Truck Driver Training for Accident Prevention

 

Truck driver training is the single most important factor one should consider when contemplating a future in truck driving careers. Many believe that after a three week course, they are ready to tackle the road as an operator of an 80,000 pound vehicle. Reality, soon sets in. . .sometimes at a serious cost. Much more skill is needed than simply jumping in the driver's seat and going through the gears.

According to reports from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS), crashes involving large trucks are increasing. Sadly, fatalities by large truck crashes are also on the rise. As we move into the Summer months, and school lets out for our children across the country, professional drivers need to be aware and take extra precautions in their driving.

Truck crashes make headlines. If one was to look at the whole picture, you would actually see that the safest driver on the road is the professional truck driver. For the most part, the professional truck driver averages 130,000 miles per year, compared to 15,000 miles per year for the car driver. There are many statistics available showing crash analysis, but it normally fails to explain who was actually at fault. The large majority of the time, the accident or crash is the fault of the car driver. The reason being, is that the auto drivers simply do not understand the mechanics of operating a large motor vehicle. In fact, according to the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, fatality crashes between cars and large trucks are the fault of the driver of the car . . . 71% of the time!

All too often, our smaller counter parts, will swerve in front of the large truck suddenly decreasing their stopping distance or "safe" distance, thus causing a rear-ended collision. Another favorite of auto drivers is to pull out in front of an oncoming semi, not understanding that a vehicle weighing 80,000 pounds cannot "stop on a dime." Also, the general public seems to not understand about the blind spots on a tractor-trailer, always attempting to "squeeze" around them to get through Move my car to florida.

Truck driver training shows us that the average automobile traveling at 60 MPH on good road conditions, is covering 88 feet per second. It will take that automobile 271 feet in order to reach a full stop. An 80,000 pound semi tractor-trailer traveling at 60MPH will take 426 feet to stop! The size of a semi rig makes it appear that it is moving slower than it really is. Years ago I had an elderly lady pull right out in front of me and I barely got the rig stopped before crashing into her. Shaken, she stopped and got out of her car and profusely apologized for her actions. Do you know what she said to me? She stated that she thought since I was an "18 wheeler," that I had 18 brakes! This shows the education of the general public.

Does Bitcoin Make Good Sense?

 

What is the hottest technology development of 2013? Most experts will point to the rise of bitcoin.

Bitcoin is on the rise as a digital currency used worldwide. It is a type of money controlled and stored entirely by computers spread across the Internet. More people and more businesses are starting to utilize it.

Unlike a plain U.S. dollar or Euro, bitcoin is also a form of payment system sort of like Paypal or a credit card network.

You can hold on to it, spend it or trade it. It can be moved around cheaply and easily almost like sending an email.

Bitcoin allows you to create transactions without revealing your identity. Yet the system operates in plain public view.

Anyone can view these transactions which are recorded online. This transparency can drive a new trust in the economy. It even resulted in the downfall of an illegal drug ring, discovered shuffling funds utilizing bitcoin and shut down by the U.S. Government.

In many ways bitcoin is more than just a currency. It's a re-engineering of international finance. It can dissolve barriers between countries and frees currency from the control of federal governments. However it still relies on the U.S. dollar for its value.

The technology behind this is interesting to say the least. Bitcoin is controlled by open source software. It operates according to the laws of mathematics, and by the people who collectively oversee this software. The software runs on thousands of machines worldwide, but it can be changed. Changes can only occur however when the majority of those overseeing the software agree to it.

The bitcoin software system was built by computer programmers around five years ago and released onto the Internet. It was designed to run across a large network of machines called bitcoin miners. Anyone on earth could operate one of these machines.

This distributed software generated the new currency, creating a small number of bitcoins. Basically, bitcoins are just long digital addresses and balances, stored in an online ledger called the "blockchain." But the system design enabled the currency to slowly expand, and to encourage bitcoin miners to keep the system itself growing.

When the system creates new bitcoins it gives them to the miners. Miners keep track of all the bitcoin transactions and add them to the blockchain ledger. In exchange, they get the privilege of awarding themselves a few extra bitcoins. Right now, 25 bitcoins are paid out to the world's miners about six times per hour. Those rates can change over time.

Miners watch bitcoin trades through electronic keys. The keys work in conjunction with a complicated email address. If they don't add up a miner can reject the transaction.

Back in the day, you could do bitcoin mining on your home PC. But as the price of bitcoins has shot up, the mining game has morphed into a bit of a space-race. Professional players, custom-designed hardware, and rapidly expanding processing power have all jumped on board.

Today, all of the computers vying for those 25 bitcoins perform 5 quintillion mathematical calculations per second. To put it in perspective, that's about 150 times as many mathematical operations as the world's most powerful supercomputer.

And mining can be pretty risky. Companies that build these custom machines typically charge you for the hardware upfront, and every day you wait for delivery is a day when it becomes harder to mine bitcoins. That reduces the amount of money you can earn.

Why do these bitcoins have value? It's pretty simple. They've evolved into something that a lot of people want and they're in limited supply. Though the system continues to crank out bitcoins, this will stop when it reaches 21 million, which was designed to happen in about the year 2140.

Bitcoin has fascinated many in the tech community. However, if you follow the stock market, you know the value of a bitcoin can fluctuate greatly. It originally sold for $13 around the early part of 2013. Since then it has hit $900 and continues to move up and down wildly on a daily basis.

The real future of bitcoin depends much more than on the views of a few investors. In a recent interview on reddit, Cameron Winklevoss one of the twins involved in the Facebook lawsuit with Mark Zuckerberg and an avid bitcoin investor, predicted that one bitcoin could reach a value of $40,000. That is ten times what it is today miner hosting.

A more realistic view suggests that speculators will eventually cause bitcoin to crash. It does not incorporate the ability to utilize its currency in the retail environment, seemingly a must for long term success. Its wild fluctuations also make it a huge risk for investment purposes.

Still bitcoin pushes the boundaries of technology innovation. Much like Paypal in its infancy, the marketplace will have to decide if the risk associated with this type of digital currency and payment system makes for good long term business sense.

Buying Off the Plan Property

What does it Mean? Buying a property 'off the plan' means exactly that - purchasing property at today's prices prior to construction being completed. Most developers of strata projects are required to secure a number of pre-sales as a condition of bank finance. They may even offer discounts to early purchasers.

In most cases you pay 10% of the purchase price and are entering into a contract with the developer. The balance is paid upon 'settlement' when the building is completed. This can be anywhere from a few months up to two years after the initial contract is signed. Most 'off the plan' purchases are apartments but townhouses, villas and land packages are also available.

The Benefits Buying a property at today's prices and settling later is a tempting proposition, especially in a rising market. If the buyer isn't willing to assume the risks associated with off the plan purchases, they may end up paying more for the same property when it is completed and the best apartments in the building may have already sold.

Delayed settlement gives you more time to save for your deposit and plan for mortgage repayments. Another benefit for buyers purchasing new strata units off the plan is the ability to select or vary finishes and fixtures, giving you the opportunity to make certain changes to suit your own taste.

Market Conditions The big unknown when investing off the plan is whether your purchase price will reflect market conditions upon settlement. So is now a good time to buy off the plan? Many Australian cities are facing a housing shortage. Average rent for units in Perth has jumped 25 percent over the past year. Melbourne's up around 17 percent, Sydney and Brisbane are up 15 and 13 percent respectively.

According to the ANZ Housing Snapshot April 2008, a chronic imbalance in the property market (with demand outstripping supply) will continue to push aggregate house prices up - albeit at a more moderate pace. It also predicts record low rental vacancies will continue to push rents higher in years to come.

These are all fairly positive indications. But the days of buying off the plan and on selling prior to settlement at a windfall appear to be limited, says Construction Economist and Director of Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors, Tyron Hyde. "Property should be seen as a long-term investment, especially when you take into account the entry and exit costs involved. The longer you are able to hang on to your investment and ride out any market fluctuations - the safer you will be," he says.

Stamp Duty

One of the biggest advantages for off the plan investors is the significant tax savings you'll receive. Laws vary from state to state, but in Victoria for instance, you'll save thousands of dollars in stamp duty if the construction has not started, or partially completed.

Depreciation Plus

New properties generate the maximum level of property deprecation allowed under ATO guidelines. Investors can claim 2.5% depreciation allowance of the construction cost - which in the case of a new multi-story building - can be substantial. You'll also be entitled to claim the full amount of depreciation allowance on fittings and finishes such as blinds, ovens, carpets, air conditioners etc, which will all be brand new.

Tyron Hyde, Construction Economist and Director of Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors, estimates that a $400,000 high-rise apartment in Sydney could generate up to $12,000 in depreciation in the first year alone. "Tax deductions aren't the main reason you buy property off the plan," warns Hyde. "It needs to be a good investment. But investors still fail to capitalise on the deprecation benefits they're entitled to. It can make a significant difference come tax time." Once the property is completed and rented, the same tax rules apply as with any investment property.

To find out how much depreciation you can claim on a potential property investment, try our new state-of-the-art Depreciation at washingtonbrown.com.au

The Risks

The main disadvantage of buying property off the plan is the risk of market fluctuations. It may be difficult to predict whether the selling price will reflect the actual market value at the time of settlement. These market fluctuations can include interest rate rises buy off the plan Sydney.

For this reason it is essential to do your homework rather than rely solely on promotional material from the developer. Become empowered They key to a successful off the plan investment is research. Find out as much as you can about the area you are buying into. Is there an oversupply of new product in that particular suburb? What are the current rental returns? How much are similar properties selling for?

Look for growth areas with proximity to desirable lifestyle features such as cafes and restaurants, transport and public schools. With a dwindling supply of land along the coast, properties with water views tend to yield higher returns. Current social factors are also a good indication of possible trends to follow. For instance, the upward pressure on petrol prices could create a demand for housing closer to transport hubs in the future.

Pediatric first aid training courses will be very helpful to you if you work with little children or have children of your own. Parents, teachers and other children associated professionals will benefit a lot from this course.

First aid is a life saving skill which is easy to learn but can be retained for a lifetime. Pediatric first aid deals with babies, infants and children and is very essential. What exactly are the benefits of taking such a course, you may wonder. Four specific benefits are mentioned below.

• Easy techniques can save lives:

One of the incredible things about pediatric first aid courses is that it is only a matter of learning the simplest of techniques which actually save lives. Minor injuries like broken bones, sprains and wounds occur on a regular basis and you will be taught to deal with them in a proper manner. You will also be trained in dealing with more serious situations like choking, burns, fractures, etc. What you do and don't do in these situations can actually save a child's life.

• Instant help is not always available:

It doesn't matter where in the world you are or how efficient the emergency services are there; sometimes it's what you do in the first few minutes that can make the most difference in the victim's life. For example, in case of a child choking, knowing the correct process to save him, is a matter of life and death. You cannot rely on the emergency services. Hence it better to undertake a pediatric course yourself so that you can make the difference.

• Convenient Course with short duration:

Many of you may think that pediatric courses are very lengthy and very complicated to learn. This is not always the case. Most of the time, these courses are fairly short and can be attended at your convenience either after work or during your lunch break.

• Courses are not expensive:

Unlike common thought, pediatric first aid courses are not expensive at all. They are quite affordable actually. When you ponder of the fact that the course will equip you with essential life-saving skills that may help you save a child's life, then the money doesn't really matter anymore.

The pediatric first aid course covers topics dealing with accidents and emergencies pertaining to young children including action planning, first aid box, unconscious child, resuscitation, bleeding, asthma, seizures, diabetes, poisoning, choking, burns, sprains, fractures, head injuries and childhood conditions like measles, meningitis and even the flu Vehicle First Aid Kits.

Even if you have already taken a standard first aid course, you must take the pediatric course if you are constantly around children, because dealing with children during emergencies is so much different to dealing with adults. Whether you are a teacher, a professional working with children or a parent with young children, knowing what to do in emergency situations is critical knowledge. For this reason alone, you should consider taking a pediatric first aid course. You will be trained in the skill you require to enable you to deal accurately when the opportune time arises.

What Does a Short Sale in Real Estate Mean and How Do You Avail It?

 

A short sale is an alternative offer allowing the owner to sell property at a lesser amount than the actual value to save the property from being foreclosed. However since not all can avail of it; some steps have to be taken prior to granting of request.

Homeowners who opt to avail of mortgage may sometimes experience difficulties in paying his obligations. This possibility is common especially with the global crisis. However, being delinquent for at least a month can be a ground for foreclosure. To save your property, the lender may provide you with an alternative offer, which is short sale. Below is the brief overview and the process on how to go about it.

What does short sale mean

A short sale in real estate means that the amount at which the property can be sold is very much lower than what the homeowner owes the lender. In case the borrower can no longer continue to pay the mortgage, both parties agree to sell the involved property at a lesser cost than the actual arrear to avoid foreclosure of property. However, this agreement is not always applicable to all lenders while, not all properties qualify for a short sale. Therefore, you need to consult legal assistance to determine whether or not you can avail of this set up.

How to avail short sale

Since not all qualify for this agreement, some actions need to be taken in order to proceed with the process. This is a long process, which sometimes take between four to six months due to numerous steps of evaluation. Here are the following steps to go through such as:

Inform the lender

The very first step to do is to inform the lender of your intention to avail of the short sale agreement. This is essential because they still have to evaluate your status and will require you to submit supporting documents as proof of your incapacity to pay.

Provide authorization letter

To work out your concern, the lender must be able to communicate with your real estate agent about your property. However, you need to authorize the lender before disclosing any pertinent information such as name of owner, property address, loan reference number, name of real estate agent, and the likes.

Prepare a closing statement

This is a document that shows the following: date, selling price, unpaid dues, and agent's commissions - all prepared by either an agent or a lawyer.

Letter of difficulty

A formal way to inform the lender is to write a letter stating the reasons for not being able to pay your obligations. It is acceptable if you were terminated from employment or hit by a calamity as long as they are not mere fabrications what is real estate.

Submit proof of income

As a proof of hardship, submit an income statement disclosing your worth. Lenders want to know if you have savings or other properties that have substantial value. To avoid such circumstances, you need to have proper planning and budget allocation before you proceed with acquisition of property.

Kitchen Cabinets Refinishing Tips

Are you ready to refinish those kitchen cabinets but not sure how to get started? Your cabinets are a major part of your kitchen. It's where all of your dishes, pots and pans and food supplies are stored. They need to be functional but that doesn't mean they can't be decorative as well. However, you don't need to spend lots of money on new cabinets, you can always refinish the ones you have and give your kitchen a whole new look. Here, you'll find a few tips to make this task a little easier.

Tips for refinishing your kitchen cabinets:

Use a screwdriver and take off all the hardware and remove the doors.
Sand down all exterior parts of the cabinets and doors until everywhere is smooth to the touch. For the best results, do the inside as well.

Wipe down all areas to remove the dust and double check to make sure everything is smooth. Allow to dry.

Choose the type of stain you want to use and apply it with a clear dry cloth.
Allow all surfaces to dry thoroughly then check for missed spots. If you see any, go back over these areas until everything is completely covered. Give the touch ups time to dry before proceeding to the next step.

Use a clear coat over the stain to give the cabinets that extra shine and to help protect them.

Once the clear coat is completely dry, it's time to replace the hardware.
You can use the same hardware that came off the cabinets or you can purchase new decorative designs that will give your cabinets that extra touch which completes the overall décor.

When sanding, staining or putting on the clear coat, always go with the grain of the wood for the best results. These kitchen cabinets refinishing tips will help you change the appearance of your kitchen without spending a small fortune. You're sure to be pleased with the results and you have the pleasure of admiring your own handy work exterior painting services.

Lisa Mason, Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website.

Meeting New People Live Through Free Webcam Chat Services

 It was only a matter of time before audio and eventually video chat became part of this communication boom as well. There have been countless implementations and incarnations of this technology over the years, too. It started as something built into OS office software. From there, it found its way as an added-on feature of instant messenger services.

As time went on, video conferencing programs, with the instant messaging feature as a second thought, became widely embraced, and honestly these still are. But have you really taken the time to look at how many things feature video chat and free webcam chat as a given aspect of communications?

Cell phones, tablet PCs, game consoles and even television HD frontends all feature live video chat often at no additional cost now. This is just becoming part of our daily lives, and it's getting to be more and more crucial as the office and commuting work environment gives way to the work-at-home trope which is taking hold.

However, there's one use for this technology which wasn't really thought of when it was put into place, and is really only beginning to appear now that websites can support live cam to cam chat without the need to install any program.

We're all familiar with the internet dating services that have you record a video which can then be played back by prospective mates, and vice versa. But, now there seems to be a surge in people using random video chat programs to meet people.

The advantages of this are multiple. First of all, it's a safe environment for adults to meet new and interesting people. The control both parties have over the situation, as well as the distance between them means that some of the less than desirable things that happen out in the real world won't happen there best shemale cams.

This is also a great way to choose people based on interests rather than just looks. People are meeting people as blobs of text in web communities based around mutual interests, to then move on to using free webcam chat sites to actually see and talk to one another thereafter.

This new, controlled and streamlined way to meet and get to know new people via webcam chat is changing the face of how society works. Some say this is making us too insular and unwilling to be "out there". Others say it's a safer, less expensive way to broaden one's social horizons. Which is the right estimation? Well that is strictly a matter of opinion!