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Have you been shopping again? And things are popping out of your stuffed closets and packed drawers, maybe stashed behind doors and under your bed?

There is a strong correlation between a healthy colon and a healthy house. An unhealthy colon can seriously create a toxic environment. Together with its partner, the lungs, the colon is responsible for input and output of pure and impure substances. TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) considers human beings a manifestation of mind body spirit, and in feng shui we add the home environment to this trilogy of existence. It is a functional system of intake and output. When you correlate all of this with your house, where you replenish your supplies, but eventually accumulate more and more, there is such a thing as a “constipated house.”

This process of accumulation and elimination is a function of the metal dynamics in the cycle of Chinese elements. When nature reaches full capacity, it has to eliminate what earth has been amassing. Thus in autumn fruit needs to be harvested and trees will shed their leaves. Organisms contract within themselves and prepare for hibernation and dormancy. Plant nutrients are stored underground. Autumn is growing dominance of yin. Our tao connection to nature and the plant kingdom is an essential part of the ecosystem as plants absorb respiratory waste and produce life-giving oxygen. The lungs are a constant reminder of intake with every inhale of fresh oxygen and output with every exhale of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The lungs are the official of rhythmic order, and the colon is the official of space clearing and elimination. It gets rid of excess baggage that has been useful but is no longer needed. Chinese medicine sees the colon as the official that removes rubbish on every level. TCM also relates the lungs to the skin, describing it as the third lung. Cleansing, purity and refinement are the ongoing mandate on the agenda of these interdependent functions.

Perhaps it is time to seriously engage the metal element for feng shui adjustments and purification of your home. Metal element personality types are very orderly. They like to have everything clean and pristine. They tend to be the aesthetes and minimalists, and they like to make things shine. They pay attention to detail, and they tend to embrace high standards of moral values and integrity. They take pride in a meticulous appearance and prefer quality to quantity.

If we aim to adopt some metal characteristics, we might succeed in checking off our list of feng shui do’s and don’ts for beautification and preservation of a healthy environment. Ask questions and answer with the discerning acumen of a metal type:

• As you enter your space, is there a single point focus for your gaze to come to rest?

• Take photos and get a two-dimensional view of your visual field.

• In your collection of objects, is there anything that stands out as particularly pleasing or edifying?

• With the discerning and discriminating eye of a metal type, could you assess and eliminate what might be too much and not essential?

• Empty spaces attract new opportunities, and empty containers are receptacles for the gifts from the universe.

• Have you thought of adding metal foods and flavor to your nutrition – fruits or vegetables with thick peels, white and pungent ingredients, daicon radishes, cauliflower and garlic?

• Have you polished your shiny surfaces – mirrors, metal knobs, jewelry, white countertops, silver flatware and your “golden globe”?

• Think of your metal target as round and pure while you engage in the creative process of distillation and elimination.

• Strong lung energy will keep you in the present moment with healthy respiration and creative inspiration.

• A clean colon will keep you motivated and focused.

One of the benefits of being to able to work on motorcycles is that you can generally find them pretty cheap when work on them is required. Typically, a bike that needs work has been sitting for a while, usually with the tank empty. This means over time that rust has taken over, as was the case with a 1981 Honda CB650 that I had acquired. To say that this thing had rust in it was an understatement; it had chunks of rust. Luckily though, the tank had no pin hole leaks or anything and was completely solid. Now to the fun part! I will explain the process of removing rust from a motorcycle gas tank. As I stated, this was done on a 81′ CB650, so it’s tailored to that, but I’m sure it’ll work on most other bikes.

What you’ll need:

• Acetone
• Distilled water (it’s important that you only use distilled water)
• Two stroke oil
• A length of chain 4 to 6 feet long
• Rags
• Something to plug the fuel outlet (I used a small piece of hose a small rag and a piece of black tape)

IMPORTANT NOTE: ACETONE AND RUBBER DO NOT MIX! If you use rubber to seal the fuel output replace it every time you drain the acetone mix as the acetone will eat away at it.

At this point I’m going to assume that you have the gas tank off the bike and that it’s empty. Here is a step by step.

1. Plug the fuel output and make sure it is sealed
2. Fill the tank about ½ full of acetone and let it sit turning occasionally
3. Wait overnight
4. Shake the tank and empty the acetone/rust mixture into a bucket
5. Fill the tank ½ way again with acetone and this time drop the chain in
6. Shake the tank often and vigorously. The chain will knock remaining rust off
7. Empty the acetone/rust mixture into the bucket
8. Fill the tank up with distilled water and empty it out. Do this until only fairly clean water comes out and no rust can be heard rattling around. I put a hairdryer in the fuel hole and dried it out immediately after
9. Fill the tank about ¼ with two stroke oil and shake it around then empty it
10. Please dispose of the acetone and other nasty chemicals properly

I highly suggest installing an inline fuel filter on the fuel line in between the tank and carburetor. It will filter out any small particles and keep them out of the fuel system. This system worked for me, my CB650 ran like a dream after cleaning the tank like this! The next step is to give the carb a good cleaning.

Feng shui is all about feeling good in your space and reaping the benefits of good qi. Domestic pleasures seem to be on the horizon for the year of the dog. According to Chinese astrology, it will be an “Earth Dog,” and that means a year of stabilizing energy in a nurturing environment. After the volatile energy of the Rooster, we are ready for the reign of the gentle brown dog. To optimize our prospects for the year ahead, we must however play by the rules and emulate the positive traits of our canine companions. There are always doomsayers who predict the worst and warn of hostilities and health issues, but with good feng shui we are prone to protect ourselves from adversities and ill winds. Therefore it’s better to be forewarned and take precautions.

Caesar, The Dog Whisperer, says that it is exercise, discipline and love, in that order, that makes for a good dog. As we watch him do a “down-dog,” we note that our dog’s first move in the morning is a yoga stretch. Running for a ball is next on the agenda when we launch a game of “go fetch!” Our dog also knows how to relax after a few twists and turns of nestling into his favorite spot. Dogs are so good at biding their time that they could teach us a few things about patience.

Feng shui tells us about qi (chi), the vital energy in and around us. We experience this energy with our five senses, but dogs seem to have that sixth sense that we are always yearning for. Dogs observe every move we make, and even while napping, they keep an eye on the door. Their sense of hearing is quicker and more astute, as well as tuned to a range of sounds that we cannot hear. What they sniff and smell totally eludes us. A dog’s olfactory talents and capacities make him an indispensable asset for detective services. Dogs have been human kind’s companions for 15,000 years, and we are still learning and discovering the magnitude of their “uncanny” perceptions.

Contrary to our modern obsession with mindfulness, it seems to be a dog’s innate predisposition, and we doubt that he would prefer to text versus schmoozing with you side by side. In other words, domesticity and mindful attention to detail with a central focus on bringing lose ends to a close are all shaping up as the theme of the year. In the numerical charts, the number 9 is in the center, which, as the last single digit number, is the number of completion. With these indicators, we have an opportunity for creating a very strong home base. A well-built foundation is the optimal platform for launching future endeavors.

Here are our initial tips as we approach the New Year of the Dog:

• Avoid confrontations

• Stay away from gossip and duplicity

• Stay calm and take the high road

• Wear protective amulets that are personally meaningful

• Boost your immune system with herbs and supplements

• Consolidate and complete what has been started

• Strengthen your sensory experience with uplifting aromas

• Place auspicious demarcations in the center

• Increase lights in the center and nurture a plant

• Emulate your dog’s loyalty, faithfulness and unconditional love

• Practice the Golden Rule

• And remember: Dogs sniff out the truth!

An electric scooter is a two-wheeler vehicle that drives without any use of fuels. One can charge it using the electricity. Plug the charger in and get your scooter charged without any hassle. There are no problems of standing in the long queues to fill the tanks. Just sip your tea while the vehicle gets charged.

Talking about the merits of using it, the top six are given below.

1. Eco-friendly

An electric scooter does not produce any pollution be it air pollution or noise pollution, and thus is eco-friendly. Apart from saving our valuable resources, like petrol, it keeps the environment clean and healthy.

2. Cheap

This is a very useful option for you to save money. These scooters need electricity for the charging and thus saves your huge amount of money spent on petrol and other fuels. While saving the prices of fuel, the scooter itself is cheap to purchase as compared to the other scooters available in the market.

Also, there are low maintenance costs of using it. Therefore, even the low-income earners can afford it and can make their life easier with this very useful invention.

3. The Portable vehicle

There is no hassle of waiting in long queues to fill your petrol tanks. Just carry your charger of the scooter along with you and charge it whenever the battery runs out. Plug in your charger, and charge your scooter while using your precious time anywhere else. Also, these scooters come in different colours and designs to suit your personality. And, one can use it to set the trend in the market by showing off its amazing colours without spending a huge amount.

4. Comfortable

An electric scooter is very easy to handle and girls and women can use them without any difficulty due to its lightweight properties. Even if it breaks down, a girl can alone push it towards a nearby safe and shady place to park it. Besides, many of them are with adjustable seats too. No matter whether you’re short or tall, you can adjust the seat, according to your own comfort.

5. Park anywhere

The greatest advantage of having this electric scooter is that you can park it anywhere. As we can see that the urban cities are already very crowded, this scooter saves space. It doesn’t require a large place like a car or any other vehicle. Hence, one can park it in their verandah as well to keep it safe at your place.

6. The perfect gift

Due to its great advantages, this can be the perfect gift for your loved ones. Be it your young daughter or an elderly person, this turns out to be very useful for everyone. One can gift them to their children, especially daughters so that they can travel easily and that too safely with their own vehicle as they are very light in weight and easy to use.

Conclusion

Do not think so much and just go and buy this very functional and helpful technology to serve yourself and your dear ones. Make your life easier and trendy with these electric scooters and ride your way out.

But, do not forget to wear helmets. Being safe and healthy is all that we want today.

As anyone who has ever had a mouse in their home can attest, mice can do a tremendous amount of damage to household goods. Now try locking them in a room alone with your household goods for months with no interruptions. They can chew through boxes make nests out of clothes squeeze through tiny little openings, scale slick nearly vertical pathways. There doesn’t need to be any food to draw mice in they will worm their way in just for the fun of shredding a first edition rare book or building tunnels through your new leather couch and love seat combination. The only household goods that are safe from these terrors are plastic toys.

So, what can you do if you need to store your household goods in a self storage facility for a period of time? You can box all of your goods in those plastic tubs you can buy at Walmart, even the most tenacious mouse is not likely to go through one of these. And even then the little rodent would only have access to one box of your goods while he starves to death now toothless and suffering. Make sure the storage unit facility your using has a mouse abatement program. Mouse abatement can work quite well but it really needs to be distributed across the whole facility to work well. Therefore; the programs that work are ones that can usually be seen by customers, like blocks of poison in every unit, or metal mousetraps on the edges of each building, or five gallon buckets which are used for traps at the ends of buildings. If you don’t see the tale tell signs of a mouse abatement program then the self storage facility probably doesn’t have one.

What other options do you have, a mouse proof facility, do these actually exist, yes, they do and the ones that are mouse proof are usually dust proof as well. In these types of units if you don’t bring a mouse in with you when moving into the unit then the mouse can’t get in. These units are usually based on the shipping containers that come over the ocean from china on a ship and the are sealed steel container with a weather, dust, mouse proof compression seal all around the door. When the door is closed it smashes down the weather proof seal around the edges using an 20 inch lever on the door latch when the door is closed correctly nothing is getting in or out of that storage unit until it is opened again

Of course there are those that say they are mouse proof but they are not take a look around the unit is there an gaps between one unit and the next big enough to slide 4 credit cards stacked up through. Even on the ceilings rafters are highways for mice and if storage facilities have them they better have an abatement program for mice.

When your business is in its starting phase, you need a loan to grow it. Yes, there are ways for you to start your business with very little capital, but even in the age of the internet you need loans for the growth and expansion of your business. Oftentimes, startup and small business owners are scared of taking loans because they believe returning the same loan with interest on it will hinder their growth. The fact is a loan is not such a big liability if you have done your homework before getting it. Hastily getting a loan without researching the market and knowing your business’ growth potential can be detrimental to the business.

Your Business Plan Matters Big Time

It does not matter how experienced your management team is when your business plan is weak. When you ask for a loan from lenders, they are trying to find reasons to forward you the desired loan. They want to be sure that the loan they forward is returned in time and according to the terms and conditions set at the time of loaning. Lenders will seldom gauge the potential of your business to return the loan based on what you speak. What they want to see is a solid business plan and that’s why you need to have an impressive one. A strong business plan will consist of the following and some more.

• The company description
• Management role and experience
• The product description
• Strategy for marketing
• Financial projections
• An executive summary
• Documented cash flow

Keep in mind that banks often look at the cash flow in the documented form, and their scrutiny is not limited to what your projections are for the future but more importantly how you have managed things in the past. They will look at your company’s cash flow records for past couple of years to see if you should be given the loan you are asking for. So, keep your business plan in mind and make sure you have worked on every aspect of it to present something impressive to the investors.

Your Loan Options Are Many

Sometimes, you have a solid business plan and everything else is in place, but your understanding of loan options is not at its best. Many small business owners live with the impression that the only institution available to them for obtaining a loan is a bank. That’s far from truth because there are dozens of other ways to obtain the loan or investment for your startups that’s much easier to manage than a bank loan. Some of the options available to you include SBA loans from the government, invoice financing, business equipment financing loans, etc. If you are just a startup and none of those options seem viable to you, there is online fundraising.

Online fundraising has become quite a popular method of getting investments for your startup from individuals who trust in your idea and concept of the business. Using funding website you have access to hundreds of thousands of investors located all around the world that are willing to help if you can convince them with your business plan and the team that’s behind your project. So, avoid making the mistake that many small business owners make when they think bank is the only place for them to get any money for their businesses.

Your Timing to Apply for a Loan Is Important

This is a huge mistake that small business owners often make and pay the price in the form of not being able to obtain the loan they want at the terms they want. See, you will always be told to have a strong business plan because that’s the only way investors will trust you as an entrepreneur or businessperson. When you create your business plan, you are not just jotting down random numbers on a piece of paper. Your plan should give you an idea of what your business’ needs will be in the coming times. That’s when it makes sense to apply for loans well in advance and not at the eleventh hour.

When you apply for a loan at the eleventh hour, you are seen as a business in trouble. Most investors will see your business as the sinking ship and they will never want to get on it. Obtaining a loan in these circumstances can become close to impossible. This is the reason why you should apply for a business loan in advance and not at exactly the moment you need it. You also have to keep in mind that loan approval process takes time too. If you need the cash on an urgent basis, every day that passes during the approval process will be causing more damage to your business.

The Right People Can Make the Difference

Delegating responsibilities to the right people is an art and skill that not many business owners have. Oftentimes, small business owners rely too much on their own skills and are scared to trust any other person to do things for them. This can be a grave mistake because you cannot be the jack and master of all the trades at the same time. For example, you might be great at crunching numbers and making accurate projections for the business but not very great at sales and pitching ideas. If you have to pitch your business idea, its marketability and scope to the investors, choose the person who can best present it. Despite your great business plan, you will fail to obtain a loan because of your nervousness and lack of confidence when it comes to acting like a clever salesperson.

You have to bear in mind that investors are not investing only in your business, they are also investing in you. It is very important for them to like your personality to invest in your project. Appearing unprepared or nervous in front of them will send an impression that you are not fit to lead the project, your decision making is faulty and that you cannot create strong teams.

A Well-prepared Presentation Can Win Hearts

It does not matter who is giving the presentation when the content is boring and does not address the points that investors are most curious to know. First, get your numbers straight and bring them into the presentation at the right points. Be the investor in your mind and think of the questions you would ask if someone presented the same product/service to you. Have your accountant, advisor and business lawyer by your side when preparing the presentation. You don’t want to give wrong figures during the presentation and fall for a bad deal at the end of it. The most important thing is to explain your business idea as clearly as possible. Many times the presentations are so all-over-the-place that investors can’t make heads and tails of it. If they don’t understand your business, they will never invest.

So, bear in mind that obtaining a loan is not that big of a challenge. Most of the times, it is just some small mistakes in the areas mentioned above that become the cause of lost opportunities to get the right loans for your business. Create a solid business plan, choose the right people to represent your business and use all the options that are available to you at the right time to grow your business at the pace you want.

If you are looking for a way to add value to your home, as well as practicality and aesthetics, then garage door installation is a great place to start. After all, what’s not to love about being able to move “seamlessly” from your home’s interior to your vehicle without ever needing to brave elements? Plus, by having garage doors installed, you will be able to take that open-air carport – assuming you have one – from being open and easily accessible to anyone who wants to pull to a fully enclosed space, thus improving your home’s security set up.

But, what are some other reasons to opt for having deciding to add a garage to your home? Are there any other advantages to be had by opting for a garage to be included in your home’s blue prints? After all, not adding a garage to a new house build could save you money – right?

Actually, not so. Having a garage can benefit you in a variety of ways. Consider these reasons for having garage doors installed.

· Having a garage door means that your vehicle is protected from the elements of the weather.

· Keep your vehicle protected from dings, scratches which makes not just you happy but your insurance company, as well.

· The risk of having your vehicle stolen or broken into is unlikely.

· Having a home garage rather than parking in the driveway or on the street, is much more convenient, plus you don’t have to be concerned about people potentially hitting your vehicle while it is parked.

· Not only does having a garage mean your vehicles are not on the street, but it means that by not being there your home’s curb appeal is increased.

· Crazy as it might sound, most vehicles are only driven 5% of the time. This means that your vehicle is sitting “dormant” the large majority of the time.

· Having garage doors installed often results in lower rates for both your home owner’s insurance as well as your vehicle insurance.

· Your vehicle’s engine stays ready to go. By being kept out of the elements, your car’s engine doesn’t get as cold it stays more lubricated.

· You don’t have to wait for the ice to melt off of your vehicle, or be concerned about the windshield being covered in snow.

Having a garage means that you not only add to the style and design of your home, but it will also save you money for years to come. Don’t just keep debating whether it will benefit you to choose this addition. Talk to a garage door pro today.