new look, and now it can also give your home a new fresh scent. Dutch Boy’s Refresh paint features odor-eliminating technology from Arm & Hammer. It reduces odors caused by pets and other sources, keeping your home smelling as good as it looks. Proven to reduce household smells, a coat of Refresh paint will prevent bad odors from lingering for months. By trapping and neutralizing odor molecules, this paint doesn’t cover up unappealing smells, but actually reduces them. And Refresh paint is available in Dutch Boy’s broad range of colors, so you can reduce unpleasant smells without compromising your decorating taste.

Clean with steam
Even if your pet isn’t allowed on the furniture, your home furnishing fabrics are holding onto  unpleasant scents. Though you may vacuum regularly, animal hair and dander are trapped in the fibers of your cushions, curtains, sofa and other decor. Using a steam cleaner is the best way to eliminate bad smells in upholstered furniture and other items that cannot be laundered. Hire a professional service to treat the common areas in your home, or purchase a steam cleaner specifically designed for pet hair removal. Deep-clean common area fabrics several times each year, and to help maintain a fresh smell day to day, use an odor-neutralizing fabric spray regularly.

Hit the floor
The biggest source of your home’s objectionable smell could be right under your feet. As anyone who has house-trained a pet knows, they don’t always get it right, and sometimes those accidents go unnoticed and cause stains to inevitably set in. To remove odors of any age, scrub bare floors with white vinegar and water or an odor-neutralizing cleaner, and thoroughly wash carpets and rugs using an odor-neutralizing shampoo. You can also hire a professional to clean the carpets and provide extra deodorizing treatments. If stains or smells remain, you’ll likely need to replace the carpet and padding. If this is the case, be sure to scrub the floor beneath before laying new carpet down. After the carpet has been thoroughly cleaned or replaced, regularly use carpet deodorizer formulated for pet odors when vacuuming.

Scented accessories
Tie a ribbon on your odor-free home with strategically placed candles and air fresheners. Choose classic scents that complement your decor, and use a variety throughout the home to avoid an overpowering result. Many candles and fresheners offer odor-neutralizing technology as well as pleasant scents, ensuring unfavorable smells are not only covered up but eliminated. Jars of potpourri or scented crystals add touches of personality to any room decor as well.

No matter what types or the number of pets that share your home, these tips will help keep it smelling fresh all year round.

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Job seekers: Give yourself a SWOT

(ARA) – Have you ever given yourself a SWOT? No. It’s not a typo. With a SWOT analysis, you examine your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, along with internal and external factors that might affect your employment search. Many organizations utilize a SWOT analysis to examine their business. A SWOT analysis can also help reduce the anxiety sometimes associated with finding employment.

“It’s a matter of confidence over competence, because most people know how to interview, but may not be confident in themselves,” says Chasity Trzop, director of career services at Brown Mackie College – Louisville.

Strengths
When you conduct a SWOT on yourself it’s important that you ask, “What can you do well?,” says Trzop. “For example, you may be great at multi-tasking and have great communication skills. Soft skills are usually where you will find strengths. Your strengths could be whatever comes naturally.”

Always go into an interview with a positive attitude. What is keeping you from calling potential employers? Some of the answers you may give include nerves or not knowing what to say.

“Some people just get nervous about the job search. It’s important to identify the issues and work on those issues with career coaches or if you are a recent college graduate, visit your school’s career services department for assistance,” Trzop says. “Consider reviewing comments that were made about your strengths by past employers.”

Weaknesses
You should always know your weaknesses, because interviewers will attempt to extract them from you.  Never highlight your weak points on your resume or during an interview. When an interviewer asked Trzop about her weaknesses, Trzop used the weakness she once had that is now a strength. She told the interviewer she took extra training to become very proficient in the area.

“Don’t let interviewers extract your weaknesses. Focus on what you do well,” she says.  Don’t have a canned answer to a question regarding your weak points, because interviewers may have a follow-up question. Never let them see you sweat. As previously mentioned, review comments past employers made about your weaknesses.

Opportunities
“Half of your job leads should be face-to-face or from picking up the phone, not just online,” says Trzop. “People complain about not getting jobs, but they’re not selling themselves nor creating opportunities. You cannot create an opportunity if you don’t know what your strengths are. Go out and volunteer. Create an opportunity.”

Trzop also suggests networking. Let family, friends and others know you are seeking employment. They may know someone who can help. “You can’t run out of the building yelling, ‘I’ve got a degree’ and expect employers to be waiting outside the door with job offers,” says Trzop.

Threats
To identify threats that could prevent you from finding employment, ask yourself, “What is it that will keep me from having an effective and productive career search?” That’s the most critical time to make contacts in your field. What if you are waiting for a certification document that confirms training you took? Are there other barriers out there? There may be other barriers that could affect a successful job search. Know what those are,” Trzop says. Job seekers who get upset about not finding employment are sometimes too passive. Seek support from a career counselor, placement search teams, or if you are a recent college graduate, seek support and assistance from the career services department.

While the SWOT analysis creates anxiety during the process, it helps tremendously. Like preventative medicine, you can fix those threats and hopefully come out with promising results.

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Thanks to Christopher Mitchell, Director of the Telecommunications as Commons Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance for his contributions to this article. You can follow his reporting on public networks at www.muninetworks.org.

Conservatives would have us believe the public sector can’t compete with the private sector. The private sector itself knows better. Nowhere is this more evident than in the telecommunications sector.

People hate their telecommunications companies. The poster child for poor customer service in the public sector may be the Department of Motor Vehicle Bureau, but its unresponsiveness and arrogance pales into insignificance to those of Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and AT&T. In 2010 Comcast, the largest cable company in America bested 31 other companies from all sectors to win Consumerist.com’s Worst Company in America award.
As if to prove it was worthy of the award, Comcast recently pulled $18,000 in funding for a girl’s summer camp because one of the organizers had disapprovingly tweeted about Commissioner Meredith Baker’s jump from the FCC to Comcast just four months after approving Comcast’s $13.75 billion union with NBC. In an e-mail to the group, Steve Kipp, a vice president of communications for Comcast explained, “Given the fact that Comcast has been a major supporter of Reel Grrls for several years now, I am frankly shocked that your organization is slamming us on Twitter. I cannot in good conscience continue to provide you with funding — especially when there are so many other deserving nonprofits in town.” (The resulting uproar from the mainstream media’s reporting led Comcast to rescind the cutoff.)

The increased importance of high speed broadband in everything from business to education to entertainment coupled with soaring prices, slow speeds and bad service from private providers finally led cities to take matters into their own hands and build their own broadband networks.

Today, over 54 cities own citywide fiber networks. Another 79 own citywide cable networks. Over 3 million people have access to these networks. Hundreds more own and/or operate network connecting only schools and municipal buildings. An interactive map showing these networks can be found at Community Broadband Networks, a project of the Institute for Local Self-Realiance.

Cities now view high speed broadband networks as essential infrastructure like water, sewer, and roads. Says Doug Paris, assistant to the city manager in Salisbury, which launched its Fibrant network in 2010, “It’s really not a luxury anymore. It’s a necessity.”

For Harold DePriest, head of Chattanooga’s state of the art broadband network and its municipally owned electricity company an even more fundamental issue is involved. Who will write the rules for our information future? “(D)oes our community control our own fate, or does someone else control it?,” he asks.

Soaring telecommunication rates are straining already stressed public budgets, leading many cities to build networks for their own use. Montgomery County, Maryland’s network allowed it to stop leasing lines to schools and public buildings, resulting in remarkable savings.

Read More:HUFFPOST MEDIA

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