US Auto Sales Recovering

We have reached mid year of 2009, but have we reached midway in this great recession?

It does not appear so. Some big name economists feel we have seen the worst. Others feel the worst is yet to come. Even the famous billionaire Warren Buffet recently saved his opinion, and it was far from optimistic. He feels we are years away from a full recovery.

Hundreds of thousands of US jobs are still being lost every month. There are still thousands of jobs that have been farmed out to 3rd world countries. More and more manufacturing is being given to China. Where is that turnaround point, how far away!

How secure is your job, your home, your property, etc! No one can be sure of anything these days. Of course there are some industries not doing as bad as others, but they are the exceptions.

The auto industry has been in probably the worst slump they have ever seen. The US government bailout is starting to help the auto companies, and thenby restoring some confidence to the consumer.

If a new car is in your future, you'll no doubt stay away from the gas guzzlers, and go for the fuel efficient smaller cars, perhaps even an electric car. I am just saying you're going to be more cautious than ever, in making your decision.

You bought to also make sure you get the best auto insurance quote. It is now possible to get free quotes online. You do not have to wait for a quote from the offline agents, because the Internet has made it easy for you and the insurance agents to work together to provide you the best service possible.

Do not underestimate the amount you might possibly save, as it could amount to hundreds of dollars annually. You have absolutely nothing to lose by getting your free auto insurance quote. And it's fast.

Below you will find your free auto insurance quote site, and it's for US residents only.

Go get it and see what you find! I sincerely hope it's in your favor.

Fred Farah

Birthday Cards - Free - Funny - and Happy

Most people enjoy receiving happy birthday cards. When those cards are funny, it can put a big smile in the recipient's day. When they are free, it can put a big smile in the sender's day!

Free, funny, happy birthday cards are plentiful on the Internet. Some sites provide free cards as an incentive to convince you to become a paying member. Others simply provide complimentary cards at no cost. If you are thinking of sending a free, funny, happy birthday card, consider these tips.

Tip # 1 - Consider the Recipient's Sense of Humor

Free, funny, happy birthday cards are not always viewed as "funny" by the recipient. Not everyone has the same idea of ​​what is funny and what is not. While you may think a given birthday card is extremely funny, you should stop and think about the recipient before sending it. It may not be funny to him or her. It may even be offensive. If the card is for your grandmother, think about the things that make her laugh. Would she laugh at the birthday card you are about to send? Is the humor her style, or is it brash and edgy even for your generation? The birthday card should be funny to the recipient.

Tip # 2 - Consider the Recipient's Interests

Free, funny, happy birthday cards, while being humorous to the recipient, may not appeal to their interests. The goal in sending a birthday card is to make the recipient happy. If the birthday card is a funny joke about ballet dancers, a wrestler may wish you had chosen something more in line with his interests. Take time to think about the person to whom you are sending the birthday card, and about the things that interest that person most.

Tip # 3 - Consider the Recipient's Age Sensitivity

In other words, if those free, funny, happy birthday cards mock the old age of a person who is unhappy about getting older, it will be either funny nor happy. A woman who uses anti-wrinkle cream day and night will not enjoy a birthday card that reminds her of increasing wrinkles. A man who gets Botox injections every 5 months will not appreciate a birthday card that shows a furrowed brow. Some people grow old gracefully. Some do not. Learn how the recipient flags about aging and choose a funny birthday card that will not offend those feelings.

Tip # 4 - Consider Your Repression

Some people send funny birthday cards anonymously because they would have been accused to have people know they were sending smut. Stop and consider your reputation. If you are tagged to sign your name, you should not send that birthday card. If you would have been accused to have the recipient learn that it was from you, choose another card. You obviously believe it is not appropriate. Have the courage to do what you know is right.

Tip # 5 - Consider Your Friendship's Value

There is nothing wrong with sending birthday cards that are free. You may be unable to afford anything more. If you can afford more, though, think about why you are choosing a free birthday card. Do you care enough to spend a little money? Do you appreciate that person - and value their friendship or their place in the family enough to invest in helping them enjoy the day? Membership at a greeting card website is not expensive, and you gain access to the best of the cards when you invest. Consider your friend or loved one. Is that person worthy of a birthday card that cost you something?

Tip # 6 - Consider Being Serious

Finally, think about whether the recipient would rather have a serious, thoughtful birthday card. Many people are afraid to send birthday cards that are serious. They are afraid to express their true feelings toward others. They become uncomfortable with anything that is not funny. Ill-at-ease and lacking in self-confidence, they are simply on funny birthday cards. The recipient, however, may treasure a birthday card that expresses your feelings sincerely.

Whatever birthday card you choose to send, make it such that the person celebrating a birthday will sense that you have taken time to think about him or her.

Common Auto Repair Ripoffs

According to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, there are over 25,000 consumer complaints filed concerning fraudulent auto repair every year. Car owners lose an estimated $20 million annually on unnecessary car repairs. And while most shops are, in fact, honest, it's easy to see how dishonest mechanics can take advantage of customers: most people know little or nothing about car repair. But to avoid falling victim to auto repair rip-offs, it's good to know about the ones that are commonly used.

False Estimates






This scam happens when mechanics give you a low initial repair estimate, only to hike up the costs when you come to pick up your vehicle after repairs have been done. The excuse for the extra costs will usually be that new problems were found during the work and they needed immediate fixing. Most people end up paying the hiked up price because they have no way of verifying the legitimacy of the mechanics' claims. Get all estimates in writing and signed to avoid falling victim to this scheme.

Shady Highway Shops






Car shops located along the side of the road cater to car owners whose automobiles break down in the middle of the highway. They will sometimes charge exaggerated prices and bill you for extra repairs because they know that you'll likely pay the extra money rather than get stranded in the middle of the highway.

Hook Deal Scams






When auto shops advertise ultra low or free deals on oil changes or tire rotations, their plan is to get you in for the low-cost/free service and then convince you to purchase more expensive repair services based on the recommendations they come up with after inspecting your car. Dishonest mechanics will sometimes make up problems or cause them themselves in order to get your money. If a suggested repair doesn't seem right, get a second opinion before agreeing to the job.

Unnecessary Part Replacements






Some mechanics will try to convince you that a part of your car needs immediate replacement, when in fact the part is not broken and works just fine. To avoid falling victim to this scam, always ask to see the part that supposedly needs replacing. If it doesn't look broken, get a second opinion. And ask to keep the old part to make sure that a replacement was actually performed.

Benefits of Using Bank Debit Cards Instead of Credit Cards

Millions of individuals have traditional cards and see them as a convenient way to pay for purchases. In contrast, some people prefer a debit card instead. If you are wondering what is the difference between using a traditional card and a debit card, keep reading.

The main paying difference between using a traditional card and a debit card is that if you don't have enough cash in your account to cover your purchase, a debit card will be rejected. However, if you use a credit card and you don't have enough credit, the purchase will likely go through and you'll simply be charged an over the limit fee. So, a debit card is like having money in the bank that you can only use if you can cover it.

In addition, with a bank debit, you don't pay interest but with a traditional card you do. That is, with a traditional card you pay for the convenience of using the card. You pay interest on your purchase and you pay a lot of it. With a debit, there is no interest charged or add-on costs. The charges you pay are very minimal indeed. For instance, you may have to pay an annual fee for maintaining the card if your bank has this policy. Also, if you deposit from other branches, there might be a small fee for inter-branch transactions however the fees are quite limited. With a debit, you can keep track of your expenses better since you do not have to compute interest payments for purchases. Finally, with a debit, you won't increase your debt load when you make a purchase.

As you can see, there are many advantages of having a bank debit instead of a traditional card. Plus, if you buy impulsively, a debit card can help you stay on track and will force you to only purchase what you need.

The Difference Between Monoblock Wheels and 3 Piece Forged Wheels

In the wheel industry monoblock and 3 piece are two of the most popular types of forged wheels. The terms "monoblock" and "3 piece" refer to the construction of the wheel, but the similarities end there. In fact, there are many differences between the two types that make each ideal for different kinds of automated applications.

Monoblock wheelsare also referred to as "one-piece" wheels, meaning that they are forged into a single part without any removable components. During the manufacturing process a monoblock wheel begins as a single, round block of 6061-T1 aluminum alloy. The aluminum block is compressed and subjected to intense heat which creates a dense grain structure and forms a round, blank piece of metal. The single piece of aluminum alloy is then flow-formed and placed in a CNC milling machine where the spokes are formed to finish the manufacturing process.

Being that monoblocks are made from a single piece of aluminum alloy, they are the lightest of forged wheels. Their low weight is bought after as they help to reduce unsprung mass which can reduce acceleration times, enhance braking, and improve handling. Monoblock wheels are often less expensive than their 2- or 3-piece forged counterparts, as few parts are used for construction. However, if a monoblock wheel is damaged or bent they are difficult to repair, often requiring a complete wheel replacement.

3 piece forged wheels offer different advantages over monoblocks, mostly from a styling point. A 3 piece wheel has three main parts: a center, the outer hoop or "lip", and the inner hoop. The manufacturing process of 3 piece wheels is similar to that of a monoblock, except more aluminum alloy blocks are used due to the increased number of parts. After all of the pieces are milled, they are fasted together using a number of perimeter bolts and sealed using Silicone RTV.

The construction of 3 piece forged wheels allows manufacturers the ability to offer a wider range of widths and fitments for customers. 3 piece wheels are also the most customizable as any of the components can be easily painted or chromed to create a unique color scheme. If they sustain any damage it can be readily replaced. In addition, 3 piece forged wheels retain the highest resale value among used wheels. 3 piece wheels are not without their disadvantages. They are the most expensive forged wheels because of their multi-piece manufacturing, and if the RTV Silicone seal is broken, leaks can form.

Finding the Right Get Your Ex Back Ebook for You

Finding aa good eBook on getting an ex back is actually surprisingly easy. Sadly not all of them work for more than one of two situations though. Most of the time when you buy a get your ex back eBook you find yourself with something that only works for certain people or certain age groups or even certain types of relationships. There are ways to avoid this but you have to do some research to find the one for you.

First go through a bunch of choices and find a few that at least look like they are not trash.

This part is pretty easy because if it looks too good to be true it usually is. So any choice that says they can get you back together tomorrow I would stay clear of. Or of the advertisement is really flashy and elaborate they are probably trying to overcompensate for something that is missing. So when looking for a good get your ex back eBook you should go with the ones that offer results not instant or flashy things.

Check out the author, see if he or she has any personal experience.

A lot of the time you will find an eBook written by someone who knows nothing at all about the relationship market so has no idea what they are talking about. So either find an eBook written by a psychiatrist or psychologist, or written by someone who has some experience in the breakup to makeup arena. To do that just check out the reviews of the books, they can usually give at least those details. Just do not put too much stock in reviews because they are usually written by people who are selling the ebooks themselves or by people they pay to write for them.

Air Conditioning Maintenance - Keeping You and Your Air Conditioner Well Maintained!

An air conditioner is a good option of keeping your home or office cool. It is also valuable as it improves your standards of living. Imagine how it feels when you walk into an office or a home that has been cooled off. It just feels better and more relaxing than a hot room. An air conditioner like other electrical equipment needs to be maintained to give you the service that you desire. Regular air conditioning maintenance will also help to prolong the life of the unit. You do not want to turn on your condition during a hot day, only for it to fail you!
But keeping your condition maintained is a simple task if you know what you are doing and have the right tools.

However, it is recommended that you hire an expert to maintain the air conditioner for you. A professional engineer will tell you of the possible malfunctions that your air conditioner may have. The engineer will also tell you how often you should maintain your condition. The air conditioner is supposed to be served every 6-12 weeks. Add this serving in to your schedule and make it a routine. This helps you keep track on when and how the unit should be maintained.

The most important air conditioning maintenance required to be made for the duct air (refrigerating) system is cleaning it. The purpose of the filter in the air grille is to suck back the air into the unit. To be able to clean the grille filter, you have to first open the grille and slide out the filter or you can clean it in its place. This is done by using warm water with soap or by vacuuming the filter. It is best to do this every 3 months. If it produces an unfamiliar noise, it's a sign that it needs to be cleaned.

Regular air conditioning maintenance ensures that your air conditioner consumes less energy, runs efficiently, becomes more reliable, is clean, and its life span is prolonged. Maintenance will help you save money as you will not have to keep on changing your unit. As it consumes less energy, you will not have such high energy bills. No matter the season, your conditioner unit needs maintenance. This is because most people tend to ignore or forget to maintain their units during winter when it is cold as they do not need it. But remember, during those hot days in summer, you will want to find yourself with a functioning unit.