Birth of a Parent

Birth of a Parent

 by: Barbara Eastom Bates

So youre pregnant. Congratulations! Your life is about to change in ways you might find unthinkable (and were not even talking about the surrender of your once slim waistline to proportions most comparable to that of a Dr. Suess character). Pregnancy is the beginning of a new life for a baby, but also a new life for you as a parent. If this is your first baby, you may be filled with an endless list of questions and concerns. If youre a veteran of the labor and delivery room, youve got a better idea what to expect, yet every pregnancy, like every mother and child, is different.

Making Choices

While pregnancy and birth have physiologically been the same since the beginning of time, your options as a pregnant woman today are greater than at any previous time in history. After confirming your pregnancy, your first (and arguably most important) decision to make is choice of caregiver. While traditionally in the U.S., maternal care has been provided through obstetrical physicians and hospital births, there is a growing movement towards the return of low intervention, midwife-assisted births.

How do you know which is right for you? Consider what is most important to your birth experience (always remembering that birth is anything but predictable and flexibility is vital). Are you interested in birthing naturally, without the aid of drugs or invasive procedures? Would you rather give birth at home or in a birthing center as opposed to a hospital? A midwife may be the right choice for you. Conversely, if you know upfront youll want an epidural at the first sign of labor pain youll probably find the anesthesiologist at your local hospital to be your best friend.

Keep in mind, each choice has its pros and cons and its up to you to weigh which option is the best for your needs. If you give birth at home and have complications, youll need to be transported to the hospital. Epidurals may provide excellent pain relief (or not), but have potentially serious, although rare, side effects. Some birthing centers will not accept a mother attempting vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC). Being an educated consumer in your pregnancy will allow the best possible birth experience and beginning for your new baby.

Planning for Baby

Somewhere around middle to late pregnancy (usually about the time you can no longer see your toes because of your protruding middle), youll want to start making accommodations at home for your baby's expected arrival. If this is your first, trust yourself to the care of an experienced mommy friend who can prevent New Mother Shopping Syndrome, i.e., going to Babies R Us and spending an exorbitant amount of money on baby paraphernalia that, not only do you not need, but you will never use. Yes, the mommy bear that emits sounds of the womb is cute. No, your baby will not be fooled. This is the time to cultivate self control, which will particularly come in handy when your precious baby has become a 16-year old who has just wrecked the family car.

Babies actually need very little in the way of gear for the first few months of life. If youre planning to family bed, you can skip the nursery furniture altogether. Some good choices of useful items include a five-point harness convertible car seat, a quality hospital grade breast pump if youre planning to breastfeed (Medela is the gold star standard), and plenty of onesies for sleep and play. A baby sling is also useful for helping mom get things done around the house while still meeting the baby's need to be held, and also for discreet public breastfeeding. Skip the infant carrier, which can only be used for about six months, at which point youll have to purchase a convertible seat anyway. Also unnecessary (at least for now) are baby toys, gyms, etc., which will not be of interest to the baby until at least six months of age.

Delivering the Goods

Prepare for labor and delivery by compiling a plan for your caregiver sharing your wishes for birth. Discuss your feelings on all types of medical intervention including the use of epidural, IVs, amniotomy, fetal monitors, episiotomy, etc. Remember that a birth plan is simply that, a plan. Since no one knows exactly how any given birth will proceed, it is not a guarantee of any kind. While the mothers experience with birth is important, the ultimate goal is a healthy baby, whatever it takes to achieve it. A birth plan is simply helpful in communicating the type of birth experience you would like to have, and if you have made a wise selection in caregiver, you will have someone who will work with you to honor these wishes to the extent they are possible. You may want to hire a doula to assist during labor. A doulas purpose is to support and be an advocate for the mother, and can be helpful in achieving the mothers goals towards birth.

Surviving the First Weeks

After nine months of waiting and planning, your baby is finally in arms. What next? Despite that you might feel youve gotten away with something when the hospital staff actually allows you to leave with your baby (whom you think you have no idea how to care for), remembering a few simple tips can help things go more smoothly.

Feed your baby on demand. Dont try to schedule feeding sessions, which can be detrimental to establishing proper milk supply if breastfeeding, and simply isnt good for baby.

Keep a record of wet and soiled diapers for the first few weeks to assure baby is taking in enough breast milk or formula.

Hold baby as often as possible. Contrary to what grandma might tell you, he cant be spoiled.

Always remember to place your baby on his back to sleep and tummy to play, to lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Call your pediatrician if your baby develops a fever, or if you have any questions or concerns.

Most importantly, remember motherhood is a work in progress and cut yourself some slack. You will make mistakes, learn, grow and change. Both babies and parents are born, and neither reaches their full potential overnight.

About The Author

Barbara Eastom Bates is the author of the upcoming release, Basic Training for Brides-to-Be, and editor-in-chief of Operation Military Spouse, http://www.operationmilitaryspouse.com.

opmilspouse@yahoo.com

Honey I?m Home!

The housing boom has been the main engine of America's economic growth in recent years. Indeed, it is the main reason why the American economy held up better than expected, after the Stock Market bubble burst at the start of the Millennium. Since 2000 the real wages of most American workers, measured in terms of disposable income, have barely budged, yet surging house prices have allowed consumers to keep spending - on credit.

Over the past five years, according to the National Association of Realtors, the cumulative total market value of American homes has increased by more than USD 9 trillion to reach a record-shattering USD 22 trillion. These gains have helped to offset both the slide in stock prices as well as the feeble wage growth. In real terms, home prices have risen at least three times as much as in any previous housing boom. Not too long ago, in the Fall of 2005 to be exact, appreciation of housing value was a hefty 15 percent annualized and most analysts thought that average prices were unlikely to fall across the nation.

Readers of my articles on Real Estate Economics know that I was one of the few lonely voices anticipating a drop in pricing levels and a slowdown in real capital appreciation which, far from being the beginning of the dreaded bubble burst that many were so fond of predicting, would have instead the beneficial effect of consolidating market wealth achieved thus far. Allowing the economy to get an even footing through a slowdown of real capital appreciation and, at the same time, allowing real wages to catch up - I reasoned - was exactly the tonic needed for a healthy foundation.

America's housing boom, though as impressive as it has been, looks far more modest than booms elsewhere. Since 2000, in fact, average selling prices in the United States and Canada have almost doubled but all this is dwarfed, for example, by the gain of almost 180 percent in Britain throughout the same period.

The real estate boom has lifted the economy in three major ways:

[ it has boosted residential construction and, as a direct and proximate result, it has benefited also all related fields such as banking, brokerage and insurance;

[ it has made people feel wealthier and has encouraged them to spend more;

[ it has allowed homeowners to use their real properties as a gigantic cash machine, taking out money by borrowing against their capital gains.

Merrill Lynch estimates that the three foregoing factors, taken together, accounted for more than half of America's GDP growth in 2005. Counting construction, banking and real estate agency firms, the housing boom has also been responsible for one-third of all jobs created since 2001.

Fuelling consumerism is both good and bad. Consumerism is good for the economy, as it promotes trade and the exchange of money. It is also bad, as it fuels inflation. Particularly when spurred by investment stimulated by a property boom, there is very little base to boost long-term growth. In the overall national flow of capital, expensive houses merely redistribute wealth to homeowners from non-homeowners. Worse still, exaggerated real capital appreciation and the rush on the part of everybody to invest so as not to miss the boat has diverted resources away from productive sectors, thereby causing households to save even less and thus exacerbating America' economic imbalances.

Additionally, too much consumerism is bad in trade and finance as it creates too much dependence on imports and thus generates large trade imbalances. The flip side of these imbalances has been a sharp rise in the net foreign liability position of the United States and a massive accumulation of foreign exchange reserves especially by Asian countries such as China and India. China has amassed reportedly more than USD 450 billion of reserves. India too has seen a marked rise in international reserves, to roughly USD 150 billion. Even more striking, as of the end of 2004, all of Asia (including Japan) had accumulated USD 2.1 trillion in foreign exchange reserves. Subtracting this quantity of dollars from the economic monetary cycles forces the U.S. Government to borrow more and the Federal Reserve System to print and lend more money, with the deleterious effect of diminishing the purchasing power by weakening the strength of the currency.

For all these reasons, therefore, it is sure better for Americans to start saving in the old-fashioned way, that is by spending less of their real income rather than relying on rising asset prices. This will lift inflationary pressure on prices and will help stabilize US monetary policy by allowing the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates. Which, in ultimate analysis, will not only save the economy from a recession, but will also contribute to the consolidation of real estate market wealth I was referring to a few months ago.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles on Real Estate Economics and Finance. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Laptop Computer Backpack >> Women's Notebook Bags

These days it's getting pretty easy to find a Laptop Computer Backpack and bags pretty much anywhere. At many companies there are as many people who use their laptop as a normal pc. But, try to think of the last time you saw a laptop computer backpack that wasn't designed specifically for men. Does it seem like someone is being left out. Well, you guessed it, many a woman has wondered ?I wonder if anyone makes women?s laptop bags?? The answer is a resounding yes.

When I was first introduced to women?s laptop bags I must admit that I was pretty surprised at how nice they were. I started to associate a laptop bag with those either designed for executives, or those that are a little more hip for, say, younger men. But many women?s laptop bags look a lot like fashionable purses or carry-alls. They look nice, but are able to house your laptop or notebook along with other accessories.

If you are in the market for a woman?s laptop bag there are a few things to consider. First of all, make sure that your bag is designed to carry a notebook (aka laptop computer), and one that is a similar size to yours. A good laptop backpack or bag will have padding and a strap to keep it secure. There are a lot of fashionable women?s bags out there that could ruin your laptop if you?re not careful. Second, consider what you?re using the bag for. If you are using it for business or outdoors there would obviously be different things to consider. And finally, but just as important, make sure that the women?s laptop bag that you buy is one that you love. Don?t just settle for one because of the price or just so you have one. If you have a bag that you don?t like chances are decent that you will never use it.

While laptop computer backpacks are great, there are many a woman out there who shouldn?t settle for a men?s laptop bag, but need to investigate women?s laptop bags.

About the Author:

Brady Quist's site Laptop Computer Backpack, sells Women's Laptop Bags, and other types of laptop computer backpacks.
http://www.laptopcomputerbackpacks.com

Top Ten London With Kids

 



Top Ten London With KidsSubmitted By: Max Clarke  

Having now accepted our status as dedicated, if frazzled and rapidly aging, parents, my partner and I are devoting time to planning some activities for wet weekends and hyper half-terms joined by nephews and nieces.

In our former, almost forgotten, 'couple' life we lived in London. Those days (as I like to remember them) were filled with friends, posh restaurants, cocktails, super-cool bars, exhibitions, theater, and lazy Sundays reading the papers. I did watch too much Sex and the City though. In reality, much of my spare time was spent attempting to crawl out of bed in my tiny flat in one of the most unfashionable parts of outer East London. My most cultural achievement was to make it to the corner shop for some bread and Heat magazine before lunchtime.

However, I thought London was the best city in the world then (New York a close second) and I still do. Our lives may have changed forever but our capital can still keep us entertained with little H tottering along too. It is a fantastic place for young children and these are my top ten activities if you ever find yourself in the big smoke with little people.

1Tiny tots love vehicles so even your journey can be fun. Riding on a train, London bus or taxi, taking the tube or DLR (where you can pretend to be the driver) or just watching the traffic or trains will entertain many little ones. You probably won't find it quite as fascinating.

2If your little tinker is getting really serious about transportation, the newly-reopened London Transport Museum in Covent Garden may be ideal. Exploring the link between transport and the growth of modern London, there are many regular features that will appeal to children, such as costumed characters, and special activities during school holidays like building a bus. 'London's Transport in Miniature' will be running on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March 2008 at The Museum Depot at Acton, demonstrations of steam and electric train collections on the Museum's miniature railway.

3The London Aquarium on the South Bank of the Thames has nearly 400 species on display in over 2 million liters of water. Seeing anything from sharks and stingrays to moray eels and piranhas, your little fish are sure to enjoy the multi-sensory journey which includes a pool where they can stroke a range of friendly creatures and regular talks and feeding sessions. Captain Pugwash and his crew are in residence every day from Saturday 9 February to Sunday 24 February.

4Still lurking on the South Bank, the Tate Modern has a lot to offer families with children. The building itself is a brilliant place for older children to explore. Every weekend the 'Start' team are on hand to provide exciting games to play in the galleries, mainly for the over fives. They will be running special activities during half-term week. 'What Can the Matter Be?' is a talk and demonstration uncovering some of the secrets behind the gallery's collection to be held on Saturday 23 February.

5Escaping the hustle and bustle of the South Bank with your brood for half an hour may well appeal. The London Eye (on the South Bank opposite the Houses of Parliament) is an exciting experience whatever your age. Although it does only travel at 0.6 miles per hour - twice as fast as a tortoise sprinting, according to their website - so it's not for speed freaks. The views are outstanding and on a clear day you can see around 40km from the top, that's as far as Windsor Castle. The capsule's are quite cool too.

6Two of the best free attractions in London have to be the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum in South Kensington. At the Natural History Museum, Harry and the Dinosaurs will leap into real life for your tot after seeing the big softy Diplodocus and super-sensing T.Rex (who's a bit scary for very little ones). The life-size model of a blue whale is awesome and there are fun activities planned every day (including talks, behind-the-scenes tours, Explorer backpacks and a science discovery centre). Ice Station Antarctica is a temporary interactive exhibition running until 20 April (extra charge applies).

The Science Museum's Launchpad gallery has been updated recently and is aimed at 'curious and creative 8-14 year olds' who want to explore the world of physics. It's packed full of exhibits, shows and demos. The Garden and Pattern Pod are two interactive galleries designed for younger children. There are numerous daily activities and events and also an IMAX 3D cinema making this an inspiring day out for everyone.

7I might be biased as I lived there for a while, but Greenwich is one of the most beautiful areas of London and ideal for a family trip to the capital. It has everything you'll need for the day from the wide open spaces of the park, the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum, OLd Royal Naval College and university buildings, to high street shops and restaurants, independent boutiques and bistros, a lively market and riverside walks. An unexpected highlight for our funny little man is the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, where you walk under the River Thames.

8Wicked, The Lion King, The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, Billy Elliot...you can't go wrong with one of these West End shows.

9London is full of green spaces and parks - ideal for letting energetic monsters let off steam. You might even get the chance to lie down for a while. Hyde, St James', Green and Regent's parks are all easily accessible.

10Nestled within Regent's Park is London Zoo which recently won a number of awards at the Visit London Awards, including the 'Kids Love London' award. There's so much to see here including the new ?5.3m enclosure Gorilla Kingdom, the Ambika Paul Children's Zoo, Butterfly Paradise, Meet the Monkeys and Clore Rainforest Lookout.

We're lucky enough to live within an hour's drive of London so I'm hopeful that H will grow up feeling part of this wonderful city. Kids really do love it.

Article Tags: children, london, museum

Buying in Spain What is a Buyers Agent and how can they Help?

1.An overview of buying in Spain

The climate and lifestyle in Spain coupled with the property boom in the UK in the late nineties and early 2000?s has meant people are considering a second home in Spain ? or permanently moving here to start a new life. Whatever the reasons there appears to be 2 types of buyers.

1.Those that prepare and research everything
2.Those that have little time or inclination for preparation

Many buyers have seen property exhibitions run by large companies who appear to offer the world. They sign up for inspection trips believing that they will see a few properties and then have time to look around other areas and other properties.

However the reality of these types of trips is that there is little time to do anything except look at houses the developers choose to show you ? often in areas which the buyer doesn?t really wish to move to.

Often buyers believe the TV programmes that promulgate British TV ? such as ?A place in the Sun? - that for a few thousand pounds one can buy their dream Villa in Spain ? this just isn?t the case anymore. Most of these programmes were produced 2 ? 3 years ago and give buyers unrealistic expectations. Because of the influx of foreign buyers, prices in most areas of Spain have shot up considerably ? on average around 20% per annum over the past 5 years but near the Costas a lot more. Consequently the number of agencies selling properties has grown proportionately.

People on the whole ? for whatever reason - tend to visit Spain with little or no preparation. Busy lifestyles lead to limited time. So many people will just hop on a plane and hope for the best ? some are lucky others spend their trip searching fruitlessly, visiting estate agents offices, seeing properties that neither meet their needs nor their purpose for buying in Spain.

Many agents have a philosophy of once you are in their office don?t let you go until you agree to visit something. They spend little, if any, time finding your real requirements ? to them all that matters is the amount of bedrooms, the area and the price ? but to you the buyer there are other more subtle factors, such as schools, hospitals and a feel for the area, which no amount of words can put across.

Estate Agents operate by taking on a property from a client. They differ from the UK in that the seller determines the price they wish to receive and the agency adds on their fees. In most cases these fees vary from between 3% and 10%. However some unscrupulous agencies will charge upwards of 25% and more if they feel they can get away with it.

The net result of all this is that you are visiting people who have the sellers interests at heart, will pressure sell you into buying something you don?t necessarily want, will happily trail you around countless number of houses ? usually just to give the sellers the impression they are doing their job. Thus because buyers are stretched for time they will accept anything just to get on the ladder, and end up with the wrong property in the wrong area ? and possibly return to the UK after a year or so because they don?t like the lifestyle.

And worse still they probably paid well over the odds for their property because they don?t speak Spanish and went to an English agent ? which means they are paying usually 10%+ on top of what the owner wants ? in some cases much more. So when they try to sell later ? they cannot without losing money.

2.The results

So the net result of not preparing and just going to an estate agents is

?Using agencies with other peoples interests at heart
?Wasted time as agents show buyers round properties not meeting criteria
?Wasted trip due to fruitless search (and the cost involved in arranging another trip)
?Accepting the wrong property because ?time is running out? and the need to get on the ladder
?Paying over the odds for the property ? due to high agents fees and....
?Not being able to negotiate a good discount because it is not in the agents interests to do so
?Eventually having to either go home or sell on at a loss because of over inflated prices
?Frustration at the whole process of buying in Spain
?A general feeling that no-one is listening to their needs
?An Increase in costs due to price rises in the meantime
3.The Solution

The solution is very simple. Instead of using someone who has the sellers interests at heart use some one with YOUR interests at heart ? a Buyers agent. If you only have a limited period of time then it is much better to do a little preparation and get someone else to do your legwork for you. Then when you do visit you will see a handful of properties ? all of which you will have a fairly good chance of buying because they meet with your criteria.

4.What does a Buyers agent do

?Establish your criteria
?Search for property and view each one then Select properties for you to view
?Process the formalities - take you to the Police station to arrange your NIE number (crucial before buying a house) and arrange a Spanish Bank account
?Guide you through the purchase process, including the notaries and translation service where
?required.
?Where needed provide additional services such as finding builders to do work, interior designers buying a car etc.

4.1.Establishing your criteria

Firstly they should discuss with you your requirements on the phone, email or face to face.

They should endeavour to establish important criteria such as

1.Area and location
2.Reason for purchasing
3.Maximum budget
4.Other requirements - Type of property, State of property, Minimum # of Bedrooms, What kind of work you are willing to do, What you are willing to accept, What you are NOT willing to accept, How much land you require and for what reason (where appropriate) 4.1.1.Area

Probably the most important criteria is the area. Once you have established an area you want to live in then the rest is secondary. It is generally easy to find specific types of property in an area once the area has been decided upon ? providing you are realisitic in your requirements (there?s not many places where you can find a 3 bed villa with a pool for the price of a sandwich and a coffee from Starbucks).

One of the most common mistakes buyers make is to try to buy a property before establishing an area. Sometimes this works ok but most times it is a disaster, leading to disappointment and wasted time, as well as additional expense. Some research can be done beforehand, but the buyers agent can help to establish an area based on your requirements. For example do you speak Spanish? No then you need a predominantly English area unless you are willing to learn. Do both partners drive ? if not then what happens if you buy a secluded property when the non driving partner wants to go visit people and the driving partner isn?t around ? they will drive you straight back to the UK. Need to work, then going to a sparsely populace village could be commercial suicide. These are factors that are more than just the price of the house and how many bedrooms it has.

4.1.2.Reason for purchasing a property

The reason for buying the property is almost as important as the area. For example if you want a property for investment purposes it is no point in buying inland as you will get very few rentals ? in spite of what agencies may tell you. There is only one constant with rental properties ? the beach gets the highest premium. You may well be able to increase the rental income by adding a pool, but most holidaymakers want to be within striking distance of the beach.

Or you may be buying a holiday home for occasional use and rental, a place to live semi permanently or a permanent residence. All of these factors need to be clarified as they all have a bearing on the area and location within the area.

For example older people want to be close to Hospitals and Medical care, the towns and where one partner only drives within walking distance of amenities so if anything happens to the non driver the other can cope without upheaval.

Young families need to be close to schools and amenities, clubs and other societies to enable comfortable living. Do you want to live in the country but close to a town, or in an urbanisation where you have neighbours close to hand.

The rest of the requirements are self explanatory. The buyers agent will try and determine your minimum requirements so they can discard any properties that don?t meet them ? after all there is little point in visiting a stunning property if you need 3 beds and it only has 2 ? this would compromise your living and in time would mean you have to move on.

4.1.3.Maximum Budget

Obviously very important. But you have to remember a number of things. First of all the advertised price isn?t the price you pay. You must add another 10% for legal fees etc on the purchase price of the property or 12% if you need a mortgage. You pay 10% of the declared value. It is customary in Spain to only declare a percentage of the purchase price. This is known as BLACK and WHITE Money. Ie the black money is the undeclared amount.

Whilst completely illegal it still goes on and is dependent upon YOU as a buyer whether this is something you wish to do. DO NOT be pressurised into doing this it is fraud and all you are doing is leaving yourself open to paying someone else?s tax bill.

You must also take into consideration exchange rates. You may have had ?200,000 last week when the ? was high against the Euro but this week it may have gone down again. Allow for this fluctuation by setting your budget a bit lower or by fixing the rate beforehand. Most agents will have a relationship with an exchange company and can guide you here.

What about furniture. Will you bring your own with you, or get some whilst over here. Most Spanish people tend to leave their furniture in the house ? lock stock and barrel. You need to agree with the sellers what?s being left and make sure you get it in writing before you sign contracts. If you are going to buy when you are over you need to allow around 10% of the purchase price for furniture. 4.1.4.Other requirements

All your other requirements are taken into consideration too. A buyers agent will only provide you with properties that meet your minimum requirements, taking into account price and area. Where they believe these requirements to be unrealistic, they should guide you as to acceptable solutions.

By working with you and advising you honestly they should ensure you get the results you want .

4.2.Search for property

Once they have established your criteria they will search for properties in the area you have indicated using your criteria. Typically this can take up to 3 weeks depending on the area and your requirements (obviously the more flexible with criteria you are the more matches you will get the quicker it will be). A good buyers agent will personally visit every property before they send details to you.

They will then send you a list of about 5 ? 10 properties for you to look at. From this you will agree a list of properties you wish to see and create an agenda for your visit.

Experience suggests that anything more than half a dozen properties will overload you and will not add anything to your overall choice. By limiting properties to your selected criteria they will ensure that you get your perfect property very quickly. Think of it as a dating service for property. It usually works because most people buy the first or second home they see. 4.3.Process the formalities

There are two very important things you must do before you buy a property in Spain. The first is go to the police station and obtain a NIE number (Numero Identificaci?n Extranjeros ? A foreigners Identification Number). This allows the authorities to know who owns property in their area and is essential for buying a home or any other large purchase (such as a car).

This is a mere formality, for which you only require a copy of your passport, and a signed application form. You will require this identification number for non-nationals should you wish to open a bank account in Spain

Next you need to have a Spanish Bank account. Although not entirely essential you need to pay bills regularly (in Spain Bills are paid every two months rather than quarterly). Missing a bill can mean disconnection from the service and an embargo put on the property (similar to a CCJ in the UK). Most Bills are paid by Direct Debit ? so it makes sense to have a Spanish Bank account. Also if you have a mortgage then you will need to have a Spanish Bank account.

After this you are free to buy your property.

4.4.Guide you through the buying process

Once you have chosen a property you should ensure that pre-contract enquiries and searches are carried out to protect your best interests. Evidently, the first step is to introduce you to a solicitor who specialises in drawing conveyances. Your decision to employ a lawyer will provide you with peace of mind and save you considerable expense in the long run.

Once you have chosen a lawyer, the conveyancing process commences with the pre-contract enquiries and searches. These procedures are the same for newly-built and second-hand dwellings.

Second-hand homes: It is usual to sign an option contract, and pay 10% of the purchase price, from which any amount you may have previously paid as a booking deposit must be deducted. Prior to paying over a deposit you shuld carry out pre purchase searches (or your solicitor should)

The balance is paid, in the majority of cases, within 30 to 60 days. On payment of the balance of the purchase price, the vendor is bound to sign the Deed of Conveyance transferring the property to you, or to the person or company you designate.

It should be remembered that where the vendor is a non-resident you must retain 5% of the purchase price stated in the Deed of Conveyance. This 5% must be lodged with the Spanish Inland Revenue as a payment on account by the vendor in respect of his eventual capital gains liability generated as a result of the sale. Your agent should assist you with this if there is no bank mortgage involved (usually the banks retain this on your behalf and pass it to the hacienda directly)

Newly-built homes: In most cases the developer will offer a standard contract of sale, requiring an initial down-payment and a number of interim or staged payments, which are generally linked to progress of construction and completed work stages. In most cases, the final payment is made when the Licence of first occupation is granted.

Likewise, if the developer has financed the development through a mortgage loan, the purchaser may assume the mortgage instead of making the final payment. Should you not wish to assume the mortgage, the developer must discharge the mortgage, and will be liable for any expenses or outlay entailed in the discharge of mortgage. Be careful to ensure he does not try and pass this amount to you. You will need to ensure this is in your contract

Any interim payments you may make to the developer while construction is in progress must be guaranteed by a performance bond or insurance policy called a bank guarantee

4.5.Help you with other services

Seldom does your purchase finish at the notaries office. Typically most agents will help you a little afterwards with things such as transferring bills into your name etc. However for most this is where the transaction ends.

But what about when you need a builder to turn your plot into your dream home, or to renovate your house, or even buy a new car and transfer everything into your name. This can prove as stressful as buying a house.

As your buyers agent they should be happy to either put you in contact with local people who they know to be good, or they can manage your project for you and ensure that the work gets done in accordance with your wishes ? very important if you are not here to oversee everything yourself.

Finally there may be times when you just need to call someone to talk over a problem or ? in some cases ? someone to speak Spanish on your behalf. It has been known for customers to call and ask if we can speak to an assistant at a shop in order to get the message across to them. We are more than happy to do so ? and it doesn?t matter how long after you bought your property ? our service doesn?t stop when you buy a property ? after all you may be our neighbour and a client again one day in the future.

5.The benefits of using a buyers agent

There are many benefits of using a buyers agent. Firstly and most importantly you have someone batting for your side. They will negotiate on your behalf and because they find your property via other means than using an agent then you can be assured of getting the best possible deal. In short then the benefits are

1.Someone with your interests at heart
2.Vested interest in getting you your property ? therefore will listen to your requirements
3.Local knowledge of the areas you wish to live in
4.Able to bypass agents or at least negotiate on your behalf
5.Save you frustration of endless visits to inappropriate properties
6.Save you time allowing you to get on with purchasing your home
7.Could save you substantial amounts of money (upto 10-30% of the purchase price)
8.Will ease you into the process of buying in Spain

If you have any comments on the subject matter or want any advice then please feel free to contact me. vbtudor@spanishproperty-direct.com and for more articles about buying in Spain look at the website http://www.spanishproperty-direct.co.uk If you would like a free copy of the e-book - An Insider?s Secret Guide To Buying A Property In Spain then drop me an email and I will send you a copy by return.

It Is Fun And Easy Way To Learn With Educational Board Game

Getting children to learn has long been a dilemma faced by today's teachers and parents. How do you make something like the industrial revolution interesting to an eight year old? It's hard, but have always been intrepid folks out there who try their hardest to make the act of learning fun and entertaining for children. Educational board games are one of the most effective ways of doing so, and there have been a lot of really good additions to the market over the years - board games, memory games, and puzzle games that challenge a child's brain and give them a fun reason to learn.

These board games come in all shapes and sizes. For those looking to get a game for their child that will trigger some intellectual stimulation, it's only a matter of choosing a topic or field to work with. School age board games are not only tailored for the skill level of your child, but the interests they might have.

For as young as children aged 1 and up, there are games that challenge them to recognize and remember different shapes, colors, and objects. By enhancing their cognitive ability through a fun memory game, you are giving them a head start on learning when they get older.

For the older children out there, the options immediately diversify. There are exciting puzzle games like Dinosaurs and Things that won't even seem like learning to a child intrigued by the giant lizards of eons past. History has a habit of being dry and boring when taught from a text book, but a board game in which the information might sneak up on a child and be exciting is the perfect way to make them want to learn.

For the math crowd, there are many options. Fraction, multiplication, and division playing card decks are available as well as various memory games. The educational board games on the market are so varied that no matter how your child learns, whether it is visually, audibly, or hands on, there's a game out there to help them.

Sitting down and playing a board game with your children is one of those activities that families have been doing for years, often on a set night, in a big group. It's a great way to spend some time with your loved ones after a long, stressful week and unwind. At the same time, you can help your children develop stronger logic and problem solving skills and have fun while doing it.

There are school age board games for children of all ages, in topics ranging from history and math to geography and literature. Whether they know it or not, an educational board game is the best way for you to sneak up on your child with a good dose of mind expanding fun.

By Marina Neiman

The Issue of Furniture and A Prospective Home

A home is not a stand alone object when it comes to living life. When considering making an offer on a home, the issue of how one?s furniture will look in the property comes up.

The Issue of Furniture and A Prospective Home

When selling a home, you can tell when a potential buyer is serious when they start doing a certain thing in your home. First, they start walking around with their hands forming a virtual frame like an artist. Alternatively, they may whip out a tape measure and actually start mentally marketing off rooms. This occurs because they are trying to project their furniture into the property.

When sizing up a potential home for purchase, buyers almost always start trying to envision how their furniture will fit into the property. If they cannot ?see the fit?, they may pass on the home. In general, this is a bad idea.

First and foremost, the furniture you have accumulated over the years is never, ever going to be a perfect fit in a new home. The only exception would be if you are buying the same exact floor plan, which will be an extremely rare event. Regardless, the furniture isn?t going to fit and you should not evaluate the merits on this basis.

Which is more difficult ? finding the perfect home or finding new furniture? Which is going to appreciate over the next few years? The answer to both questions is clearly the home. When house hunting, it is vitally important that you evaluate the home sans furniture considerations. You can always buy different furniture. Yes, you have probably put together a nice collection, but its value will never equate to a good property buy.

So, what happens if you have unique furniture that is either hard to find, a family heirloom or some other situation? As surprising as this may sound, you should still discount it when evaluating the merits of a particular property. You are buying the home for your personal comfort and investment, not for the concerns of the furniture. You can always store that unique furniture or give heirlooms to a family member.

There are many factors that go into the decision to purchase a property. Determining whether your furniture goes with the property or fits should not be one of them.

Raynor James is with the site - FSBO America - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Who Survived the Seventies?

It?s interesting to see what happened to the people I used to gossip about in the late Seventies. The late Zanzibar, a private membership bar in Covent Garden was always filled with famous people. In one evening alone, the following people were having a drink there, and most of them have since died or are living in obscurity. Francis Bacon, the painter and his friend Thea Porter, the dress designer who created the rich hippy look are both dead. Bobby Moore, the footballer and captain of the England football team when they won the 1966 World Cup, ?dribbled out of Zanzibar with two blondes, one of whom tried to steal the visitor?s sign-in book? has since died of cancer.

Tina Chow, the beautiful, then wife of Michael Chow the restaurateur who wafted around in Fortuny gowns later died of AIDS after trying to cure herself with crystals. Patrick Litchfield, the royal photographer, then happily married to Lady Victoria Waymouth, recently died after having a stroke. Angelica Houston used to live with Jack Nicholson, but is now married to a sculptor called Robert Graham and lives in Venice in LA. ?Sex-bomb? Sylvia Krystel, rumoured to be having a fling with actor Ian McShane at the time played the title character in the soft-core film Emmanuelle ? one of the most successful French films ever produced. She recently had cancer and lives a simple life of obscurity in Amsterdam. Phil Lynott was Thin Lizzy?s vocalist and songwriter, but died from heart failure and pneumonia after suffering a heroin overdose in 1986, aged 36. Nigel Dempster used to be a famous print journalist. In the late Seventies, he was the gossip columnist for the Daily Mail. After thirty years in the job, he was retired against his will in 2003 and suffers from Parkinson?s disease. David Hockney had just bought a book out called David Hockney by David Hockney. His boyfriend Peter Schlesinger had just left him for Eric Boman, the photographer. Now, David Hockney is still David Hockney and his recent Portraits exhibition was held at the National Portrait Gallery in the UK, in Boston and in LA. He is officially single.

Celia Birtwell opened her textiles shop in London, and is now a successful fashion designer and textile designer. Her recent collection sold out in 'Top Shop' after ten minutes. Larry Adler, the harmonica player, who insisted on telling dreadful jokes, died in 1987 aged 87. Peter Langan, who co-owned Langan?s Brasserie with Michael Caine in the late Seventies, loved drinking so much that his Harley Street doctor gave him injections enabling him to continue drinking. He died aged 48 in 1988. Germaine Greer used to be a glamour puss but recently appeared as herself in Ricky Gervais? 'Extras.' The fashion designers Ossie Clark and Bill Gibb are both dead. Ossie was murdered by his lover, and Bill Gibb expired from cancer. But, the saddest story of the lot was of Timothy Swallow, a gossip columnist who worked for Nigel Dempster. In the Seventies, he committed suicide in Australia when he was there on holiday. He obviously couldn?t handle the pressure.

Frances Lynn, copyright: 2006

Frances Lynn is a professional writer and journalist. Her two novels, Frantic and Crushed are published by Eiworth Publishing at http://yourbookstore.eiworth.se/ Her personal website is http://www.franceslynn.org

Vermont Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in Vermont

Maybe you?re buying your first home in Vermont, or perhaps you?re relocating to Vermont from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on Vermont home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you?ll need to know before buying a home in Vermont:

The median price of a home in Vermont is $111,500. Recently, homes in Vermont have been appreciating at rates above the national average. As a result, income levels in many parts of Vermont are too low to purchase a median-priced home with a conventional loan. In fact, homeowners in many Vermont cities pay more than the recommended 30% of their incomes toward housing.

The price of homes in Vermont varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Burlington, Vermont, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $338,000; however, in Montpelier, Vermont, the median price of a home was $294,000, and in Rutland, Vermont, it was $288,000. Average interest rates in Vermont are below the national average, and job growth rates are comparable to the national average.

Vermont state law prohibits the issuance of home equity lines of credit. Additionally, it requires that a defective mortgage be treated as though it had never been recorded.

Each year the Vermont Housing Finance Agency hosts a Home Buyer Fair where potential homeowners can meet and talk to mortgage lenders, realtors, attorneys, home energy specialists, among others. The Home Buyer Fair offers homebuyer education workshops, credit and budget counseling, post-purchase counseling, and post-purchase workshops.

Vermont?s Housing Finance Agency provides low interest financing to homeowners who meet certain income and purchase price limits. Information on these programs is also available at the Home Buyer Fair.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Vermont Mortgage Rates and Loans .

How Can Any One Copy Music To Your PSP Free

 



How Can Any One Copy Music To Your PSP FreeSubmitted By: Marcus Rolland   

Do you know that Transferring music and other audio files to your PSP is not difficult, once you know the process. This article is going to show you any one Copy Music to his or her PSP for Free.

Adventure plus accentuated technology is what the PSP or Playstation Portable is all about. Gone are the days that kids play outside and enjoy their best games with their friends. With the advent of Internet and the skyrocketing technology, kids now could enjoy playing games with their best buds even inside the house, far from their groups of friends and share time playing their favorite games with the use of a PSP. What exactly could a PSP do compare to the ever famous PS2?

PSP and PS2 differ in size, considering that PSP is a lighter version of the PS2?handy, portable, has a built-in sound card and is Wi-fi ready. PSP?s capability to connect through wi-fi allows you to play with your best buds online. This also means you could connect through the Internet if you have a higher firmware version, or at least 2.00. With the use of a Universal Media Disc format (UMD), you can enjoy your online games with your online buddies even you?re traveling or enjoying your vacation in Aruba!

The PSP is packaged at a color black handheld device weighing around 62 lbs or around 280 grams with its battery. Never underestimate this small device for it consists of a 32 MB memory and can provide you the best 16.77 millions of colors available for your best viewing time. This means you could watch the perfect hues and colors of the images in your PSP. And that?s not all the PSP could offer. Say how could you enjoy viewing the almost-real images if you?re unable to play the sounds or at least play music if you?re bored of playing games?

With this consideration, the PSP handheld device could offer you best ways on how to copy music on the PSP itself. As you all know, listening to music could elevate your moods when you?re all tired playing online games with your buddies. Not all that time that you want to play using your PSP. Music soothes your times while on travel. Remember, your PSP has 32MB and what does it mean?

To copy music on the PSP, you can either use its UMD features or a Memory Stick. Whichever is your choice, it?s important to understand while PSP device offers bigger space for your games, music and video, PSP is however limited to building and accessing files when comes to music and videos. At this time, UMD music quality is very limited and Sony isn?t providing information if there are future offers. With the use of memory sticks, you can copy music on your PSP but you?ll need a bigger memory stick for you to transfer music files.

The catch there is it will really take you longer times to successfully transfer music to your PSP say 3-5 minute transfer compared to iRiver which takes around 30-40 seconds. With this info in mind and in order for you to enjoy time listening to music, equip yourself with tons of patience while allotting time for your PSP to load music from your memory stick.

About the Author:

Marcus Rolland is a PSP enthusiast, For more information visit http://playstation-musicmovieandgame.blogspot.com Where you can get more details on PSP Music, PSP Softwares, PSP Games and More...

Article Tags: games, music, psp

In Commercial Real Estate Always Get an MAI Certified Appraiser

The appraiser that you hire for your commercial investments before you buy can have a great impact on the amount of money you spend and your chances of getting funding from a lender. Most lenders will not accept just any appraiser. If you get an appraisal with an appraiser that a lender does not accept, you have just wasted your time and money, and you are no closer to getting the property you want.

In the world of commercial real estate, not all appraisers are considered equal. It takes a certain expertise and knowledge to correctly appraise commercial property, and not just anybody is qualified. There are two types of appraisers, a fee appraiser and a staff appraiser. A fee appraiser is generally available to the public for hire, and a staff appraiser works for a specific lender or lending firm.

Let's look at what makes a qualified appraiser and how they can help you purchase the property you want with as little hassle as possible.

It is common practice for a lender to appoint the appraiser that is to appraise the property in question. This practice is in place because there are dishonest buyers who work with certain appraisers that will inflate the property's true value. This, in turn, allows the buyer to borrow more money than what a lender would normally allow, thus increasing the lender's risk.

Inflating a property's true market value is surprisingly easy because appraisals are simply guesstimates of a property's true market value. They are interpretations based on the surrounding property and selected criteria. An appraisal can be ?fixed? according to a person's interest. That is why the two parties must not have any prior dealings or common interest in the subject property.

A very widely used and accepted type of appraiser is one that is certified by the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. They are members, making them M.A.I. designated. Most lenders will require that you use only an MAI appraiser. These MAI appraisers have gone through intense study, years of practice, and have had to perform under tight supervision while appraising many different properties.

Most MAI appraisers will not conspire with a borrower because there is too much to lose and too much invested in their practice. For this reason, most lenders will accept MAI appraisals regardless of whether or not they know the appraiser personally. For the most part, lenders will have trusted appraisers that they work with all the time, and will require that you use only their appraisers. Be sure to get clarification on this issue before you hire an You can trust MAI appraisers to perform an accurate evaluation of your prospect property. With this appraisal, you will be able to get the proper amount of money loaned on the property and not come out short.

It is always a good idea to research your appraiser and view some of the work that he or she has done in the past. The appraiser and the appraisals should be of the utmost professional quality because so much is riding on their appraisal. Even if it costs you more money, always use an MAI appraiser to avoid problems with the lender and unnecessary expenditures.

MAI appraisers are crucial to your commercial real estate investing endeavors, and can carry quite an impact on the money that can be loaned to you. To get the money you expect from a lender, use a MAI appraiser every time!

Tony Seruga, Yolanda Seruga and Yolanda Bishop of http://www.maverickrei.com specialize in commercial and investment real estate. As of May, 2006, they and their partners are managing over $600 million dollars worth of new projects.

Great Travel Toys for Kids

The solution to keeping kids amused and occupied on long car rides can seem as elusive as the perfectly placed pit stop.

Parents of even the smallest of infants will find the perfect travel toys to keep them amused and stimulated in between naps. The irresistible Whoozit Activity Spiral wraps around most stroller and car seat carrier handles for on-the-go fun. A baby safe mirror encourages self-discovery, a hidden rattle reinforces cause-and-effect play, and the pull-and-release ball under the Whoozit makes a delightful jiggling motion that stimulates developing motor skills.

Does your baby love to reach for little toys and give them a good shake - before throwing them under the front seat? Well, Lamaze Garden Bug Foot Finder and Wrist Rattle Set is your solution to keeping those toys and rattles off the car floor. These baby-soft wrist rattles and foot finders slip around wrists and onto feet. Let baby grab and shake to her hearts' content - while developing hand-to-eye coordination skills! Bright patterns and faces encourage discovery while fun sounds reward exploration.

Now baby can drive along just like mom or dad with the Beep Beep Baby Soft Driver by IQ Baby. This colorful, soft activity toy features a steering wheel, key, gear shift - even a cell phone! The colors and contrasts stimulate baby's visual development, while the baby safe mirror promotes self-recognition. And with all the squeakers, rattles and ratchet sounds, your baby will be kept amused no matter how long the car ride is!

For quiet moments, try keeping an assortment of CD's to soothe your young ones to sleep on the road. For example, Dreams and Lullabies by Markus is a collection of old favorites like Brahms' Lullaby and new favorites-in-the-making like the dreamy Angel on my Shoulder.

LeapFrog can make traveling with kids seem like a walk in the park. The Little Touch LeapPad allows your baby to interact with classic stories like Guess How Much I Love You, while the My First LeapPad is perfect for your pre-schooler to learn letters, numbers, shapes and other fundamentals while reading and interacting with engaging stories and familiar characters like Bob the Builder and the Wiggles. You can even coax the Game Boy out of your 4-8 year-old's clutches when you hand him a Leapster! Boys and girls have a blast reinforcing essential math and language skills while playing games and reading stories with their favorite characters like Spiderman, Junie B.Jones, and Spongebob Squarepants.

Electronic games are sure to be a hit with your school-age travelers. Remember 20 Questions? The the hot new game, 20Q - a small, handheld electronic genius that can guess what you are thinking in 20 questions or less! Just think of any object and answer yes or o to each of its questions as they appear on its LCD screen. Will 20Q guess your answer? About 95% of the time it will - wow!

Another backseat favorite is MadLibs by Excalibur Electronics. Based on the wildly popular series of activity books, players create the craziest, funniest stories by choosing from a list of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs - or by writing their own. The wackier the better!

Perhaps you have a passenger who is an aspiring chess master. Travel chess sets are a great way to improve your chess game on the road, and the Excalibur Chess Station is the grand champion! This full featured travel unit has an LCD screen - no small pieces to lose - and boasts a 1750 tournament rating with 73 power levels from beginner to advanced. It even has a teaching mode and a series of opening play challenges to sharpen your traveler's skills. Once you have arrived at your destination or returned home, Excalibur Chess includes a game board and chess pieces for traditional play as well.

So your teenager thinks he knows it all? Test his Quiz Quotient against the New York Times Quizmaster from the famous Noodle Nudger of the NY Times online quiz game. Featuring over 2200 questions in 280 topics, this multiple choice format travel game is perfect for either the solo player or a minivan full of kids (and adults!) to match wits against each other.

Pen and paper games are also essential activities for traveling with kids. Klutz has discovered a new use for your vehicle's drink-holder - how about Klutz Books in a Cup in either Green or Orange `flavors'? For ages 8 - 10, this unique collection of puzzles and games comes in a reusable container, complete with a pencil and a lid, that fits neatly into a cup holder for easy access and storage. Combine this with the Klutz Kids Travel Book and you have the ultimate backseat survival kit. This super high quality book comes with a built-in clipboard, 100 page notepad, 47 page activity book, and a conveniently attached zipper pouch full of markers, yarn, dice, string and more! Mazes, Cat's Cradle Loop and instructions, Hidden Pictures, Parcheesi Board, License Plate Bingo and Classic Song Lyrics are just a few of the activities included in this Parent's Choice Gold Award-winning travel activity kit.

What's a road trip without a great selection of tunes? Your traveling tots will enjoy Raffi or Disney. For songs in the car that even Mom and Dad will love, check out A Child's Celebration of Rock and Roll featuring original artists like Bill Haley and the Comets, the Coasters, Bobby Darin, Johnny Otis, Shirley Ellis, and Richie Valens. Modern hit-makers, including Sarah McLaughlan. Billy Bragg, Tom Waits, and the Barenaked Ladies, provide new takes on old childhood classics (and some new ones!) on For the Kids. This alternative-rock CD is perfect for traveling with kids of all ages - even those too-cool tweens who think they have outgrown kids' music!

About the Author

Freelance writer and homeschool mom, LJ Bronart is based in Toronto Canada. You'll be surprised at how easy your next road trip will be! For more travel games and travel toy ideas please visit www.mastermindtoys.com

Are You Really a Seller

Many people who have their homes for sale are not really sellers.. that is people who are motivated to sell. Many of todays sellers only want to sell if they get their price which may or may not be very realistic. Sellers are having a hard time accepting that the market has changed and the party is over. As these people either leave the market or get serious about selling prices appear to be falling more then they actually are. Homes priced on expectations not market value will not sell in today's market. If a home's value is $1,000,000 and it is listed at $1,500,000 then reduced to $1,100,000 it may appear as though the price has been drastically reduced when in reality it has not even reached the real market value.

If you really want to sell your home here are a few tips :

*Make Sure it Shows Well.. Clear out clutter, paint, put in new carpet or flooring. A few years ago you could get away with getting top dollar for a fixer. Today's buyer wants it in good shape or deeply discounted.

*Curb Appeal.. Re-plant flower beds, add pots of flowers, re-sod if necessary and paint the exterior. Most buyers make a large part of their home buying decision basedon the exterior of the property.

* Price It Right! That doesn't mean giving away the property but it does mean not overpricing. Zillow doesn't know your market so don't base your price on an online site that is getting money from someone other then you. Look carefully at the COMPS from your agent. A local agent knows the market and true market value.

* Marketing: Make sure your home is marketed in places other then the local papers. 75% of buyers start their search on the internet. You need to be there. If your agent is not marketing your property on the net you are losing access to a lot of potential buyers.

*Patience: Buyers are taking their time to purchase. Be ready to have your home on the market for 2-6 months. Entry level and premium priced A location homes sell quicker then those in the mid-level range.

Remember people are always buying and selling real estate. They get married or divorced, have babies or become empty nesters, retire or find new jobs. The market is always moving... it just moves to a different beat from time to time.

Kaye Thomas is a UCLA graduate and has been selling real estate in Manhattan Beach Ca since 1979. Kaye works with buyers and sellers and specializes in residential and small residential income property in the South Bay Beach Cities of Los Angeles county. For more information on buying or selling visit Kaye at www.KayeThomas4homes.com or www.Move2ManhattanBeach.com or read her BLOG at www.BeachCityRealEstateInfo.blogspot.com You can e-mail Kaye with questions at: kaye@kayethomas4homes.com

32 Services Provided BY a Legal Nurse Consultant

Legal nurse consultants apply their knowledge and understanding of medical, nursing and health-related issues to make the attorney's job easier, more efficient and more effective.

Legal nurse consultants are medical insiders who know the inner workings of our complicated healthcare system firsthand. Their professional expertise as an RN and a legal nurse consultant qualifies them to provide the following services:

Assessing Medical Records and Analyzing the Case

* Identify, locate, review and interpret relevant medical records, hospital policies and procedures, other documents and tangible items.
* Organize, tab and paginate medical records for easy reference.
* Prepare chronologies of the medical events involved in a case.
* Summarize, translate and interpret medical records.
* Identify issues of tampering with the medical records.
* Screen medical malpractice cases for merit.
* Identify, locate, summarize and interpret applicable standards of care.
* Identify adherences to and deviations from these standards.
* Identify causation issues, assess damages/injuries and identify contributing factors.
* Identify and recommend potential defendants.
* Develop written reports for the attorney's use as study tools.

Supporting the Attorney's Case

* Search and summarize medical and nursing literature and integrate results of your search into case analysis.
* Analyze the validity of research studies relied on by all parties.
* Coordinate and attend independent medical examinations.
* Help in developing life care plans.
* Expand the attorney's medical library.

Serving as the Attorney's Liaison

* Interview plaintiff and defense clients, key witnesses and experts.
* Consult with healthcare providers.
* Meet with other consultants and service providers on the attorney's behalf.

Working with Experts and Other Witnesses

* Identify types of testifying experts needed for the case.
* Find and communicate with appropriate expert witnesses for deposition and trial.
* Analyze potential experts' reports and other work product.
* Help prepare witnesses and experts for deposition and trial.
* Serve as an expert witness and testify to the nursing standard of care.

Assisting with Discovery and Preparing for Court

* Prepare questions for deposition or trial examination (direct or cross).
* Prepare interrogatories and requests for production.
* Review and draft responses to various legal documents and correspondence for the attorney's signature.
* Analyze and summarize depositions and past testimony.
* Assist with exhibit preparation and other demonstrative evidence.
* Attend courtroom proceedings when relevant.
* Coordinate and assist with facilitating focus groups and mock trials.
* Assist in resolution of cases through alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration and mediation.

Inc. Top 10 Entrepreneur Vickie L. Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD is the founder and president of Vickie Milazzo Institute, the oldest and largest legal nurse consultant certification company. Pioneered the legal nurse consulting profession in 1982. She is the author of the self help book for women, Inside Every Woman.

The Theory of Parentivity and Other Equations

When my children returned to school in September, I was reminded once again of how quickly time is passing. I had just gotten over the shock of sending my eldest child off to Grade 1, when I suddenly found myself delivering him to school for his first day of Grade 2.

Albert Einstein may have been the first man to scientifically prove that time is not a constant, but I have no doubt that this was something parents suspected for many centuries.

In Einsteins world of E=mc2 time is a variable that is dependent on how fast you are moving. In a parents world, time is a variable that is dependent on the birth of each child. I like to think of the parental equivalent of Einsteins famous equation as The Theory of Parentivity. To put it simply, the amount of energy it takes to be a parent (E) is based on your loss of memory (m) multiplied by the number of children you have (c).

What this really means is that when you become a parent, your space-time-continuum undergoes a radical shift and your brain has a very hard time keeping up with the speed at which things are now moving. It goes something like this: One day you find out your pregnant, the next your baby is out of diapers, and then your child is off to school. Sure, theres some stuff in between, but its all just a blur of activity.

I have found that the net effect of living in this black hole in time is that my old, reliable brain was replaced by what I refer to as my mommy brain. Where did I put my keys? or What did I have for breakfast? are common refrains. My forgetfulness quickly escalated from the mundane to the momentous as I began forgetting things I swore I would always remember.

All those special moments that mark the different stages in my childrens development just seem to blend into each other and I am simply unable to organize events in chronological order. Which of my children lost their first tooth in Kindergarten? Was my youngest daughter born yet when we went to Disneyland? Who started riding their bike without training wheels at age 4? Given enough time, I can usually come up with the correct answer, but not always.

The upside of all this time shifting is that I feel I have come a long way quickly, and I have attained quasi-expert parenting status in the blink of an eye. I realized I had crossed the bridge from novice to experienced parent when I met a lovely young woman who was a new mom and I had an overwhelming desire to flee from her.

When I was a new mom, I found comfort and support spending time with other new parents. However, once I had my third child, it became increasingly difficult for me to befriend someone who was fresh off the no children boat.

I think the reason for this odd reaction can be traced back to one thing: poop. When I was in the throws of my first parenting experience, poop was interesting. I had many conversations with other new parents about the frequency and consistency of our little angels bowel movements. I admit I even found it difficult to discuss my child in those early stages without broaching this subject. Once I had changed my one thousandth diaper, however, this topic no longer held the same intrigue.

Meeting up with a new parent now causes a similar reaction to the one I have when looking at my high school yearbook photo. I recognize myself, but I cant quite believe that it was really me. New parents force me to ask, Was I that neurotic? Could I really discuss breastfeeding for hours on end? Did I truly get panicky if my child ate a grape with the skin left on? Of course, I was truly that neurotic and while I find it easy to sympathize with the dilemmas of new parents, it doesnt mean I want to relive the experience.

While I am no Einstein, I have come up with another equation to explain a different reality of parenting. It can be summed up as PT=S4 or Parenthood multiplied by Time = lots of Stuff.

Before I had children, I could have been mistaken for a minimalist. When I was 18, I traveled around Europe for months with my entire life contained within my backpack. At 22, I moved across the globe to start a new job with a small suitcase of clothes in one hand, and a bag of my favorite books in the other. At 25, my husband and I moved the entire contents of our one-bedroom apartment to our new duplex using only our beat-up Toyota Corolla.

Then my son was born. Before I knew it, I had accumulated more stuff than I had ever thought possible. There was the cradle, the crib, the changing table, the diaper bin, the mobiles, the books, the toys, the clothes, the blankets, the sheets, the coats, the shoes, the boots, the strollers, the car seats, the high chairs, the booster seats, the medications, the swings, the jumpy seats, and the activity centers. And, that is the short list.

Recently, I gave what was left of my early baby gear to my cousin; it took two trips with our minivan just to get it all over to her house. This of course made just enough room in our house for our next round of gear: the bikes, the in-line skates, the soccer balls, the bats, the rackets, the dolls, the skis, the games, the inflatable toys, the nets, etc. Clearly, the only place for minimalism in my life now is my mind.

Clearly, math and science can go a long way in clarifying the workings of the universe, but perhaps the mysteries of parenthood are beyond their domain. In the end, parenthood will always defy logic and can only be explained with four little letters: L-O-V-E.

Albert Einstein may have been the first man to scientifically prove that time is not a constant, but I have no doubt that this was something parents suspected for many centuries.

In Einsteins world of E=mc2 time is a variable that is dependent on how fast you are moving. In a parents world, time is a variable that is dependent on the birth of each child. I like to think of the parental equivalent of Einsteins famous equation as The Theory of Parentivity. To put it simply, the amount of energy it takes to be a parent (E) is based on your loss of memory (m) multiplied by the number of children you have (c).

What this really means is that when you become a parent, your space-time-continuum undergoes a radical shift and your brain has a very hard time keeping up with the speed at which things are now moving. It goes something like this: One day you find out your pregnant, the next your baby is out of diapers, and then your child is off to school. Sure, theres some stuff in between, but its all just a blur of activity.

I have found that the net effect of living in this black hole in time is that my old, reliable brain was replaced by what I refer to as my mommy brain. Where did I put my keys? or What did I have for breakfast? are common refrains. My forgetfulness quickly escalated from the mundane to the momentous as I began forgetting things I swore I would always remember.

All those special moments that mark the different stages in my childrens development just seem to blend into each other and I am simply unable to organize events in chronological order. Which of my children lost their first tooth in Kindergarten? Was my youngest daughter born yet when we went to Disneyland? Who started riding their bike without training wheels at age 4? Given enough time, I can usually come up with the correct answer, but not always.

The upside of all this time shifting is that I feel I have come a long way quickly, and I have attained quasi-expert parenting status in the blink of an eye. I realized I had crossed the bridge from novice to experienced parent when I met a lovely young woman who was a new mom and I had an overwhelming desire to flee from her.

When I was a new mom, I found comfort and support spending time with other new parents. However, once I had my third child, it became increasingly difficult for me to befriend someone who was fresh off the no children boat.

I think the reason for this odd reaction can be traced back to one thing: poop. When I was in the throws of my first parenting experience, poop was interesting. I had many conversations with other new parents about the frequency and consistency of our little angels bowel movements. I admit I even found it difficult to discuss my child in those early stages without broaching this subject. Once I had changed my one thousandth diaper, however, this topic no longer held the same intrigue.

Meeting up with a new parent now causes a similar reaction to the one I have when looking at my high school yearbook photo. I recognize myself, but I cant quite believe that it was really me. New parents force me to ask, Was I that neurotic? Could I really discuss breastfeeding for hours on end? Did I truly get panicky if my child ate a grape with the skin left on? Of course, I was truly that neurotic and while I find it easy to sympathize with the dilemmas of new parents, it doesnt mean I want to relive the experience.

While I am no Einstein, I have come up with another equation to explain a different reality of parenting. It can be summed up as PT=S4 or Parenthood multiplied by Time = lots of Stuff.

Before I had children, I could have been mistaken for a minimalist. When I was 18, I traveled around Europe for months with my entire life contained within my backpack. At 22, I moved across the globe to start a new job with a small suitcase of clothes in one hand, and a bag of my favorite books in the other. At 25, my husband and I moved the entire contents of our one-bedroom apartment to our new duplex using only our beat-up Toyota Corolla.

Then my son was born. Before I knew it, I had accumulated more stuff than I had ever thought possible. There was the cradle, the crib, the changing table, the diaper bin, the mobiles, the books, the toys, the clothes, the blankets, the sheets, the coats, the shoes, the boots, the strollers, the car seats, the high chairs, the booster seats, the medications, the swings, the jumpy seats, and the activity centers. And, that is the short list.

Recently, I gave what was left of my early baby gear to my cousin; it took two trips with our minivan just to get it all over to her house. This of course made just enough room in our house for our next round of gear: the bikes, the in-line skates, the soccer balls, the bats, the rackets, the dolls, the skis, the games, the inflatable toys, the nets, etc. Clearly, the only place for minimalism in my life now is my mind.

Clearly, math and science can go a long way in clarifying the workings of the universe, but perhaps the mysteries of parenthood are beyond their domain. In the end, parenthood will always defy logic and can only be explained with four little letters: L-O-V-E.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lara Shecter combined all her parenting theories in Now and Then - A Scrapbook for School-Aged Children. Divided in 9 vibrantly colored sections, covering Preschool to Grade 7, this simple scrapbook allows busy parents to capture the magic and memories of their childs school years with minimal time and effort. Visit http://www.bodegabooks.com for more information.

Australia Gets Ready For Summer With BMW M6 Convertible

In the land Down Under, the Aussies would be able to take their very first peek at one of the fastest and also the most expensive vehicles from the BMW range. This new vehicle has got the capacity to put its top down and keep it out of sight. And it is called the BMW M6 convertible. Yes, you can view this one come this week at the Australian International Motor Show which will be held in the city of Sydney.



And BMW sure did bring this vehicle in time for the upcoming summer season. Sure, who would not want to have a convertible during the summer heat? But you see, if you are interested in purchasing this one, let me just inform you that BMW says this one has got a base price tag of $295,000. And yes, just right for the vehicle is it?s a V10 engine that could produce 373 kW. If you did not know, this engine just has been recognized and has been given the ?Engine of the Year? award. There is certainly no surprise there for the very same engine has already received such an award before. And yes, the very fact that this one can make your BMW M6 Convertible and all its BMW auto parts zoom from a total zero to a whooping 100 kilometers per hour in just 4.8 seconds.



Tom Noble is BMW Group Australia?s general manager for marketing. He does say, ?The BMW M6 Convertible is a dream car for the genuine enthusiast ? the real connoisseur seeking to combine impressive driving dynamics with a stylish example of open top motoring.? He also adds, ?The M6 Convertible is one of the most fascinating and exclusive cars ever built by the world famous division of BMW, M GmbH, which is famous world over for producing ultra performance luxury vehicles. The unique M6 Convertible will be a key attraction at the motor show. The open four seater combines the dynamic performance of a super sports car with the exclusivity of a luxury convertible.?



BMW also does say that the BMW M6 Convertible has been created so much so that you can actually use this even on the race track. This actually means that you can zoom up and really zoom well. And aside from this, you do get other things like comfort and plenty of equipment and technology to make the whole ride even more remarkable.



The vehicle also does hold a soft roof. But if you do fear for the type of soft roof this may be, you need not worry for BMW made sure that it was of top quality. So you can use the BMW M6 Convertible in the summer with the top down or even in the bleak of winter with the top covering your heads.

Jennifer Dylan is a 35-year-old gal who hails from San Francisco. She has a habit of updating herself on new car trends and models. She spends most of her time reading up on cars and hopes to test drive them. She works for one of the topnotch car parts dealer in the U.S.

Backgammon Board And Set Up

Backgammon is an exciting board game that requires skill and strategy. The backgammon board game is played by millions of people all around the world. If you are new to the game then one of the first things you need to learn about is the backgammon board and set up.

The board in backgammon is divided into 4 separate quadrants. The two quadrants on your side of the board are known as you homeboard and outboard. Across from these are your opponent's homeboard and outboard. The objective of the game is to move all of your checkers into your homeboard and then bear them off before your opponent bears off all of his checkers.

You will notice that the board is divided down the center by a bar. Backgammon instructions state that when you land on a single opposing checker on a point, known as a blot, you hit this checker and send it to the bar. From the bar your opponent must reenter the checker through your homeboard, which is the farthest point from his own home board.

Each quadrant of the board contains 6 triangular points, for a total of 24 points on the board. It is along these points that you move your checkers during the course of a backgammon game. These points are also used to determine backgammon setup.

Backgammon set up is determined by numbering all 24 points, starting at the outermost point of your own homeboard and moving towards the outermost point of your opponent's home board. Your opponent will number the points as well, starting in his own homeboard. Your 1-point will be the same as your opponent's 24-point and vice versa. Checkers are then placed on the points as follows: Place 2 checkers on your 24-point; place 5 checkers on your 13-point; place 3 checkers on your 8-point; and place 5 checkers on your 6-point. Each player has a total of 15 checkers and, once the board is set up, they will be placed in mirror image of each other.

Now that you understand how to set up a backgammon board you are ready to learn the rules of how to play backgammon. One of the best ways to learn the rules of backgammon is to play backgammon online. You can find a free backgammon game download to start playing online backgammon and learn the rules of backgammon today.

When you play Internet backgammon with backgammon software the board is exactly the same as it is when you play live backgammon. The set up is the same, as are the number of points, the number of checkers and all other aspects of the game.

It is also important to note that when you play online backgammon you can play for free or for real money against other players at your level from all over the globe. It is a great way to learn as well as to improve your backgammon skills and learn new strategies.

Supplementary articles that were written by Gene Marshall on the theme of internet backgammon are offered on the internet. Proficient backgammon enthusiast Gene Marshall writes for a few different recognized backgammon magazines. He specializes in editorials about online backgammon and backgammon software.

By Gene Marshall

Metal Building Manufacturers

There are so many metal building manufacturers, and it can be time consuming settling on the company whose products and services best meet your needs. Metal buildings offer a wonderful alternative to the more traditional style of building and can also help you save money. Here is some advice on how to narrow down the list of metal building manufacturers to find the one that best meets your needs.

First, decide which type of metal building you need. Is it for residential or commercial use? Will you need storage? Does it need to be portable? Are you interested in using a kit? Make a list of questions and criteria that are important to you and then select a list of metal building manufacturers to contact.

Once you figure out which metal buildings are right for you, you will next need to consider your budget. Do you have enough money in your budget to fund your project? If not, contact your financial advisor to work through your options. Metal building manufacturers? prices vary, so you can save money by doing adequate research.

Next, you?ll need to decide who is going to perform the actual construction. If it is a smaller structure, such as a shed, and you have the skills, you may want to consider putting the structure together yourself. However, keep in mind that if something goes wrong, contacting the company to help resolve any problems that occurred because you lacked an essential skill can cost you more money. Hiring an expert is a great option if you lack the time and skills to complete the project. They can often finish the project in a much smaller time frame than if you did it yourself

After initial construction, check the structure for any problems and areas of damage. If you find anything questionable, contact the company immediately to increase your chances of getting a refund or to resolve the problem quickly. However, metal buildings are extremely sturdy so the likelihood of having major problems should be small.

Metal Buildings provides detailed information on Metal Buildings, Metal Storage Buildings, Metal Building Kits, Commercial Metal Buildings and more. Metal Buildings is affiliated with Pre-Fabricated Steel Buildings .

Where To Find Great Commercial Real Estate Deals

Commercial real estate is a hot commodity right now. Many investors are seeing the massive potential for income associated with this type of property. It is not always clear, however, what type of commercial real estate to invest in or what part of the country to choose. With a little research, you can find the perfect location to purchase.

Columbus, Ohio is a great location for commercial real estate. Columbus is the capital city of Ohio and also one of the fastest growing. All over Columbus, new businesses are popping up and with them the need for commercial spaces. There are several notable commercial real estate companies working in the Columbus area to help people find the perfect space for them.

Another great area is Greensboro, NC. It is a growing community with great historical roots. It was once known as the Frontier Town for those looking to go west. With it's temperate climate and friendly southern atmosphere, Greensboro is a town that attracts people from all walks of life. There are also many great commercial real estate companies, such as Kotis Properties, to help clients find their dream location. And with the attractive cost of living compared to many other parts of the country, this area will continue to flourish.

Austin, Texas also is a good investment for those interested in commercial real estate. Austin is a hot spot for families and singles. There is a growing economy and a great location. This makes Austin a good investment commercially. There are many good real estate companies in Austin. The Austin based COMMREX is one of the top commercial real estate firms. There are also some major national companies headquartered in and around Austin.

Los Angeles is one of the greatest markets for commercial real estate investors. Although it is one of the most expensive, the property values are ever increasing. Owning property in LA is like having money in the bank. There are significant advantages to owning in LA. One of the great tax benefits is that if you sell your home, you can take a profit exemption as long as you live in your commercial property for at least two of the five years following the sale of your property. This, along with the potential for income, is a great drawing card for LA commercial real estate.

Commercial real estate is a great investment. It appreciates significantly year over year, so the resale is excellent. If you decide not to sell or use it yourself, you can lease it and gather continuous income. Whether you use a firm in person or over the internet, be sure to do some research about the area first. When purchasing property, look for location. This is truly the key to finding the perfect commercial real estate investment.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about commercial real estate deals and areas at his web site at http://www.commercial-real-estate-tips.com/

Online Games Types Of Popular Games

This article gives brief information about the popular computer online games.

Action and adventure Games: The games which come in this genre are the ones, which involve fighting games, space adventure games, situational games where the player is required to achieve some objectives, etc. Most of the games in this genre are rich in animation and may also come with a story line.

Arcade Games: Gaming arcades earlier used to be the place in the neighborhood, where gaming machines were installed. To play a game, one must put some coins into the machine. Online arcade games are just another term.

Board Games: These are some of the most popular games. Board games played online are the same, which we play in our real life. They are animated versions of traditional and favorite board games.

Card Games: These need no explanation. Card games are ever popular with the gaming population. There are a lot of games designed with playing cards.

Casino Games: Now again, these are fairly addictive. They simulate the games available in real casinos. When you play with virtual money, there is nothing to lose. So you get a lot of people playing online casino games. You may believe it or not, but a lot of online casino games may even involve real money transactions.

Strategy Games: These are the games, which take considerable time to play and complete. The player has to apply his mind totally to devise strategies to play and win. Some people may not like strategy games, but others like these. These games may take some time to master.

Sports Games: People like to play sports games on the Internet. One does not need much time to understand sports games, if one already understands the real sport. One can have many levels of play. And there may be the option of competing against a second player or the computer itself.

Shooting Games: These are great stress busters. People can play these games and let out their anger on shooting enemies and objects in virtual games. There can be a lot of variety in shooting games. These can also be included in the action and adventure genre of games, but are kept separate due to their popularity.

Puzzle Games: These games are again very popular for people who do not like too much action or violence. These can actually help you sharpen your mind. Puzzle games are loved by all ages. In fact there is no age group for puzzle games.
About the Author

Cheap Backpacks

Cheap backpacks can be made, but I don't recommend it. Unless you are extremely skilled at sewing, it isn't likely to come out like you want. Also, even if you are an expert, it will probably take less of your time to pick up an extra day at work and buy a pack with the earnings.

On the other hand, if you have an old backpack frame, you can make a cheap backpack with it. Remove the old pack, and tie a plain nylon duffel bag to it firmly, with the zipper facing out. Small bungee cords will work for attaching it too. I did this using an old aluminum frame that still had straps and a waist belt, and for the cost of a $15 duffel bag, I had an external-frame backpack that not only held a lot, but weighed just two pounds.

Buying Cheap Backpacks

There are several ways to buy cheap backpacks. The most obvious is to just wait for a good sale. A quicker way is to shop for a used pack online. Try Ebay.com, or go to a backpacking or other outdoor forum that allows people to sell their gear, like whiteblaze.net. The forums are nice, because you can easily ask questions about the pack.

You can also buy used backpacks cheap at rummage sales. Watch the ads for any mention of outdoor gear, and call to see if they have a backpack you might want. You may be able to buy it before the sale starts. Otherwise, start shopping early, and negotiate a bit. I recently sold a beautiful Kelty frame-pack for $15 at a garage sale.

Thrift stores sometimes have cheap backpacks. More often they have day packs, but you never know. I have seen big old frame packs that were rough at thrift shops, and it occurred to me that for a few dollars I could just toss the pack, and use the frame with a duffel bag, as described above.

Another way to keep the cost down is to go light. The lightweight backpacks, unlike other lightweight gear, are always cheaper than the big packs. If you have been thinking about lightening the load, you can save money too. Ultralight backpacks are usually under two pounds and frame-less. You'll probably use a sleeping pad as a frame of sorts. The good news is that they are often on sale for under $100.

Go-Lite has several packs that are near $100, and sometimes on sale for less than that. The list price on the Granite Gear Virga Ultra Light Packer may still be under $100, and I have seen it on sale for under $80. It also weighs only 21 ounces, a bonus for me, as I like the idea of light AND cheap backpacks.

About the Author: Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos, gear recommendations, and a free book can be found at http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Canada's Beautiful Fraser Valley A Buyers & Sellers Market

So you think the market is hot? Why is that? Many people follow the crowd and go with what the media is promoting. Some of the hard core factors that affect real estate are Interest rates, Taxes, Rent Controls, Economy, Population and much more. Let?s get started. Interest rates in British Columbia has a direct connection between prices in the lower mainland and Fraser Valley area?s. The higher the rates, the lower the prices. The lower the rates, the higher the prices. When the rates are low, more people can afford to buy their first home or an investment property in Abbotsford, Langley or Vancouver. This puts pressure or a greater demand on the Fraser Valley market.

With our municipal and provincial taxes in British Columbia you?d be affected with property values. When your in an area with high municipal property taxes this can be a deterrent to a purchaser. A rise in taxes could cause real estate prices to drop. Provincial taxes, such as a property purchase will limit the number of buyers. These factors would affect the overall amount of real estate activity as well as prices in the Langley, Burnaby, Chilliwack or other Fraser Valley Markets.

Naturally, provincial rent controls and related restrictions could have a limiting effect on how much an investor in real estate can be active. This chain effect limits the number of potential buyers on the market. Rent controls are governed by provincial legislation. Not all provinces have rent control, but any province can introduce them or modify their existing legislation at ANY TIME. If your curious about your rental caps simply go to any search engine and type in ?landlord tenant law in British Columbia?. You will see the criteria for increasing rents in your Fraser Valley area.

The confidence in the economy is an important factor in stimulating home buyers and investor activity in the Fraser Valley. If the mood is positive then more market activity will occur in Langley, Richmond or wherever you live in the lower mainland. Conversely, if the economy is stagnant, the opposite will occur resulting in a decreased number of home buyers. Luckily the Fraser Valley has opportunities that attract immigrants from outside the country and other provinces. This increase demand increases the popularity of prices.

With lower vacancy levels in the area, this could stimulate a first time home buyer to buy a home. Also, renters who can't find a place to rent may borrow from relatives or find other creative ways to enable them to purchase a home rather then rent a home in the Fraser Valley. Our location with trees, streams mountains and fresh air attracts people of all places. The public perception of a certain geographic location or type of residential property or building affects the prices. Now that you are aware of many factors that effect Real Estate in general, is it a good investment? That is for you to decide!

Shane Toews is a Licenced Realtor who helps others to educate themselves on current real estate issues. He also provides assistance on how to locate quality homes, apartments or vacation rentals in Canada's Fraser Valley area. Visit his website RentFraserValley.com for more information on Canada's Fraser Valley Real Estate Market