U.S. auto dealers looking north of border to snap up used-car bargains

November 28th, 2008

Consumer confidence could hurt new-car sales in final quarter of fiscal year

Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun

Published: Friday, November 28, 2008

Bargain-priced “slightly used” cars will become a hot commodity in Canada as price-conscious buyers scoop them up and U.S. car dealers — armed with a stronger currency — prowl the Canadian market for deals.

That’s the prediction from Canadian car-pricing expert Paul Timeoto, who expects a falling dollar to stir the interest of U.S. dealers in Canadian vehicles.

“The prospect of U.S. dealers coming up here to buy is looming very strongly now,” said Timeoto, president of online car-pricing-data firm CarCostCanada.com. “The dollar has only been below 90 cents US for a few weeks so it may take a little while for them to pay attention to our market. But it won’t take long.”

He noted that until recently, Canadian car dealers took advantage of a strong Canadian dollar to buy used cars — less than one year old — in the U.S. and resell them in Canada.

“Dealers went down there and literally brought them back by the truckload and Canadians saved a lot of money that way,” Timeoto said. “But that situation has dried up now and the reverse is likely to happen.”

New vehicle sales in Canada during the first three quarters this year appeared to be heading for a solid year of about 1.6 million sales, but declining consumer confidence in the final quarter could push that figure down.

Statistics Canada said 14,900 new vehicles were sold in B.C. in September, a 10.8-per-cent decline from the same month last year.

Dueck Downtown general manager Greg Keith said used cars are popular with many buyers, but almost everyone wants the newest technology possible because fuel efficiency is such an important factor.

“It doesn’t make a lot of sense for a person to buy a three-year-old car, especially with gas prices the way they are now,” he said. “I drive a new Escalade hybrid full-size vehicle that gets better fuel economy than a lot of mid-sized cars.”

StatsCan said new-vehicle prices in Canada are at their most affordable level now in more than 15 years, measured as a percentage of disposable income. It takes about 19 weeks of disposable income for a typical Canadian household to buy a new car, down from a peak of 25 weeks a decade ago.

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Nutrition Not Another Resolution: Nutrition for You launches its New Year’s Weight Loss Challenge

November 28th, 2008

TORONTO, Nov 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — A timely new book examining this year’s financial crisis is the second title to be published by Rotman/UTP Publishing, an Imprint of University of Toronto Press in partnership with the Rotman School of Management.

The Finance Crisis and Rescue: What Went Wrong? Why? What Lessons Can Be Learned? features thought leaders from the Rotman School explaining the financial crisis and rescue from a variety of perspectives.

“Covering everything from credit risk to value investing to leadership, our experts tackle the broken model and proposed rescue and provide insight for moving ahead and shaping the world of finance for the better,” writes Rotman Dean Roger Martin in the foreword to the book. “In the end, the treatment required to cure this unhealthy system may be deceptively simple: to produce more beneficial results for stakeholders and for society at large, firms must lower their expectations of monetary incentives and be more cognizant about setting them within a context that reduces the tendency for extremes of behaviour.”

The eleven chapters included in the book are:

— Derivatives and Risk Management: “The Financial Crisis of 2008:

Another Case of Irrational Exuberance” by John Hull, Maple

Financial Group Chair in Derivatives and Risk Management, Professor of

Finance and Co-Director — Master of Finance Program;

— Value Investing: “Value Investing in the Crisis: How Margins of

Safety Melted Away” by Eric Kirzner, John H. Watson Chair in Value

Investing and Professor of Finance;

Read full article: New Book - The Finance Crisis and Rescue: What Went Wrong? Why? What Lessons Can Be Learned?

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How to Select the Greatest Online Gaming House

November 23rd, 2008

What is the most seemly method to choose one of the best online casinos? The field of gambling is full of different proposals. You have to think of a variety of things and the basic one is whom your funds would be trusted.

One of the main troubles for every player is the question of casino truthfulness. You can see that in the run-of-the-mill casinos there are real card tables, roulettes and dice. In this situation a gambler has a possibility to participate in the pretend directly. But this physical presence not always may save you from being cheated as well.

And the gamers, who like to play in online casinos, have more uncertainties in their virtue than the players of the normal casinos. You may find today the best online casino where you would find the method of generation of the cards deals and roulette numbers. There appears a obstreperous if it’s created inadvertently or not. There’re lots of opinions that web casinos play truthfully, but not all the time and there may be a moment of time when they drink up doing it. They have the mathematical benefit over the gambler according to the norms of the game. It implies that the player can win but not a great amount. The gambling has predetermined sensitiveness to the loss. The greater casino the greater the limit it has. And there’re low limits in little casinos. Only a player becomes nearer to that limit, the casino starts to show the outcomes that are losing for the entertainer. In some cases those are really true points.

What should people do if they do not believe the online casino? The answer is honest: if you cannot prove it, do not play. But the owners of internet casinos are not stupid persons and they realize that if you don’t trust their casino you would not go there. So, they have some warranties for you. There’re a few kinds of such guarantees:

1. Maverick observation performed by a casino.

2. There’s also a data of the game that may be performed to the gambler with all the instruments for analysis of it.

3. Also, you may see the cryptographic algorithm of your job that guarantees the immutability of occurring cards and numbers that were created there beforehand.

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A Wonder Pill To Surmount Over Obesity - Phentermine

November 23rd, 2008

By: Clarence Carter

I was over-whelmed with joy when a friend introduced me to a weight reducing drug. I tried it and the results were marvelous. Thanks to Phentermine!

A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. If you have a body that is hale and hearty, you will definitely have a positive attitude towards life. You will always be well groomed with an influential personality. Nowadays, as more and more people are becoming health conscious, the field of medical science has emerged with various ways to overcome obesity. Phantermine - a weight reducing drug is an apt solution to your excessive body weight.

Phentermine is a sympathomimetic amine, similar to amphetamine. It is also known as an anorectic or anorexigenic drug. It acts as an appetite suppressant that is helpful for obese people to reduce weight within a short span of time. It stimulates the nervous system increasing your heart rate and blood pressure, thus reducing your hunger.

The weight reducing drug- Phentermine should be used for a short period say for a few weeks. It should be consumed as a part of physician-guided weight loss program including a low fat diet and regular exercises.

Phentermine is available in different colors in the form of capsules and tablets as well. The pharmacist normally keeps the medicine in three strengths- 15mg, 30mg and 37.5 mg. Let your doctor decide which one is right for you depending upon your weight, height and other health problems.

It is important to take phentermine under the supervision of a medical practitioner only. The medicine should be consumed in correct quantity exactly as directed by your physician.

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10 tips for holiday travel

November 21st, 2008

By Ed Hewitt
updated 3:11 p.m. ET Nov. 20, 2008

With the global economy in crisis and both travelers and airlines feeling the pinch, it may not seem like 2008 will be the cheeriest of holiday travel seasons. Airlines have cut flights, raised fares and added a surge of surcharges for everything from checked bags to phone bookings. Meanwhile, many travelers are postponing or canceling their holiday plans to save money.

But for travelers still planning to visit Grandma’s for Thanksgiving or spend Christmas weekend in Paris, the news isn’t all bad. There are still deals to be found, provided you shop carefully and plan ahead. Check out our 10 tips for holiday travel and find some joy this holiday season.

Avoid peak travel dates
At Thanksgiving, Wednesday is the critical outbound “avoid” day as a rule. Traveling on Thanksgiving day proper is often a breeze and more affordable; there are often cut-rate airfare deals on Thanksgiving day.

On the return, Friday morning isn’t bad at all, with each successive day getting a little busier, more difficult and more expensive through Sunday evening. The bottom line: If you are looking for a deal, you won’t find one on the peak travel days. Travel off-peak whenever possible.

Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Thursdays this year, which means that the same advice for Thanksgiving will apply to both of these holidays — fly on the holiday itself if possible, and avoid Sunday evening at the end of the long weekend.

Book early
Haven’t booked your holiday travel yet? It’s time to stop waiting and start booking. Fares are only rising as Thanksgiving approaches, so those who hold out in hopes of a late-breaking sale are likely to get left out in the cold or pay a very steep price for their procrastination. The same goes for the Christmas holiday; book sooner rather than later, particularly if you require very specific travel dates or times. With the current state of the airline industry, it is never too early to book your holiday travel flights.

While many of the best deals are probably already gone, keep an eye on our Holiday Deals section for any last-minute bargains. Be prepared to be flexible with dates and flight times.

Read full article: http://blog.summer-winter-air-travel.info/?p=9

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Growing a Flower Bed With Beautiful Blooms

November 20th, 2008

If you want your garden to have blooms of beautiful and colorful flowers, you’ll need to plant them carefully. Arrange them properly, and provide adequate care. It is even possible to have flowers blooming year-round, if you plan your garden correctly. You can choose annuals and perennials that bloom at different times of the year so that you’ll always have a colorful garden.

Before you plant the flowers, make sure that the soil is right for them. You should dig your beds down a foot and a half for two deep. While you can grow flowers in a shallower bed, they will not be as likely to thrive. Break up the dirt, making sure there are no large clumps, and spread in some sand, manure, compost, or grass clippings. Don’t pack the bottom dirt down, let it settle naturally so that the roots will be able to penetrate it and it will drain better.

Once you have the base of your flowerbed ready, make sure that you use a good mixture for the topsoil. If you want your plants to be healthy, well-rotted manure and peat moss are excellent additions to your soil. If you do use manure, make sure it doesn’t touch the roots of your plants. You can also add wood ashes in the spring, or use lime to loosen the soil.

Consider the type of soil that you naturally have in your garden, and choose a fertilizer that will help it reach the optimum balance for your plants. The fertilizer you choose should include the elements that your plants aren’t getting from the soil.

When planning the location of your plants within your flower beds and border, keep in mind the color of the blooms, even if the plant is not blooming when you purchase it. Plan for contrast in the texture and color of the flowers, but make sure that the colors will also blend in an attractive manner. For example, the bright color of Zinnias can be balanced with softer colors from chrysanthemum or cosmos.

Don’t forget to consider where you are situating the flower bed. Ideally, it should face south or southwest, but any location that gets enough sun should help your flowers thrive. You should try to plant it close to the house, so that your plants will be protected.

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Gift Ideas For the Realtor in Your Family

November 19th, 2008

Christmas time is fast approaching, which means that it’s time to start thinking about gift ideas for family, friends, and co-workers. If a real estate agent happens to among the people on your gift-giving list, here are a few ideas for what to fill their stocking with this year. A BlackBerry; if he or she doesn’t already have one of these technological marvels, now is the time to treat them. Not only will a BlackBerry make an agent’s workday more efficient and organized, but they’ll also be able to keep track of dates with family and friends, which can be difficult sometimes for busy realtors to do. It’s a phone and a web browser, it’s got a calendar for scheduling appointments, and it can synchronize its information with your desktop computer, so all your information is stored at the ready. Agents can instantly access maps and get turn-by-turn directions to properties, keep in touch with clients and associates, and much more. These trusty gadgets are so useful and addicting that they’ve even been nicknamed “CrackBerry.” High tech tools like the BlackBerry are essential for today’s real estate agents to take their business to the next level. The iPhone is a recent addition to the world of high tech communications. Similar to the BlackBerry in its appeal to businesspeople, the iPhone features an easy-to-use touch screen interface, offers Internet access, and can play videos and music MP3 files. iPhones are fairly new to the marketplace, and already they’ve received a great deal of positive buzz. Some suggest that a BlackBerry would be more suitable to an agent’s needs, particularly due to its GPS system and convenient email and calendar access, but no doubt your favorite realtor would be pretty excited to find a new iPhone under the tree as well. If you’re looking for something more affordable that will still help your loved one stay organized, consider buying a nice leather or moleskin agenda. He or she can keep all their contacts and appointments together in one sharp looking date book. If you’d like to be extra helpful, fill in any birthdays, anniversaries, and phone numbers you’d like the person to remember before you give them their gift. You’ll be saving them time, as well as potentially saving them from the doghouse later on. Another great idea this Christmas is to consider treating the real estate agent in the family to a spa day. Realtors spend most of their time dealing with clients, so they need to put their best foot forward. And if they’re really successful at their job, they may not have time to pamper themselves when they need to. So, give them something that will truly be a gift-a massage, facial, pedicure, or mud bath and sauna. There are so many exquisitely relaxing treatments out there that can rejuvenate the soul, so research a little to see which treatment would be right for your friend or family member.
Read full article: Gift Ideas For the Realtor in Your Family

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Start Your Home Design Using These Home Design Tools

November 19th, 2008

You’ve decided you want to build a new home. Where do you start? First, we suggest you purchase your land, as this will surely impact the design of your home. Second, start putting your ideas together before visiting your architect. Start with a vision of your new home. Is there a certain architectural style you prefer? Colonial? Cape? Saltbox? Farmhouse? From there, start with the basics in home design. How many bedrooms will you need? Do you want a Master Bedroom with or without a Master Bathroom suite? Will it be located on the first or second floor? If this is a vacation home which will become your retirement home, you may prefer to have the main rooms located on the first floor for easy access in later years. Do you want a large, eat-in kitchen or a separate dining room? Are you planning to entertain small or large groups of people in your home? Is a cathedral Great Room on your list of priorities? Will you need a living room or media room separate from your Great Room? Do you have a specific hobby or interest that requires a separate room or area? Compare all of these areas with your current home. Does the space you have now fit your needs? Write down the measurements of your space and then mark whether or not the space is adequate. Wherever possible, look for areas to reduce the living space. For instance, if you have a large laundry room now and you only really use half of the space, mark it as a potential space saver. Anytime you reduce the square footage of your new home you will save money in initial material costs, but in energy costs over the life of the home as well. A home fulfills many purposes, but it can also satisfy numerous personal, aesthetic, and emotional requirements that can be difficult to describe in words. In starting to imagine your home design, it will help your architect if you identify and communicate how you want each space to feel. How? You may find it a challenge to explain how you want a room to feel. Start by doing some simple exercises. Pick up a home magazine or imagine a home you are familiar with. Find a room you like. What do you like about it? The way the afternoon sunlight casts shadows within the room? The room’s intimacy or its abundant space? Think about other spaces you enjoy - the park, the library, your friend’s home. How does the space make you feel? What creates that feeling? Be specific, and write down what you like about it. For instance, you might write, “I like how the room’s color tones change as the sun sets” or “I love how the outdoors is brought inside”. These small realizations will help the home design to evolve from a floor plan to a custom home that is an extension of your life philosophy.
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Is Phentermine Among The Best Weight Loss Pills Ever?

November 15th, 2008

By: Shaikh MD

Phentermine is the longest prescribed diet pill used for weight loss in this era. Again like all other weight loss pills, it claims to be very effective at increasing weight loss, especially when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.So what does Phentermine do to be considered as best weight loss pills? It is a sympathomimetic medicine and this means that is that it increases sympathetic drive. What does this mean? Sympathetic drive is body response to fright, flight and fight. Phenteramine is also called an “anorectic” or “anorexigenic” drug. As it is a sympathomimetic drug, Phentermine stimulates the nervous system(nerves and brain). This results in increase in heart rate and blood pressure and decreases in appetite. This is all part of the body’s natural response in fright, flight or fight situations and this is what Phentermine mimics.

As any other weight loss pill, Phantermine is should be used as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity. Other than being used as a weight loss pill, it is also used for other medical purposes.

Do not take phentermine if you:

  1. Have heart disease or high blood pressure ;
  2. Have arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries);
  3. Have glaucoma;
  4. Have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days; or
  5. Have a history of drug or alcohol abuse.

Use with caution and tell your doctor if you have:

  1. Problems with your thyroid,
  2. Anxiety disorder,
  3. Epilepsy or another seizure disorder, or
  4. Diabete
  5. Pregnant and/or breast feeding.

As it increases sympathetic drive, side effects include restlessness or tremor,nervousness or anxiety, headache or dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth, diarrhea or constipation, or impotence or changes in your sex drive.

Read full article: Is Phentermine Among The Best Weight Loss Pills Ever?

From: Ivapip blogs

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Advantages Of Fleet GPS Tracking Systems

November 7th, 2008

Most companies with large numbers of vehicles that travel the roadways daily are familiar with the large number of fleet tracking systems that can be bought today. If you are a fleet manager for one of these companies and you have never considered one of these systems, then you need to take a good look at the advantages that they can offer your company. Companies who use fleet tracking systems can locate a driver at any time of any day. They can monitor the speeds that their drivers travel. They can regulate the number of stops they make and where they stop. They can optimize their customer service reputation by tracking their driver’s response times and taking steps to improve their system. The success of any company that utilizes any time of vehicle fleet may depend largely on their effective use of a fleet tracking systems.
The other name for fleet tracking systems is GPS (Global Positioning Systems). Fleet GPS tracking units have seen many changes since they were introduced and are now being used by the general public, as well as the military, public service officials and large delivery companies, such as UPS. When you have a fleet of vehicles, efficiency is very important. Whenever a vehicle goes out on the road, it is very expensive. You can see a lot of waste that comes in the form of fuel, mileage and time. To eliminate this waste can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars every year. Fleet tracking systems are one way of effectively eliminating wasted expenses and providing a way to manage the fleet with more efficiency.
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