7 Tips For Better Online Banking

Banking has never been easier than it is today. Online banking allows you to access you bank at any time of day or night. This article outlines some of the advantages of banking through the Internet, and how to practice safer online banking.



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Banking has never been easier than it is today. Online banking allows you to access your bank at any time of day or night. You can even do this dressed in your underwear if you like. And if you choose to do it that way, it’s just as well there are no lines to wait in for online banks.

1. Probably the first thing to consider with online banking is the convenience. You can access your bank via the Internet at any time of day or night, even while lying in bed if you like.

2. Transaction performed online are generally much cheaper than those done over the counter at a bank branch. You can pay bills, transfer cash, check balances, and much more for much less.

3. Online savings accounts is something worth considering. The interest rates are usually higher and the fees are lower than traditional bricks and mortar bank branches.

4. Your computer has convenient ways to help you remember your login details. But don’t use the “remember my password” option if your computer suggests it. Keep your bank login details very safe and very secret.

5. Most online banks will allow you change your password. This is a very good idea and something you should do regularly. Of course, you must also remember your new password each time it is changed.

6. Logging on to your online bank is easy and very convenient. But after you have completed your business, remember to log out of your online bank again. This is especially important if you access your bank from a library, at work, or in a cyber café.

7. Enjoy your online banking, but beware of any email you receive asking you to verify your bank details by clicking a link. The site may look authentic, but it will probably be a fake. Respectable banks don’t ask anyone to verify details by email.

5 Easy Steps to Rebuild Your Credit after Bankruptcy

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Bankruptcy often is the last ultimate solution for many debtors who have unbearable debts. With filing a bankruptcy, you will get rid of your debts instantly and relief you from the harassing call of your creditors.

Although bankruptcy has many undesirable consequences such as your bad credit record will remain on your credit report for 7-10 years, but with a little work, you can improve your credit even before these negative records expire. Here are five easy steps you can take to rebuild your credit.

<b>Step 1: Get to know your current credit status</b>

The first step to rebuilding your credit is to look at exactly where you stand. Order all your three credit reports from those three national credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. You can order these reports online, it easy and secure.

Print each report and review it closely. Try to understand the information listed in your credit reports and highlight any negative records or inaccuracies that are damaging your credit score.

<b>Step 2: Check the expiration dates</b>

By law, your bad credit record will remain in your credit report for 7 to 10 years, but the exact expiry date might be different among these 3 reports. Your bad record will still remain at your credit report although you have pay off your old debts and discharge from bankruptcy.

Look up the exact date of each of bad records including judgments, liens, charge-offs, late payments, bankruptcy filings, and collection records. You will likely see a major improvement in your credit score when these records expire.

<b>Step 3: Request For Correct On Any Inaccurate Records</b>

If you find inaccurate records, fraudulent accounts, or records that should have expired on you credit reports, you have the right to send a separate dispute letter to each of the credit bureaus to correct your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion records. The bureaus will initial a 30 days investigation to see whether your requests are valid and if so, they will correct the inaccuracy in your credit report.

Just one note, don&#39;t try to dispute any of the positive information listed in your credit reports and it is a waste of time to attempt to dispute these records. Disputing positive information may actually harm your credit scores.

<b>Step 4: Start to create good credits</b>

Since there is no way to remove your bad record from your credit report, the best way to improve your credit score is to add good credits and building up your credit from there. You can easy do this by open up a new credit card from banks like Orchard Bank (Orchard bank has credit card plan designed specially to help people rebuild their credit after bankruptcy).

Use this new credit card responsibly and make the monthly payment timely; with this you are building new history of good credit behavior on your credit report. Over time, you may want to open additional credit card accounts or obtain a loan to boost your credit score even higher.

<b>Step 5: Monitor your progress</b>

Subscribe to a credit card monitoring service or get a credit card monitoring software and use it to track your credit score progress closely. Your credit score should improve steadily as you continue to use credit responsibly and add new positive information to your credit reports.

<b>Summary</b>

Bankruptcy does not need to chain you to bad credit for the next seven to ten years, but you have to be proactive in order to recover and rebuild your credit.

1031 Tax Exchange – Frequently Asked Questions

After years of conducting tens of thousands of successful 1031 exchanges, we found that there are a number of frequently asked questions related to this type of transaction…

Equity and Gain

Is my tax based on my equity or my taxable gain?

Tax is calculated upon the taxable gain. Gain and equity are two separate and distinct items. To determine your gain, identify your original purchase price, deduct any depreciation which has been previously reported, then add the value of any improvements which have been made to the property. The resulting figure will reflect your cost or tax basis. Your gain is then calculated by subtracting the cost basis from the net sales price.

Deferring All Gain

Is there a simple rule for structuring an exchange where all the taxable gain will be deferred?

Yes, the gain will be totally deferred if you:

1) Purchase a replacement property which is equal to or greater in value than the net selling price of your relinquished (exchange) property, and
2) Move all equity from one property to the other.

Definition of Like-Kind

What are the rules regarding the exchange of like-kind properties? May I exchange a vacant parcel of land for an improved property or a rental house for a multiple-unit building?

Yes, "like-kind" refers more to the type of investment than to the type of property. Think in terms of investment real estate for investment real estate, business assets for business assets, etc.

Simultaneous Exchange Pitfalls

Is it possible to complete a simultaneous exchange without an intermediary or an exchange agreement?

While it may be possible, it may not be wise. With the Safe Harbor addition of qualified intermediaries in the Treasury Regulations and the recent adoption of good funds laws in several states, it is very difficult to close a simultaneous exchange without the benefit of either an intermediary or exchange agreement. Since two closing entities cannot hold the same exchange funds on the same day, serious constructive receipt and other legal issues arise for the Exchangor attempting such a simultaneous transaction. The addition of the intermediary Safe Harbor was an effort to abate the practice of attempting these marginal transactions. It is the view of most tax professionals that an exchange completed without an intermediary or an exchange agreement will not qualify for deferred gain treatment. And if already completed, the transaction would not pass an IRS examination due to constructive receipt and structural exchange discrepancies. The investment in a qualified intermediary is insignificant in comparison to the tax risk associated with attempting an exchange, which could be easily disqualified.

Property Conversion

How long must I wait before I can convert an investment property into my personal residence?

A few years ago the Internal Revenue Service proposed a one-year holding period before investment property could be converted, sold or transferred. Congress never adopted this proposal, so therefore no definitive holding period exists currently. However, this should not be interpreted as an unwritten approval to convert investment property at any time. Because the one-year period clearly reflects the intent of the IRS, most tax practitioners advise their clients to hold property at least one year before converting it into a personal residence.

Remember, intent is very important. It should be your intention at the time of acquisition to hold the property for its productive use in a trade or business or for its investment potential.

Involuntary Conversion

What if my property was involuntarily converted by a disaster or I was required to sell due to a governmental or eminent domain action?

Involuntary conversion is addressed within Section 1033 of the Internal Revenue Code. If your property is converted involuntarily, the time frame for reinvestment is extended to 24 months from the end of the tax year in which the property was converted. You may also apply for a 12-month reinvestment extension.

Facilitators and Intermediaries

Is there a difference between facilitators?

Most definitely. As in any professional discipline, the capability of facilitators will vary based upon their exchange knowledge, experience and real estate and/or tax familiarity.

Facilitators and Fees

Should fees be a factor in selecting a facilitator?

Yes. However, they should be considered only after first determining each facilitator's ability to complete a qualifying transaction. This can be accomplished by researching their reputation, knowledge and level of experience.

Personal Residence Exchanges

Do the exchange rules differ between investment properties and personal residences? If I sell my personal residence, what is the time frame in which I must reinvest in another home and what must I spend on the new residence to defer gain taxes?

The rules for personal residence rollovers were formerly found in Section 1034 of the Internal Revenue Code. You may remember that those rules dictated that you had to reinvest the proceeds from the sale of your personal residence within 24 months before or after the sale, and you had to acquire a property which reflected a value equal to or greater than the value of the residence sold. These rules were discontinued with the passage of the 1997 Tax Reform Act. Currently, if a personal residence is sold, provided that residence was occupied by the taxpayer for at least two of the last five years, up to $250,000 (single) and $500,000 (married) of capital gain is exempt from taxation.

Exchanging and Improvements

May I exchange my equity in an investment property and use the proceeds to complete an improvement on a vacant lot I currently own?

Although the attempt to move equity from one investment property to another is a key element of tax deferred exchanging, you may not exchange into property you already own.

Related Parties

May I exchange into a property that is being sold by a relative?

Yes. However, any exchange between related parties requires a two-year holding period for both parties.

Partnership or Partial Interests

If I am an owner of investment property in conjunction with others, may I exchange only my partial interest in the property?

Yes. Partial interests qualify for exchanging within the scope of Section 1031. However, if your interest is not in the property but actually an interest in the partnership which owns the property, your exchange would not qualify. This is because partnership interests are excepted from Section 1031. But don't be confused! If the entire partnership desired to stay together and exchange their property for a replacement, that would qualify.

Another caveat. Those individuals or groups owning partnership interests, who desire to complete an exchange and have for tax purposes made an election under IRC Section 761(a), can qualify for deferred gain treatment under Section 1031. This can be a tricky issue! See elsewhere in this publication for more information. Then, only undertake this election with proper tax counsel and only with the election by all partners!

Reverse Exchanges

Are reverse exchanges considered legal?

Although reverse exchanges were deliberately omitted from Section 1031, they can still be accomplished with the aid of an experienced intermediary. Since reverses are considered an aggressive form of exchanging, your intermediary and tax advisor should assist you with exchange and tax planning based upon successful reverse exchange case law.

The Taxation Section of the American Bar Association has submitted suggested guidelines for the IRS in evaluating reverse exchanges and issuing new regulations. Although it is unknown when the IRS will make a definitive reverse exchange ruling, one is expected in the future.

Identification

Why are the identification rules so time restrictive? Is there any flexibility within them?

The current identification rules represent a compromise which was proposed by the IRS and adopted in 1984. Prior to that time there were no time-related guidelines. The current 45-day provision was created to eliminate questions about the time period for identification and there is absolutely no flexibility written into the rule and no extensions are available.

In a delayed exchange, is there any limit to property value when identifying by using the 200% rule?

Yes. Although you may identify any three properties of any value under the three property rule, when using the 200% rule there is a restriction. It is when identifying four or more properties, the total aggregate value of the properties identified must not exceed more than 200% of the value of the relinquished property.

An additional exception exists for those whose identification does not qualify under the three property or two hundred percent rules. The 95% exception allows the identification of any number of properties, provided the total aggregate value of the properties acquired totals at least 95% of the properties identified.

Should identifications be made to the intermediary or to an attorney or escrow or title company?

Identifications may be made to any party listed above. However, many times the escrow holder is not equipped to receive your identification if they have not yet opened an escrow. Therefore it is easier and safer to identify through the intermediary, provided the identification is postmarked or received within the 45-day identification period.

$1000 Provable Income Cash Advances: Should You Take The Opportunity?

Cash advances are a nice and quick way to acquire that much needed cash in a jiffy. But since the rate of interest is on the higher side, it's best to take up a loan from a loan firm, if possible.


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Many finance firms are wiling to offer a sum of $1000 to those in need, provided the beneficiary has a provable source of income and agrees to repay the amount as per the firm’s outlined repayment schedule. However, needless to say that you would end up repaying more than you acquire from the cash advance firm. This is because the cash advance firm is likely to charge an interest on such credit lending.

Getting hold of a $1000 cash advance won’t be a cinch by any means. You would have to carry out a preliminary research of reputable cash advance firms willing to lend $1000. Though it’s easy to find cash advance of around $250 to $500, you might have to shop around a bit in order to bag $1000. It is recommended to keep several options open during your quest for a cash advance. This way, if one cash advance firm leaves you high and dry, you could easily switch to another.

Sums of $1000 and below are considered trifling amounts by bigger loan firms’ standards. Therefore, it is highly unlikely to acquire a $1000 loan from a loan firm. However, cash advance firms are a viable option for people in urgent need of around $1000. Cash advance firms would gladly approve your application, provided you have a provable income source. But, cash advance companies normally charge a higher rate of interest relative to bigger loan firms.

All in all, cash advance is a nice and quick way to acquire that much needed cash in a jiffy. But since the rate of interest is on the higher side, it’s best to take up a loan from a loan firm, if possible. In general, you should turn to a cash advance firm only when you have no other means of acquiring cash.

Commercial Drivers License Training Courses

I've been a driving a small delivery truck for almost five years now. While I like what I do and am making good money, I know there's very little opportunity for advancement. The nice paychecks have been enough to keep me here this long, but now that I have a family to think about, I need something more out of my career. That's why I'm going to take my commercial drivers license test in the near future.

Getting a commercial drivers license is a smart move because doing so will open up a lot of new job opportunities -- all at higher salaries than I'm making right now. Then I can start saving up to pursue my dream of eventually becoming an owner/operator and driving my own rig someday. Of course, all of these things are possible only if I can get a commercial drivers license.

From what I've heard, the commercial drivers license test is actually pretty difficult. I don't want to take any chances here, so I'm going to enroll in a training course beforehand. I've been checking around, and it seems that there are a lot of commercial drivers license training courses to choose from these days. Some of the classes are held onsite, while others are conducted entirely over the Internet. In either case, the courses are designed to prepare students for the written portion of the exam, which is precisely what I want.

I went to a few of these commercial drivers license training websites to preview the materials that are included in the training packages. Many of the training programs I looked at offered sample tests that contained actual questions from previous exams, rather than just speculative questions that might be covered on test day.

Like most people, I prefer to know exactly what I'm getting into. I'll be more confident on test day, and the questions will already be familiar to me, making the whole experience a lot less stressful. In other words, I'll gladly pay the enrollment fee for this course material!

CDL applicants are also expected to pass a driving skills test, which I'm sure I'll be able to handle without any problems. There are separate training courses for this component of the test, so those of you who have never driven a larger vehicle before will be able to get some practice time in.

Once I enroll for a commercial drivers license training course, it should take just a few weeks to work through everything in preparation for the exam. That means I could have my CDL in a couple of months, and be well on my way to the career I've always dreamed of!

Picking out just the right commercial Christmas decoration

Picking out just the right commercial Christmas decoration can be a tough thing for a businessman to do. After all, you have to strike just the right balance. On the one hand, in some areas too heavy of an emphasis on Christian Christmas ornaments can really turn people off of your business. On the other hand, happy holidays decorations are a little bit too generic for most people's tastes.

The best thing to do with your commercial Christmas decorations is to use a lot of decorating ideas without overt religious overtones. Outdoor Christmas lights, snowflake decorations, icicle lights above the door, and even a Santa Clause here or there probably will not offend anyone's sensibilities. Artificial Christmas wreaths on the door can also help to add a warm, cozy feel which is perfect in the winter months.

Of course, some businessmen like to go all out with commercial Christmas decoration. A friend of mine owns a wholesale warehouse downtown, and he is always pretty enthusiastic about going to great lengths to make seasonal decorations that will amuse and impress people. He has animated Christmas lights out in front of his building, a 15 foot tall Christmas tree inside, and even an air blown Christmas decoration or two to really spice things up. His store is the closest thing that we have to a Christmas village in this city, so he can really benefit by going all out with the commercial Christmas decoration.

Then again, if you are running a bar or a coffee shop, you probably do not want to do too much commercial Christmas decorating. After all, people come to those businesses as a sort of escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. On those days when there are Christmas jingles playing from every store, it is nice to be able to get a drink or a cup of coffee in a place that is not too saturated with Christmas spirit.

Then again, I know folks who operate coffee shops with a very different philosophy. I know one where they actually move one or two tables into the back to make room for all of the commercial Christmas decoration they put up. It is really something to see when they get it all set up. It is not how I run my business, but the patrons at that place seem to like it well enough. And after all, isn't it about making the customers happy?

About Commercial Carpet

When thinking about carpet for a business, you always want to be sure you are getting commercial carpet for your flooring needs. Though there are many great home style carpets that you might want to use in a smaller business that needs a homey feel, most of the time you want to go for durability and the longevity that this type of carpet can offer. There is nothing more disruptive to a business than having to tear up the carpet and replace it every few years because the carpet is simply not holding up under the heavy traffic that some businesses attract.

The thing that makes commercial carpet different from the type that you might get for your home is the style. These carpets are generally very flat and very finely woven types of floor covering. This means they are more durable, and you don’t have a lot of material that will wear down and leave paths that are very obvious in your most traveled areas. The material used to make commercial grade carpet is very tough, as it is made to last more so than made to feel good to the touch. This type of material for commercial carpets also have the ability to take in a lot of dirt and water near the entrance so it is not tracked through the rest of your building.

The types of commercial carpet you buy are going to be more expensive, but you can consider it a good investment in the long run. If it lasts, you are not going to have to replace it nearly as often, and that does mean you save. This carpet is also very easy to clean, and you don’t have to worry about footprints making it look untidy when you haven’t had time to get it cleaned as you should. If you use a commercial cleaning company, you will find the time they need to clean your carpets is cut down, leaving time for other things and saving you money in cleaning costs as well.

The most common colors of commercial carpet are in the dark blue, gray, beige, and darker green families of colors. Though not companies many go with lighter colors, there are times when they are okay. These colors are common because they go with many types of décor, and with the exception of dark blue, they tend to hide dirt and mud rather well. When choosing a color, the best tends to be something neutral, but that does not mean that you can’t get something brighter when you wish to have that type of look for your business. You may not find what you need right away, but the right commercial carpet for your décor is out there.

Classic TV and the Commercials that Entertained Generations

The 1950s were arguably the golden age of television and many people of a certain age look back fondly at some of the shows of the time – “The Lone Ranger”, “I Love Lucy” and “Gunsmoke”. These shows were in black and white and were watched on a set that got its signal from a huge antenna on the roof, but they were loved just the same.
classic television, classic tv show, classic television DVD, classic TV DVD, classic television commercials. Almost as compelling as the TV shows themselves, were some of the commercials of the time. TV was still a novelty during the 1950s and companies were anxious to cash in on the new craze. Particularly popular were commercials for cigarettes, cars and state of the art kitchen appliances. And the average length of TV advertisements was around a minute – compared to the 30 seconds or less today.

Beer was also one of the products widely advertised on TV during the 1950s.  At first, it was only late at night and never on a Sunday, so as not to offend anyone. During the early part of the decade, Blatz Beer became one of the beer industry’s biggest advertisers, partly due to the company’s sponsorship of the popular “Amos ‘n’ Andy” show.

One of the most instantly recognizable characters in television advertising at the time was Mabel. Mabel was a chirpy blond waitress who appeared on screen with a tray of Carling Black Label beer. Almost every Carling commercial featured the phrase that became famous – “Hey, Mabel, Black Label!”

Cigarette advertisements were commonplace during the 1950s – a big change from television today. Some of the biggest tobacco manufacturers of the time spent a lot of money trying to convince us that smoking was sophisticated and fun, including Lucky Strike, Tareyton and Winston.

One famous Lucky Strike ad featured a clever combination of cartoon and live action, featuring the singer Gisele McKenzie. Tareytown had an ad that featured what appeared to be two children dancing around a giant pack of cigarettes. And who can possibly forget the Fontane Sisters singing the praises of Chesterfield cigarettes?

Car manufacturers went to great lengths to advertise the latest models on television during the 1950s despite the loss of aesthetic effect on a black and white screen. The Ford Edsel was advertised at great length as the most beautiful convertible in the world, complete with such wonderful and innovative features as “teletouch” driving and air suspension.

It wasn’t all just cars, beer and tobacco. Some healthier products were advertised as well. One of the most well known ads of the era was for Pepsodent toothpaste. The TV ad featured a cute cartoon couple kissing after having brushed their teeth, and the catchy and unforgettable slogan – “You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!”

TV advertisements for kitchen appliances pointed out features that we now take for granted. A General Electric ad from the time for a new refrigerator consisted of a proud couple explaining the features of their sleek new fridge which included shelves that slid out, storage space behind the door and a separate freezer compartment.

And some things don’t seem to have changed much over the years. Tupperware ran a series of TV ads during the 1950s which featured an exciting Tupperware evening at a typical suburban home, organized by a “hostess”. Almost as much emphasis was placed on the social aspect, as on the actual features of the product.

One of the most prolific TV advertisers during the 1950s and subsequent decades was Pepsi. Their advertisements captured the feeling of the times like few others. One of the company’s earliest featured the actress and singer Polly Bergen enjoying a barn dance and a refreshing glass of Pepsi-Cola.

Not to be outdone, Coca-Cola was just as prolific with their ads and came up with several memorable slogans, such as “There’s nothing like a Coke”. Coca-Cola also went after the young crowd, with an ad featuring people at diners and drive-in movie theaters and a jingle that claimed “Zing! What a feeling!”

Many television viewers firmly maintain that the advertisements are just as good as the actual shows themselves! It seems as though that was especially true back in the 1950s. And if you just can’t get enough of those old commercials, you can enjoy some of them on DVD or online.

Is Commercial Lice Cures Safe?

There was a time when over the counter lice cures was the best way to treat head lice, but today there are some serious questions surrounding the use of these shampoos and creams.  Not only do they contain a pesticide that may build up in your system and cause eventual harm, but also they do not seem to be working as well as they once did.

It is speculated that head lice are becoming immune to the poisons in over the counter and prescription lice treatments, making them much less effective as lice cures. More often we are seeing people having to treat head lice several times with these medicated shampoos, without managing to get rid of the head lice.

As a result, today many doctors are recommending that head lice be treated with natural head lice cures. This is especially true for children, as the long-term affects of these treatments that contain insecticide are not really known yet.

The standard procedure for a natural lice cure involves using a non-toxic treatment on the hair, and then manually removing the lice and nits with a specially designed comb. These natural lice cures not only appear to work better, but they are not exposing your child to the toxins in commercial lice treatments.

However, there are some precautionary measures that should be taken when treating lice, even if you are using natural lice cures.
If the person who is infested with lice has lacerations on the scalp, especially if these sores are oozing puss, it is very important that you consult with a healthcare practitioner about how to treat the condition. This is a sign that the scalp has become infected because of scratching, and an antibiotic ointment may be necessary to clear up the infection.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you should never use any type of poison or flammable substance on any part of the human body, including the hair. This can lead to injury or death.

Many years ago it was common practice to use gasoline or kerosene on the hair as lice cures, but this practice is far too dangerous and should never be used. Every year children are maimed and killed because a parent used this procedure as a lice cure. Never use anything dangerous on yourself or your children. If you are looking for lice cures, there are far too many out there to even think about using a flammable and dangerous substance.

Always choose a safe and non-toxic lice cure to rid your family of any head lice infestations.

Commercial Playground Equipment

Playgrounds provide not only recreation and a place for kids to get a fun workout, they also stimulate their imagination, promote agility, dexterity, balance and concentration. But playgrounds need proper equipment to enable children to get the most out of play time.

Commercial playground equipment  is installed in schools, public playgrounds, day care centers and other places where many children gather. There are several things to be considered when selecting commercial playground equipment: the kind of material used, the durability and strength of the material, the number of attachments in the equipment, the safety aspects, the type of activities to be included in the equipment; provision of side amenities like benches, tables, bike racks or litter bins.

A unique feature of commercial playground equipment is that it is made for children of all ages, so it has to be strong and made of durable materials. Commercial playground equipment can also be custom designed to suit specific requirements like adjustable height, attractive colors to choose from, and budgets.

There are questions to ask before installing commercial playground equipment such as: can it accommodate many children at a time? It is durable against rough weather? Is there enough room for the equipment? Is the surface under the equipment safe and resilient? Is there enough space between the pieces of the equipment? Is the equipment suitable for the child? Does it seem risky or unsafe in any way? Are there any objects that are protruding out or those that may cause strangulation or cause the child to trip or fall? Is it easy to maintain? Is it environment friendly? Is there provision for children with special disabilities? Manufacturers are also designing environment friendly equipment to make it more durable as well as ecologically safe. 

Also to be considered are the price, shipping details, assembly instructions and post-sales service. The Internet is a very good source for finding comprehensive information about playground equipment. There are several sites of manufacturers that would help you to locate the best equipment and compare prices.

Commercial and residential storage sheds

When you think of a storage shed, you may be thinking of the kind that is used in many backyards everywhere.  These are used for storing items that the family uses in the yard and other seasonal items.  Although these sheds are very popular and very useful, they are not the only kinds of sheds used today.

Many businesses use a storage shed for different things in their business. Many of the commercial sheds are much larger than the ones that are found to be much larger than a normal storage shed that is used in many domestic yards.   Many of these businesses use a shed to store materials that they use within their company.  Some of the items stored in sheds are lumber, ladders, building supplies, windows, doors, and so much more.  This is a great place to keep these materials out of the weather so that they do not get ruined.

Businesses will also store their equipment in a storage shed.  They will keep the heavy equipment like bulldozers, tractors, backhoes, and diggers in there to keep them safe and sound.  This will just give you an idea of just how big this shed can be.  This is a great alternative for many companies that do not have a lot of inside storage space for these items.  Commercial sheds can be used in many ways that will help the company with all of their needs.

Storage shed that are used for domestic reasons are also found in many sizes and shapes.  It will depend on the use for the shed and how much space the yard has for the shed.  You will be able to determine what size and shape is best for you once you have measured the area.  You can then decide what would work best for your space.  You can go to many of the outdoor lawn and garden supply stores for them.  These are usually sheds that you can put together yourself with a few common tools.

When you want to have a bigger storage shed for your yard, you may want to contact a professional.  You can check into a contractor putting up a shed in your intended space.  The company will work with you and help you decide what you want in size and shape as well as price.  You will get a great storage shed when you choose to with a company that specializes in this type of work.

Many of the domestic sheds are used to store lawn and garden items, tractors, tools, toys, and outdoor accessories.  If the shed is large enough some people even try to fit a whole car in them.  It will depend on that size that you have, but it may be possible to use a storage shed for your car.  You will find that there are so many uses that will make your life so much easier and more organized when you have storage shed handy.
You can find more about storage sheds on http://www.all-about-storage-shed.com/

Commercial Mortgages Transform

Many commercial lenders have effectively (if not actually) shut their doors. For the rest of us, the resulting volume is so great our appraisal and processing systems are stressed to the limit. Several of our competitors are not even taking any more loans just to get through the current overload in their systems. We have chosen to push through the current avalanche of loans, and will continuing to entertain your new loan requests - all while trying to keep our rates very competitive.

What has changed (at least for now, and especially on larger loans) is our desire to only look at solid apartment and commercial properties, with borrowers that add to the overall strength of the loan. To lessen our processing overload, we have temporarily "closed the tap" on hotels/motels, gas stations, owner/user properties, environmental issue properties, "poor-credit" borrowers, etc. This is intended to help "unclog" the backlog so that your more traditional loans will go through faster.

For loans $3,000,000 and above, we are going to be strictly looking for traditional properties, nothing exotic, no stories, issues, or moving parts. Policy DSCRs and LTVs will be strictly adhered to. Borrowers will need to have average credit scores of 680 or better, their adjusted net worth must be 150% or greater than the loan amount, personal debt ratios cannot exceed 40%, etc.

Loans under $3,000,000 have more flexibility in all these areas. The range of acceptable product types is greater, we will look at a wider range of borrower credit and issues, and we can look at offsetting strengths and weakness (where we will not in larger loans).

Debt Service Coverage Ratios are on the rise as we see the economy weaken…  1.20 ratios for residential and 1.25 (or higher) ratios for commercial for the time being...

Though I'm not sure for how much longer… we are still offering to lock your loan, for up to 90 days, at no cost to your borrower.

And yes, we still offer you 1/2% rebate pricing - up to $15,000.00 per transaction.
I have enclosed our latest rate sheet for your review, and I will be happy to discuss your next transaction. On loans over $3,000,000 I will want to see reliable borrower financial data along with your submission - but feel free to call to discuss the transaction even if you do not have "everything" in hand.

For the short term, loans can be expected to take 60-90 days to close. We cannot handle any "rush" transactions for at least the next 60 days. Please let your borrowers all know to structure sales with longer closing dates!! If you have a 1031 exchange, make sure all parties can live with the reality of these closing times. The shortage of quality lenders with good rates, and the uncertainty of the market, will pass and the market will settle. Until then, we will try hard to meet your financing needs. My best wishes to you for the New Year!

Your Options in Commercial Endowment

Property development is big business. The rash of TV programmes about home makeovers and renovations reflects our current obsession with property as a way to make big bucks, quickly. It may seem a failsafe way to make a killing – buy a shabby house, paint the place magnolia, add laminate flooring, and bingo!

In reality, of course, property development means a lot of hard work, and involves a certain degree of risk. Many developers will have more than one property on the go at once – and to cover repayments can end up being an expensive business. If you factor in the time it takes to renovate a property, then advertise and sell it, it adds up to several months when you will have to be paying out on a mortgage. Not only that, but the fact that rates for commercial property are generally higher than for residential mortgages, and it can be a costly period indeed. Other reasons you may require a commercial mortgage is if you are buying business premises or buy to let property. For all of these needs, you will want to keep your monthly outgoings as low as possible.

One solution is taking out an interest only mortgage, such as an endowment mortgage. This will minimise your monthly repayments, and the extra security provided by the endowment policy could result in the lender offering a better interest rate for your mortgage. You will be paying interest instalments, plus separate amounts into an endowment policy. The payment of the capital, or principal will come from the proceeds of the endowment policy. (Bear in mind that the tax benefits have changed since endowments had their heyday in the 80s and 90s.)

Endowments – The Bad Press

In recent years there have been scandalous reports about endowment policies being mis-sold – thousands of people lost out when their policies failed to produce the lump sum needed to pay off the capital. The FSA, after investigating, reported that the problem had been exaggerated – most people with endowment policies are as well off as those with other types of mortgage. However, endowments are investments linked to the stock market, and as such do represent a financial risk. Insurance companies were forced to pay compensation to some investors who had received bad advice when they took out an endowment policy.

If you end up with an endowment policy that has not produced the money to pay off your capital, you may be entitled to compensation if the advice you received was not sufficient to make you aware of the risk involved. You can also consider selling your endowment in the traded endowments market, which could make you more than surrendering it to the insurance company.

Tablet PC - No Longer A Commercial Failure

A tablet PC is a light weight slate shaped hand-held computer or a slim note book PC. The idea is to replace the traditional pen and notebook with a tablet PC and stylus or digital pen. Historically the tablet was used by the Egyptians to write on clay tablets with a writing stick. In the present day the clay tablet has been replaced with a screen and the writing stick with a stylus. The tablet PC may be considered the pen and notebook of the future. They typically weigh around 2-3 pounds and their main feature is portability. The idea of a tablet PC was floated by Alan Kay of Xerox but was a commercial failure until now, when the prices have fallen down and it is expected that the prices will fall in future. The first widely sold Tablet PC was Newton of Apple Computers.

The hardware consists of a slim touch screen, stylus, optional wireless keyboard and mouse. In this type of computers the data input is not through the traditional mouse and keyboard but through a stylus or a virtual keyboard on the screen. It also has the facility of data input through wireless keyboard and mouse. The stylus is used to write directly/tap on the screen or fingers are used to input data through the touch screen. There is a magnetic field over the screen which interacts with the stylus electronics, hence the user can rest his hands on the screen without distorting the image and only stylus movement affects the screen. They come in various sizes like 8.5 inch, 10 inch and 14 inch.

There are different types of tablet PCs like slates, convertibles and hybrids. Slates consist of just the screen and the stylus. If a slate is attached with a keyboard it is called a convertible. Typically the keyboard is attached with a single joint and it folds/opens onto the screen. The Hybrid has a detachable keyboard so that it can be used both as a slate or a convertible.

Tablet PCs come with resident softwares like handwriting recognition software, speech recognition software, shorthand entry software, virtual keyboard etc,.

There are various advantages like portability, users who are not comfortable with keyboards find stylus more friendly, they do not interrupt line of sight as they are kept on the table and are helpful in meetings and are handheld so can be used in giving presentation while standing up. The disadvantages of Tablet PCs have been cost till now but since the prices have fallen and are falling, hence is not a constraint anymore.


Various companies like Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba Fujitsu, HP, Gateway, Compaq, Motion, NEC etc are manufacturing Tablet PCs.

Are they future proof?Till recent years the Tablet PC was a commercial failure but with the advances in battery technology, handwriting recognition software, wireless internet access, larger memory, better screen resolution they are being accepted as commercially viable option. Many popular science fiction movies portray the use of Tablet PCs.  Tablet PCs are bound to replace the notebook & pen and future books, magazines, newspapers.

Commercial Printing Methods

What are my choices for printing my catalog? What are the different types of catalog printing and which ones are the best for my catalog? In this article I will go over several types of catalog printing to help you answer those questions.

Let’s start with the different types of presses that are used for printing catalogs.

Web Press: This is the most commonly used type of press for printing catalogs. It uses a roll of paper to make the catalog printing process faster. There are two types of web press. The Heat-Set Web Press and the Cold-Set Web Press.

Heat-Set Web Press: The heat-set web press has a built-in heating unit that dries the ink. This gives the press the ability to produce a high volume of catalogs quickly. Another advantage it has is It can handle printing your catalog on coated and high-gloss paper. A heat-set web press is also the best choice if your catalog needs to have high quality photographs and images.

Heat-set web presses are good for large catalog printing jobs or where the cost of setup is irrelevant. It is a huge press and takes a staff of people to set it up for one catalog printing job. This is where you run into setup fees from your printer. On a large run, say 10,000 copies or more, the setup fee when divided by the number of catalogs is not too bad. If you were to apply those same setup fees to a run of only 1000 copies, the cost per catalog printed might be out of your budget requirements.

Cold-Set Web Press: This type of web press does not have a heating unit. The ink must be air-dried. The cold-set web press is used with text stock paper where the ink will absorb into the paper of your catalog. It will not print on coated and glossy paper. In addition to that, the photos and images for your catalog will not be quite as sharp as those printed on a heat-set web press.

However, if you are printing less than 10,000 catalogs or your primary needs are not the sharpness of the images, a cold-set web press might be the right choice for you. It will save you money over the heat-set method.

Sheet-Fed Press: Another good choice if you are not printing a high volume of catalogs is the sheet-fed press. The paper for your catalog is cut to size before the print run. One of the advantages a sheet-fed press has over the cold-set web press is that your images and photos will come out a much higher quality. Both are good for small runs, so if you are only going to print less than 10,000 catalogs and your artwork is important to you, the sheet-fed press might be the best way to go.

The sheet-fed press can also use various weights of paper, giving it another advantage over a cold-set web press. The downside is that sheet-fed presses run much slower. That is why they are usually only selected for a small run of catalogs or catalogs that require high quality graphics.

Digital Printing: This is much newer than the other methods described in this article, but it will become mainstream. This is where the images for printing your catalog are sent directly from the computer to the press. There is no film involved. All of the images are digital. This also eliminates the need for plates. Finding a printer for your catalog that uses this method might be difficult though since it has not been widely adopted yet.

The advantages of digital printing are fast-turnaround time and for producing high quality full color catalogs. The downside is that you may be limited in your choice of paper types.

Electrostatic printing: Only good for very short runs of catalog printing jobs. This is similar to photocopying documents in that it uses toner from a drum to thermally fuse your text and images to the paper.

Embossing: This catalog printing method uses a die your printer makes according to your design. It makes an impression or raises the image or letters onto the page.

Engraving: This is the catalog printing method that produces the highest quality images. You would only use this on the covers unless cost is not a factor. With engraved images, you can run your finger along the edge and fell that it has been indented or raised.

Gravure: This method of printing is used to produce a high volume of quality catalogs. It is much more expensive than other methods, but it is the best way to produce high quality catalogs.

Letterpress: This method of catalog printing goes back to the 15th century. It uses a rubber stamp like process. The images or text are raised on the stamp and ink is applied and the pages are stamped.

Offset lithography: This is a common catalog printing method with little setup time and one that is very cost effective. It’s also good for printing on textured paper. It uses less ink than other methods as well.

I hope this has been a helpful guide to the different printing methods you can choose for your catalog. Keep in mind that every printer you go to will not be able to offer you all of these methods. Each printer buys the equipment best suited to his or her business. So if you are set on a particular type of catalog printing you may have to shop around to find a printer who uses your method.

Classic TV and the Commercials that Entertained Generations

The 1950s were arguably the golden age of television and many people of a certain age look back fondly at some of the shows of the time – “The Lone Ranger”, “I Love Lucy” and “Gunsmoke”. These shows were in black and white and were watched on a set that got its signal from a huge antenna on the roof, but they were loved just the same.

Almost as compelling as the TV shows themselves, were some of the commercials of the time. TV was still a novelty during the 1950s and companies were anxious to cash in on the new craze. Particularly popular were commercials for cigarettes, cars and state of the art kitchen appliances. And the average length of TV advertisements was around a minute – compared to the 30 seconds or less today.

Beer was also one of the products widely advertised on TV during the 1950s.  At first, it was only late at night and never on a Sunday, so as not to offend anyone. During the early part of the decade, Blatz Beer became one of the beer industry’s biggest advertisers, partly due to the company’s sponsorship of the popular “Amos ‘n’ Andy” show.

One of the most instantly recognizable characters in television advertising at the time was Mabel. Mabel was a chirpy blond waitress who appeared on screen with a tray of Carling Black Label beer. Almost every Carling commercial featured the phrase that became famous – “Hey, Mabel, Black Label!”

Cigarette advertisements were commonplace during the 1950s – a big change from television today. Some of the biggest tobacco manufacturers of the time spent a lot of money trying to convince us that smoking was sophisticated and fun, including Lucky Strike, Tareyton and Winston.

One famous Lucky Strike ad featured a clever combination of cartoon and live action, featuring the singer Gisele McKenzie. Tareytown had an ad that featured what appeared to be two children dancing around a giant pack of cigarettes. And who can possibly forget the Fontane Sisters singing the praises of Chesterfield cigarettes?

Car manufacturers went to great lengths to advertise the latest models on television during the 1950s despite the loss of aesthetic effect on a black and white screen. The Ford Edsel was advertised at great length as the most beautiful convertible in the world, complete with such wonderful and innovative features as “teletouch” driving and air suspension.

It wasn’t all just cars, beer and tobacco. Some healthier products were advertised as well. One of the most well known ads of the era was for Pepsodent toothpaste. The TV ad featured a cute cartoon couple kissing after having brushed their teeth, and the catchy and unforgettable slogan – “You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!”

TV advertisements for kitchen appliances pointed out features that we now take for granted. A General Electric ad from the time for a new refrigerator consisted of a proud couple explaining the features of their sleek new fridge which included shelves that slid out, storage space behind the door and a separate freezer compartment.

And some things don’t seem to have changed much over the years. Tupperware ran a series of TV ads during the 1950s which featured an exciting Tupperware evening at a typical suburban home, organized by a “hostess”. Almost as much emphasis was placed on the social aspect, as on the actual features of the product.

One of the most prolific TV advertisers during the 1950s and subsequent decades was Pepsi. Their advertisements captured the feeling of the times like few others. One of the company’s earliest featured the actress and singer Polly Bergen enjoying a barn dance and a refreshing glass of Pepsi-Cola.

Not to be outdone, Coca-Cola was just as prolific with their ads and came up with several memorable slogans, such as “There’s nothing like a Coke”. Coca-Cola also went after the young crowd, with an ad featuring people at diners and drive-in movie theaters and a jingle that claimed “Zing! What a feeling!”

Many television viewers firmly maintain that the advertisements are just as good as the actual shows themselves! It seems as though that was especially true back in the 1950s. And if you just can’t get enough of those old commercials, you can enjoy some of them on DVD or online.

~ Ben Anton, 2008

Some Mobile specifications

Apple iPhone 5S Smartphone, substance 112g. It's exhibit size 4 Inch with 640 x 1136 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is 8 Hrs. The phone with 12 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Bluetooth 4.0

Lenovo Miix 10 Windows Tablet, substance 580g. It's exhibit size 10.1 Inch with 1366 x 768 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is 10 Hrs. The phone with Camera. , Bluetooth 4.0


Gigabyte GSmart Sierra S1 Android Smartphone, substance 168g. It's exhibit size 5 Inch with 720 x 1280 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is 5 Hrs. The phone with 13 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Bluetooth 3.0


Gigabyte GSmart Simba SX1 Android Smartphone, substance 165g. It'exhibit size 5 Inch with 720 x 1280 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is . The phone with 8.0 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Bluetooth 3.0



HTC Desire L Android Smartphone, substance 118g. It's exhibit size 4.3 Inch with 480 x 800 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is 15hrs. The phone with 5.0 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Bluetooth 4.0



HTC Zara Android Smartphone, substance 118g. It's exhibit size 4.5 Inch with 540 x 960 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is 15 Hrs. The phone with 8.0 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Yes



HTC Desire P Android Smartphone, substance 136g. It's exhibit size 4.3 Inch with 480 x 800 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is . The phone with 8.0 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Bluetooth 4.0



HTC One do well Android Smartphone, substance 125g. It's exhibit size 5.9 Inch with 1080 x 1920 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is . The phone with 4 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Yes



HTC One mini Android Smartphone, substance 122g. It's exhibit size 4.3 Inch with 720 x 1280 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is 20 Hrs. The phone with 4 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Bluetooth 4.0



Motorola DROID Maxx Android Smartphone, substance 167g. It's exhibit size 5 Inch with 720 x 1280 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is 48 Hrs. The phone with 10 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Bluetooth 4.0


Motorola DROID Mini Android Smartphone, substance 130g. It's exhibit size 4.3 Inch with 720 x 1280 pixels Resolutiton . The Talk while of the phone is 28 Hrs. The phone with 10 Megapixels Digital Camera. , Bluetooth 4.0

Some allocation base settled for product costing in ERP

Resource Class	Resource	Cost Component Class	Allocation Basis	Comments
Direct Labor	Labor	Direct Labor	Labor Hrs	-
Labor Overhead	Labor Overhead	Labor Overhead	Labor Hrs	-
Costing Resource	Granulation Costing Resource	Granulation Cost	Machine Hrs	The overheads related to Granulation will be captured based on the ‘Department’ segment in the COA
QAD	QAD	Quality Overhead	Machine Hrs	QAD cost can also be allocated on the basis of Quality hours.
Warehouse Overhead	Warehouse Overhead Resource	Warehouse Overhead	Machine Hrs	The allocation of Warehouse overhead to the product cost will be on the basis of the machine hours
GPO (General Plant Overhead)	GPO Resource	GPO	Machine Hrs	The allocation of Warehouse overhead to the product cost will be on the basis of the machine hours

How overheads will be calculated in ERP implemetation?

Computation of Overheads:

Direct and Indirect overheads are incurred to produce the finished goods from the Raw materials. At MIRACLE Pharma Ltd. we propose to use Resource based absorption.

1.       All the overheads will be modeled as resources and will be absorbed in the product cost on the basis of actual labor hours / machine hours consumed during the production batch. A separate Resource class will be created for each overhead to be consumed.

2.       These Resources will be mapped to every production activity in the routing attached to the recipe.

3.       Resource absorption rate will be computed on the basis of the actual overhead expenses incurred which will be captured in relevant Account balances in Oracle GL module.

4.       The account code combinations will be tagged with the relevant Resource Class. The account balances will be obtained from the Standard Trial Balance report or a custom report can be developed for it.  The account balance to be absorbed can be decided by the Cost Accountant based on the capacity utilization factor of the plant.

5.       The computation of capacity Utilization factor will not be captured in the system.