Organic Products - The Present Scenario
"Going Organic" seems to be the new buzzword. Whether its Hollywood celebrities or The National Geographic, everyone is talking about how to go green and switch to organic products. So, while you are browsing the endless brands of lotions and creams on the supermarket shelf, you choose only the ones that say 'organic' or 'natural.' You go home in peace thinking you did your job, you choose right and you have nothing to worry about. Right? Well, we suggest, think again. Hundreds of organic skin care products are flooding the global skin care market every day. The credibility definitely becomes questionable.
The Organic Catch
Many of us become the target to the shrewd marketing gimmicks of skincare products manufacturing companies that mislead consumers by claiming to be organic, while the truth is harshly far from it. Most skin care products that declare themselves as being Organic, in reality may merely have a few organic ingredients blended with preservatives and chemical agents. Unfortunately, the loophole is in the system, since there is no rule what so ever, restricting companies from labeling their products as 'Natural' or 'Organic.'
Organic Skin Care Products - The Concept
The basic difference between an ordinary skincare product and an organic skincare product is that the organic products are made with organically grown ingredients. Therefore, unlike conventionally cultivated materials, which are exposed to harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides, organically grown materials are toxin free.
Organic Skin Care Products - Some Facts
When a skin care product is certified as 'Organic,' it generally contains 95% organic ingredients and 5% of inorganic materials, which belong to an approved National List.
When a product is certified as 'Made from Organic Ingredients,' it means it contains only 70% of organic ingredients and the other 30% contains inorganic materials from the approved National List.
Organic Purchase - The Pre-requisites
Taking into consideration all the facts it can be said that 100% pure organic products may not really exist. Still, we can definitely find the next best things for us. A few things to keep in mind before buying any organic products:
Read the Ingredients Carefully - If you cannot even pronounce a chemical's name, it maybe that it should not be there. If you are unsure about the ingredients, browse through the internet to find more information on them. Fact sheets on most chemicals can be found easily, online.
No Additives - True organic products should not contain any artificial colors, synthetic dyes, artificial fragrances, or preservatives.
Check Certification - Check for USDA (United States Departments of Agriculture) seal or ACO (Australian Certified Organic) logo on the products.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Do 100% Organic Skin Care Products Exist?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Top 5 Solutions to Problems with HOA Boards
So, you have a problem with your home owner association (HOA) or its board members. The general rule which seems to apply to most people's feelings as it relates to HOAs are follow the rules or its time to move. What happens when you feel your HOA has outdated policies or you have been treated unfairly? The following at 10 things you can do for solutions with your HOA board.
You do have to keep in mind that you singed a contract as it states with your home owner association so these solutions don't work if you simply are made you can't have a gazebo in your backyard. Those issues and others like it are policies that you would need to have your board members approve. The solutions we are mentioning below are for when you feel that the HOA has acted capricious or in a vindictive manner.
5 Solutions to Problems with HOA Board
1. If you read newspaper columns for advice they will tell you to work it out with your HOA board members. You do have to keep in mind that these columns are typically written by lawyers who represent HOA boards so they are not the best source of info for the home owner themselves. It is still important to attempt to work any issues out directly before taking further course of action.
2. You need to know your bylaws. If you want a state official to help you solve your issue you need to know exactly what you are talking about. Many people don't get far with their cases against HOA boards as their information is filled with emotion more than facts on how HOA bylaws were broken.
3. If there are board members who are apathetic to your situation you can use them to hold special meetings and replace vindictive board of directors. It is important that all policies on these proceedings are followed for them to work.
4. You need to keep all documentation with correspondences between you and the HOA or the HOA's attorneys. You want to get to proof of your violations though you have to realize you will also need proof of your innocence. Just as you want the HOA to have all the documentation, so will you if you are to win your case. If you ever need your own lawyer, the lawyer will need proof to be able to defend your interest.
5. Most issues with home owner associations are consistent courses of action that are in violation or patterns of now working with home owners. You can recommend professional community services take over your HOA's management services which is usually better for both the HOA board members themselves and the individual home owners. Professional community management services are experts in how to handle home owner concerns so that both parties understand and win in the end.
Monday, January 18, 2010
What is the Market Prices of Gold Per Ounce
The market price of an ounce of gold is most commonly expressed in the "spot price" of gold.
The spot price of gold is the price of a troy ounce of gold. The spot price is the price a buyer should expect to pay for an ounce of gold for immediate delivery.
It should be noted that individual buyers cannot generally obtain gold at the spot price. This is because gold is available to buyers in various forms, such as coins and bars, which require fabrication and transport. The added cost of fabrication and transport, plus mark ups for dealer profits result in a price greater than the spot price.
The spot price of gold is available to individuals in a wide variety of media. It has been quoted in newspapers, from The Wall Street Journal to your local business section, each day for decades. It is reported on various business television news networks, such as Bloomberg, CNBC and Fox Business Channel. The spot price is also reported occasionally on radio news programs.
And, of course, the price of gold is available from many sources on the internet, including ITM Trading's web site at ITMTrading.com. ITM Trading provides free current price indications for Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium. In addition to current price indications, ITM Trading shows the change from the previous New York market close and the Afternoon London market "fix" ("PM Fix).
Note that the gold market never sleeps. Gold is truly a currency without a country in that it trades somewhere 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Active gold markets exist in Chicago, New York, London, Zurich, Istanbul, Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and elsewhere. Gold is usually priced in US dollars in most quotes published in the media, but it is often quoted in the local currency in these various locales and, due to changes in the relative value of international currencies, the value, and even direction of movement, of the price of gold can vary from locale to locale.
For instance, during the "Asian Contagion" of 1997-98, the price of gold in many Asian currencies rose sharply, even while it hit multiyear lows in terms of the US dollar.
Still, for most Americans, the spot price of gold expressed in US dollars is the ideal gauge of activity in the gold market.
At this point, one might be wondering about the "PM Fix," sometimes referred to as the "London fix."
London has historically been one of the world's financial centers of gravity. This was especially true of the gold market during the height of the British Empire. Not only did the sun never set on the British Empire, but the sun never set on the gold market either.
For that reason, the price of gold in London has always been an important benchmark for the gold market. Starting way back in 1919, the five major members of the London gold exchange met to settle the price of gold at the open and close of the market.
The fixing was suspended between 1939 and 1954 due to World War II and post-war government controls on the price of gold as a result of the Bretton Woods agreement.
Even today, the price of gold is fixed in London at the open of the market (AM Fix) and the close of the market (PM Fix) by the five largest members of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). Those members are Scotia-Mocatta, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Societe Generale. This London fixing is still the primary guide off of which the other gold markets around the world guide.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
5 Key Elements to Successful Multi Level Marketing with the Trump Network
The Trump Network is a new multi level marketing opportunity being launched by Donald Trump. The exciting part about this opportunity is two fold. First, Donald Trump is in a pre-launch phase which makes this one of more financially rewards times to join. Second, the Trump Network has the already existing brand name recognition of Donald Trump.
If you have never joined a multi level marketing (MLN) campaign before there are key indicators that determine if the venture will be a success. For those that have been a part of other MLM opportunities I encourage you to read on to see if the Trump Network fits what you are looking for.
5 Key Elements to Successful Multi Level Marketing with the Trump Network
The first key element is branding. If you have ever been a part of a MLM you would have experienced how difficult they can be when the products or company are brand new to everyone. It isn't that the company or products don't work; it is just the newness that makes it hard to join.
The second key element is the compensation plan. I believe they make the diagrams and instructions for compensation so difficult so people can't completely understand how to make money. The Trump Network has developed an easy to follow and one of the most lucrative comp plans in the industry today.
The third item is people need to experience what they are buying. Have you ever seen products that you have to trust are working inside your body? One of the key marketing products is the Silhouette Solution which is a cutting edge weight loss program that utilizes small meals to increase metabolism and lose real weight. Tangible results are the easiest types of products to market.
The fourth item the marketing strategy. Most MLM programs you are on your own to develop your marketing strategy. What the winning opportunities present is proven strategies by real network marketing experts. Knowing what it really takes to be successful is the difference between achieving real financial freedom.
The fifth item is teamwork. People who do everything by themselves never reach their true potential. By working as a team with successful business owners and marketers you can share ideas and proven methods for greater and faster income.
The Trump Network has the ability to generate large sums of extra income as it holds all key elements. The goal is for you to take the energy to make a difference in your financial situation and start earning extra income by joining.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
How to Fix the Air Conditioning in a Car
Air conditioner in car has become a necessity these days. It is very difficult to travel in a car without an AC in scorching heat. The car AC is very small and the designing and the functioning is completely different from that of the air conditioners used in offices and homes. There are two sides of an air conditioning system of a car, viz high side and low side. The compressor of the AC begins at the high side, and performs the functioning of the pump. The refrigerant is moved through the system with the help of the compressor. The expansion valve is there at the low side, which restricts the flow of refrigerant. This helps in reducing the temperature and the pressure of the refrigerant.
The car air conditioner works almost like a refrigerator and has a multi-component piece of machinery. The warm air is removed from the car and the cool air is pushed inside the car. This helps in maintaining the temperature of the small space in the car, and moderates the area.
There may be times when the AC in the car stops working or does not give effective cooling. A repair is required at this stage. Each and every car is made of different design and model. But, the basic functioning of the AC in most of the cars is the same. The basic problems with the car air conditioner and the basic ways to fix the problems of car air conditioner have been listed below:
Absence of cool air and improper cooling are the signs of problems with respect to the car air conditioner.
In order to diagnose the problem with your car air conditioner, it is very important to have proper information and knowledge of the different parts of the car air conditioner. There are five components of the car AC viz the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve, the refrigerant, and the dryer or evaporator.
It is very important to understand the functioning of all the parts so that the right action can be taken in case of any problem.
The refrigerant is pumped out through the compressor. The compressor acts as a power unit of the car air conditioner.
The condenser performs the function of changing the refrigerant to the liquid form.
The liquid formed through the condenser is converted into cold air with the help of the evaporator or the dryer.
There may be some pressure on the condensed refrigerant. This pressure is removed with the help of the expansion valve and moved into the evaporator.
In case of ineffective cooling, check the refrigerant for any kind of leakage. A fluorescent dye that is readily available at any auto part shop can be used to check the refrigerant. Autozone or NAPA can be used as the fluorescent dye.
The instructions given on the pack of the dye that you purchase should be followed completely and carefully. In most of the cases, the dye is added through the low pressure A/C recharge port that is found on the canister of the air conditioner of the car.
Use the U/V light to check for the leakage. In case of leakage of the refrigerant, the refilled kits can be bought from any auto supply store. These refilled kits are sealed and the replacement can be done by anyone at home.
In case this is not the problem, check for any kind of problem with the fuses, wires, and fan belts. The fuse may have turned bad. The wires might have broken, and the belts of the fan may have got damaged. All these problems may be creating trouble with the functioning of the pump. In case of any problem with any of these parts, get the parts replaced to ensure proper functioning of the car air conditioner.
The air conditioner should be tested after making any kind of repair done by you.
In case one has tried all the above methods to make the AC function properly, and even after replacing all the parts, the AC does not function properly, then there is a need to call a professional.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
How to Service Your Window Air Conditioner Needs
Among the various types of air conditioning units available in the market these days, window air conditioners are used the most. Window Air conditioners are commonly found in houses and offices. Summers are really very hot, and people require some effective modes of cooling. Thus, the demand of A/C in summers is the most. In order to install a window air conditioner in a room, there is a need to sacrifice one of the windows of the rooms for the fitting of the AC.
After the air conditioning system is installed, the individual gets immense relief from the heat and the humidity in summers. But, does one get the same cooling throughout the life? Window air conditioner is electrical equipment, and all electric equipments require some repair at any point of time to make them working for a long time and to increase the life duration of them.
So, in case your window air conditioner does not give proper cooling, it implies that there is a need to do provide proper servicing to the air conditioner. The ways to clean the window AC have been discussed below:
The front grill of the air conditioner is removed with the help of a puffy knife. Such a technique is applied if the grill is held with the help of clips. However, in case the grill has been screwed, a screwdriver is used to remove the grill.
Now the air conditioner is unplugged and taken out of the window and kept on a strong table. Take the help of someone else as the air conditioner is heavy.
The mesh filter is removed and washed.
The grill is washed in warm and soapy water. The grill is bleached to remove any kind of mold. Now shake the excess water out. The filter and the grill are set in the dish drain for letting them dry completely.
Take a vacuum having the brush attachment, and run it through the evaporator coils in a thorough manner.
Take a plastic scrub brush to remove any kind of firm dust.
Now, have a look at the fins on the coils. In case of any flattened or bent fins, run a fin comb to straighten the fins. The fin comb can be bought from any appliance store. Make sure to be very gentle with the fins, as the fins are very delicate.
The air conditioner is now turned around. Make sure that back of the air conditioner faces you. Here, the condenser coils are located.
The same process of running a vacuum brush and the plastic scrub brush to remove any kind of dirt is carried on these coils.
Here also the fins are viewed and straightened with the help of the fin comb.
Now just inspect the air conditioner from inside and get rid of any kind of dirt and dust with the help of the vacuum brush and the crevice attachment.
The blades of the fan should also be cleaned properly with the help of the vacuum and the brush attachment. .
The cleaning process is now complete and the air conditioner is now placed back into the cabinet of the window.
The filter and the grill are re-installed.
The air conditioner is now plugged in.
Now, the air conditioner is again ready to provide effective cooling. After performing the above listed steps of servicing of the window air conditioner, an individual would definitely feel an improvement in the cooling effect. It is actually very easy to service the window AC, and can be done at home only. Servicing the air conditioner at home saves a lot of money, thus ensuring proper cleaning. In order to ensure the effective functioning of the window air conditioner, it is advised to clean the filter of the AC monthly, while in working stage.