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LCD Television Buying Guide

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:56:05 +0000

Buying a new TV is one of those tasks that are exciting yet dreadful at the same time. In the midst of balancing what you need with what the marketplace has to offer, you have to battle salespeople trying to up their commission and your bottom line. The best way to protect yourself and make the right purchase is to know the language and accurately assess your needs.

LCD TVs are all the rage, but what are they? LCD is an acronym for Liquid Crystal Diode. Sounds like superiorly advanced technology, but this type of screen is used in tons of commonplace electronics. Digital screens on calculators, microwaves, bathroom scales and car dashboards all use LCD technology to give you the information you’re looking for, except maybe that bathroom scale. In televisions, this technology allows for the bright, clear picture and is backed by either CFL fluorescent or more recently LED lighting. LED is the latest and greatest in television picture display and comes with a price tag to match. If you’re not looking for an LED LCD TV and don’t have the budget to back that purchase, purchasing a LCD TV will still deliver you a quality HD picture.

One of the easiest things to confuse about televisions is the measurement associated with them. Rather than giving you the dimensions of the exterior casing, television measurements represent the diagonal distance of the screen (ie the distance between the bottom left corner to the top right). This is not to say that you shouldn’t measure the overall space where you intend to place your television. Since flat screens can be wall mounted, set on a stand, or enclosed in a cabinet, you want to make sure you have the proper fit.

The size of the screen will in part depend on the distance you are most likely to watch television from. Though TVs should match the scale of the room, sometimes the distance you sit from the screen is more important if you want the best viewing experience. Here some basic distance rules to follow:

20 to 27-inch displays, 2.5 to 5 feet away
32 to 37-inch TVs, 6 to 8 feet away
42 to 46-inch TVs, 10 to 13 feet away
50-inch LCD or LED TVs, 12 to 16 feet away
60-inch LED LCD TVs, at least 14 to 16 feet away
70-inch LED LCD TVs, at least 16 to 20 feet away

While you’re looking at the spec sheets for various models, you’ll see the terms 720p, 1080p and 1080i, which refers to the screen resolution. Choosing a television that allows you to watch things in high definition is an investment worth making, even if you currently don’t subscribe to any HD channels. The televisions with the lowest resolution, but still considered HD are those that have a resolution of 720p. The 720 means that there are 720 dots per inch and the p means that a new frame is displayed every 1/60th of a second. Televisions with 1080i use an interlaced system where odd-numbered pixels are shown every 1/30th of a second intermittently with even-numbered pixels also being displayed every 1/30th of a second. If you’re looking for a smoother and better picture, it is best to go with 1080p because these televisions have more dots per inch than the 720s and display them faster than 1080i models.

Another acronym you should know is HDMI which stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. Several TVs talk about their multiple HDMI inputs, but how many do you really need? You’ll need one for your HD box, one for a Blu-ray or DVD Player, and if you have any extras like video game consoles, you’ll want at least one more. If you can find a television in your price range with three or more HDMI inputs, you can buy with confidence knowing that you won’t have to swap wires every time you want to watch a movie. However, if it’s not in your budget, there are adaptors on the market that are relatively inexpensive.

When it comes to purchasing your new television you have two options: traditional retailers and online companies. If you decide to go with a brick and mortar store, be sure to do some research first, so you know where to go to get the best deal. Often, club warehouses like Sam’s Club, Costco, BJ’s, etc. offer great deals on electronics that you won’t find at any other retailer. You should also be weary of warranties that seem excessively-priced, they usually are. However, warranties can be found online for cheaper, so you get the peace of mind you need without overpaying for something you may never use. If you opt to do your shopping online, you really have little to fear. It’s good to stop in a store and see it in person before making the big purchase, but online retailers offer all of the same accessories and warranties and make finding the best price a snap.

Stepping into the television section and having the latest blockbuster movie blasting in your face can be unsettling and distracting. If you can determine what you need and balance it with what you want, purchasing the best LCD TV for your home isn’t just easy, it’s fun.

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About the Author: Katie Campbell is a writer and an Electronics Expert who believes that the best LCD TV should be light and bright, just like the picture quality. She writes for Bestcovery.com where she seeks to help discover the best of everything.

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7 Solid Ways to Reduce Home Office Costs

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:19:37 +0000

In an increasingly competitive business arena, one of the major challenges facing small business owners is how to effectively manage operating costs. While certain expenditures remain fixed, many variable costs, such as those incurred in running a home office, are often overlooked. By implementing these 7 proven ways to reduce home office costs, small business owners can free up extra funds and put them to more effective use.

1. Be aware of business climates: Almost anywhere you live your home and home office will be subject to seasonal climate changes that can lead to extra costs in terms of heating and air conditioning. If you are spending a goodly amount of time in your home office and are not meeting face-to-face with clients, you should set the thermostat on savings mode and dress according to the climate, i.e. layering clothes and wearing sweaters in the winter months and lighter loose fitting clothes in the summer. If you face extremes in either winter or summer consider a space heater or window AC unit to control the climate in your office rather than the entire house.

2. Choose a dedicated “get-it-done” day: As a natural result of running your business from home there will be times when you need to leave your office to run business related errands. Being that running errands on a daily basis can cut into your productivity, you’ll save time and money by designating one day of the week errand day. To make the day more productive you’ll want to keep a running to-do list, prioritizing your errands and creating the most efficient route to save on time and gas money.

3. Shop smart for office supplies: While stocking up on supplies ahead at the big box store might seem to be the most cost-effective way to shop, patronizing office supply stores such as Staples and Home Depot can give you extra advantages. For one thing, they offer rewards cards and programs which can give you additional savings through rebates, coupons and special notification for upcoming sales. An added benefit is that these stores are now offering small credit lines to small businesses which can improve cash flow and help you establish business credit which could come in handy down the road.

4. Print less: To print or not to print. With a touch of a button any document can be delivered almost instantly at your fingertips, in black and white or full color. But the question is, does that document really need to be printed on a page of paper, which is no longer cheap, to do the job? If the document in question is just for research, when you’re done with it flip it over and print on the flip side and you’ll have cut printing costs by ½. Even when it seems like printing is the only option, resist the urge and try to make the document work anyway. This habit alone can save you big time on toner and paper. Should you need to send documents to clients for approval or signatures, sending them electronically eliminates both postage and faxing costs, which can really mount up quickly.

5. Make your own scratch pads: While scraps of paper can make for some awesome paper airplanes, they also make excellent scratch pads. Just cut them into quarters and you’ve created the poor man’s Post-It for leaving notes or messages. Staple a stack of these together or fasten them with reusable paper clips and you’ll be surprised at how much money you can save.

6. Green your office: Another money saving strategy is to buy energy saving items and equipment. If you find yourself performing multiple tasks such as scanning documents, making copies and sending faxes, consider buying an all-in-one machine as they are usually less expensive, take up less space and perform needed tasks as well if not better than their stand-alone counterparts. You can also save money by using recycled ink and toner cartridges. Also, If you are using a landline in your home office you can save money by using your cell phone for making and receiving business calls. You can save even more by using Skype or a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phone service to make local, long distance or even international calls. Be sure to shop these services as they can vary in price and quality.

7. Go virtual: At some point as your business grows you may need extra help to service your client base or perform specialized tasks that are beyond your abilities. Hiring virtual assistants is an approach you should seriously consider. Being that you can hire help on an as needed basis and, due to the current job shortage, you will be able to find qualified people to assist you at very reasonable rates. If you have a legal matter, such as the need for legal contractual agreements or other specialized documents, consider hiring a virtual lawyer on a job by job basis, as opposed to incurring the expense of keeping a traditional brick and mortar lawyer on retainer.

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About the Author: Jerrimie Allen is a freelance writer for Invesp. Invesp helps businesses improve their online revenue, reduce customer acquisition cost, and provide their visitors with a better user experience through landing page design.

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7 Problems to Look Out for When Buying a New Home

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:19:19 +0000

Buying a new home can be an exciting time in any person’s life. However, it is important that potential and repeat homebuyers be aware of the problems that can arise when purchasing an older home. When people buy older homes, they often have to replace old products that have worn out or repair damage that has occurred over the years. Some of these home renovation projects can be much more costly than others. If you are in the market to buy a new home, review these seven potential problems that can make you go way over budget on your new home.

Foundation Problems

Major structural problems can be one of the costliest repair projects homeowners have to embark upon. Depending on the extent of structural compromise, it could cost anywhere from a few thousands dollars to $30,000 to repair foundation problems in an average sized home.

Be sure to be on the lookout for foundation problems when looking at homes. Cracks in driveways, the foundation, floor, and load-bearing walls could be signs of trouble. The savviest home buyers will also bring a four foot bubble level to houses they are interested in purchasing; this tool allows you to make sure that floors are level and walls are vertical.

Old Windows

Many homebuyers do not want to buy an older home unless a previous owner of the property has replaced all or most of the windows with newer models. Old windows are far less energy-efficient, more prone to breakage, and less attractive than new windows. However, the cost of replacing all of the windows in an average sized home will typically run anywhere from $13,000 to $20,000, depending on the quality of the window products and whether the window frames need to be repaired.

Leaky Roof

A leaky roof is a sign of a couple of problems. First, if you have a leaky roof, you probably have an old roof that will need to be replaced. The cost of replacing the roof in a normal sized home will generally cost about $6,000 to $10,000 for composite shingle roofs. The cost can increase substantially if the homeowner wants a Spanish tile or clay roof.

Mold

Another problem that can be caused by a leaky roof is the development of mold. Mold can also develop in bathrooms or laundry room areas due to water leaks. In some cases, the presence of mold is not a major problem and the homeowner can remove mold using bleach and a washcloth or by replacing sheetrock in some areas. In other cases, the homeowner owner may need to gut an entire bathroom or another area of the house to remove water damage and mold that has affected sheetrock and other building materials. In minor cases, mold clean up may only cost a few hundred dollars. In the worst-case scenario, the homeowner may need to redo an entire bathroom, which can cost at least $5,000 to $8,000.

Termite Damage

A minor termite presence at a property is usually not a big deal. In fact, in certain areas of the country, all properties have some amount of subterranean termites. However, a major termite problem could cause serious damage to buildings. When you are looking at new homes, be on the lookout for termite droppings, termite trails, live termites, crumbling wood, or buckling paint. You can also look out for debris in the home and yard, such as cardboard, paper, and other cellulose material, as well as signs of water damage. Termites feed on cellulose debris and thrive in damper locations. The cost of termite repair can be expensive. The cost of fumigating a house for drywood termites costs about $1,800, spraying for subterranean termites costs about $1,000, and repairing or replacing damaged wood could cost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars

Unpermitted Structures

Unpermitted structures such as closed-in patios, sheds, converted garages, or extra rooms can add an additional cost to the price of a home if the city requires you to get it permitted or tear it down. In order to get the structure permitted, the city will send an inspection company to the home to evaluate the build and determine if the structure was built to code. If it wasn’t, the homeowner will have to pay to get the structure up to code, in addition to paying for the permit. If the homeowner elects to tear the structure down, he or she will have to pay for the cost of demolition and building scraps removal.

Cabinets

Nice kitchen cabinets are not a necessity, but they can significantly improve the appearance of your home. If you look at an older home that has cabinets with little potential, you may want to keep looking. Kitchen cabinets cost at least $3,500, on the low-end, plus the cost of installation, which typically costs about $1,000 to $1,500. Many homeowners end up paying at least $8,000 to $10,000 on new kitchen cabinets. If you purchase a home that has cabinets that you like, or that can be resurfaced and re-stained or painted, you can save yourself a few thousand dollars worth of remodeling costs.

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About the Author: This article was contributed by Chris Morris on behalf of Walnut Valley Glass is a Los Angeles window company that offers the latest glass products to customers.

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Eight of the Most Extravagant and Unusual Celebrity Gifts

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:33:29 +0000

What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall in a superstar’s home on Christmas day. If there’s one thing celebs know how to do, it’s shop – and when your bank account is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean, the gifts you’d expect a star rapper or a Hollywood heartthrob to give on December 25th are a lot flashier than those flashing reindeer socks your auntie Noreen bought you last yuletide. Although as we all know, celebrities don’t tend to be dating Joe or Joanne Public, they gravitate towards their own kind. They date other celebs. So when money is no object, but your special someone is also a multi millionaire, what do you buy them as a gift? Well my friends, I have the answer. In no particular order, here’s my roundup of 8 of the most extravagant and unusual celebrity gifts you ever did see.

8. Gift Giver – Chris Evans (British DJ and Television Presenter
Gift Recipient – Billie Piper (British Actress and Pop Star)
The Gift – Silver Ferrari

When it emerged that Billie Piper was dating Chris Evans (the pair would later get married, and subsequently divorced) the UK was surprised to say the least. Evans was the geeky, ginger 30 something breakfast TV presenter while Piper was a sexy teenage pop icon. On the morning after their first date no less, Chris Evans was so smitten he turned up at Billie’s doorstep clutching an envelope. Inside were the keys to a brand new, silver Ferrari that sat outside Billies house, adorned in roses. The irony? Billie couldn’t even drive at the time.

7. Gift Giver – Victoria Beckham (Pop Star and Fashion Icon)
Gift Recipient – David Beckham (Footballer and Fashion Icon)
The Gift – Micropigs

What do you buy the man that has everything? Miniature pigs of course! Reports in December 2009 revealed that former Spice Girl Victoria splashed out around £1,400 on a pair of little porkers and promptly named them Elton and David (after Messrs John and Furnish or course). Presumably she didn’t wrap them up and stick them under the tree in advance of the big day.

6. Gift Giver – Jake Gyllenhaal (Movie Star)
Gift Recipient – Taylor Swift (Country Music Star)
The Gift – Guitar

Donnie Darko and Jarhead star Jake, splashed out a reported $11,000 on a guitar for his then girlfriend, Taylor Swift on her 21st birthday. And this wasn’t just any guitar. This was a vintage axe made by Gretsch and signed by country music legend Chet Atkins. Let’s hope she doesn’t get tears all over it.

5. Gift Giver – Jackie Chan (Movie Star and Martial Artist)
Gift Recipient – Jaycee Chan (Jackie’s Son)
The Gift – Michael Jackson’s Glove

Jaycee Chan is actually something of a pop star in Taiwan and to celebrate the release of his new album “Luan,” father Jackie splashed the cash to buy him one of Michael Jackson’s sparkly gloves that the mega star was famous for wearing on stage. Jaycee was quoted as saying, “This is the coolest present my dad has given me in history”. The cost? A cool quarter of a million US dollars. Wow.

4. Gift Giver – Sharon Osbourne (Music Manager and Media Personality)
Gift Recipient – Ozzy Osbourne (Rock Star)
The Gift – Breast Implants

A weird one this – When Sharon Osbourne decided to have her 34 DD breast implants removed, she wasn’t just going to let the surgeon dispose of them (that would have been just too normal for the Osbourne’s wouldn’t it). Instead she is quoted as saying she planned to give them to husband Ozzy as a present, so he could use them as paperweights.

3. Gift Giver – Simon Cowell (Music Manager and X Factor Judge)
Gift Recipients – Cheryl Cole, Danii Minogue and Louis Walsh (X Factor Judges)
The Gift – Botox Treatment

As the final of the 2010 UK X factor competition finished and Matt Cardle walked away victorious, Mr Nasty himself Simon Cowell paid a visit to his fellow judges dressing rooms to give them each a somewhat tongue-in-cheek present to show his appreciation for their hard work on the show – £3,000 worth of vouchers for Botox treatment. Reportedly Cheryl and Danii weren’t too impressed with the connotation, although Louis was said to be delighted.

2. Gift Giver – Beyonce (Pop Star)
Gift Recipient – Jay Z (Rapper and Music Producer)
The Gift – Bugatti Veyron

Okay we’re stepping things up a gear now. For rapper Jay Z’s 41st birthday, wife and superstar in her own right, Beyonce, pulled out all the stops (I can only assume she got him a rubbish present for his 40th and had to make amends the following year). She ordered him a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport – an elite sports car which can go from 0-60 in just 2 and a half seconds! That’s insanely fast. The Bugatti set back Mrs Z an estimated $2 million.

1. Gift Giver – Tom Cruise (Movie Star)
Gift Recipient – Katie Holmes (TV and Movie Star)
The Gift – Gulfstream Jet

And finally we go from the sublime to the ridiculous. As their wedding day approached, the enigmatic Mr. Cruise presumably tried to pick out his bride a suitable wedding present, but instead settled on a wholly unsuitable customised Gulfstream Jet, at an expense of £20 million pounds! I’m not entirely sure how Tom wrapped it and snuck it in to the reception but I presume it was exactly what Katie wanted.

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About the Author: Written by Paul Eades from http://www.giftoria.co.uk – Paul is an experienced UK based writer and enjoys writing on a wide range of topics.

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7 Best Ways to Consistently Boost Your Credit Score

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:42:32 +0000

As the nation slowly recovers from the economic crisis and lending institutions continue to tighten the qualifications for obtaining new loans, potential borrowers need to be more proactive than ever in establishing and maintaining good credit. Although good credit doesn’t happen overnight, here’s a refresher course on the 7 best ways to consistently boost your personal credit score.

1. Never take your credit score for granted: A common misconception is that personal credit just sort of takes care of itself, and that reviewing credit scores is essentially a waste of time, being that all of our comings and goings in the credit world are reported accurately. The fact of the matter is that credit reports often contain discrepancies, misreporting’s of our activity that could have a negative impact on our credit rating. As a result we owe it to ourselves to review our credit reports at least once a year. This should be done ONLY through the website annualcreditreport.com, a site sanctioned by the FTC that allows you to obtain a yearly credit report free of charge, in a manner that will not adversely affect your credit score. Using any other website to obtain your credit can be costly, being that your personal information may be misused and your overall score could be jeopardized. Once you obtain the report, either online or via request over the phone, check for discrepancies and refute them if necessary by sending copies of all correct documentation via certified mail to the entity that issued the incorrect report.

2. Keep credit cards to a minimum: Although credit and debit card transactions are quickly becoming the standard for doing business, it’s important not to apply for more credit cards than you actually need. For example, when making a purchase at a store you visit infrequently, it’s best to avoid obtaining a store card to save more money on the purchase at hand. Each new application requires a credit check, and each credit check over the official annual report can negatively affect your credit rating and thus your ability to obtain credit when you really need it.

3. Maintain low balances: On those credit cards that you do use, try to keep the balances below 50% of the available credit (30% or less is ideal). Should you exceed your limit, make every effort to pay it down as quickly as possible to avoid the high fees and negative effect on your credit. When making payments, try to pay more than the minimum amount if you are carrying a high balance and always pay within the 30 day period to avoid late fees that will not only bring down your credit score but can make it very difficult if not impossible to get out from under the balance.

4. Avoid high interest rates: When applying for a loan or a credit card, avoid any companies that offer loans at unusually high interest rates. If you have a card with a steadily increasing interest rate, do all you can to pay off that card first, then use the freed up funds to pay down the next card with the highest interest.

5. Use older cards strategically: Once you succeed in paying down your oldest credit card, do not close the account as this will result in a lowering of your credit score. Instead, use it every 6 months for small purchases and pay it off on time to keep the positive credit report going. This can help to raise your score even if you have other high balance cards, providing you are keeping current on your payments. Being that older cards normally carry lower balances, they should also be designated as the ones to use in case of an emergency expenditure.

6. Negotiate better rates: Lending institutions do not profit from people who default on their loans. If you find your debt spinning out of control contact your lender and be honest about your debt situation. Then ask if you can negotiate a more reasonable rate or better payment options to help assist you during the payoff process. There’s a very good chance that the lender will work with you.

7. Stick with healthy spending habits: Once you are able to pay down your debt to a manageable amount it’s critical not to return to old spending habits. Budgeting takes discipline but can be very rewarding in the long run. Although paying off a credit balance is cause for celebration, it’s important to avoid that old urge to overspend. Finding new and moderate ways to reward your financial abilities will bring the best reward, namely the peace of mind that comes from living within your means.

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About the Author: Jason Robbins is a freelance writer who specializes in personal credit. Robbins has written various pieces about credit repair and what to look for when checking out credit repair companies.

The Most Renowned Cities in Europe for Pickpockets

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:41:33 +0000

Booking your yearly holiday is usually an exciting time for many of us and usually one of the most expensive purchases we will make during the year. It’s the one period where we should be able to relax for a week or two and enjoy what the location and cities in the region have to offer. Going on vacation also opens you up to a whole different set of situations and experiences that aren’t common in everyday life, and I don’t just mean the pleasant ones. Protecting your valuables should be high up on your list of things to consider while away from your home environment, and you can go a lot further than just utilising the safe in your hotel room.

If you’re planning a trip to a European city this year, it’s worth bearing in mind that many of the capitals and large cities are renowned for light fingered residents looking to prey on unsuspecting tourists. Pickpockets can usually be found at all of the large tourist traps such as historic monuments and they should not be underestimated, there is true art in the skill they have perfected. Here are some of the worst European cities for pickpockets.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and is not the Spanish capital. It is commonly regarded as the worst place in Europe to have your personal possessions poached from under your nose. In particular, Barcelona’s famous Boulevard, La Rambla, is notorious for pickpockets and some of the locals regard the crime as a sport. The area is also well known for prostitution, so not only is the area a bad place to take the family, it also doesn’t represent the best of Spain, which on a whole, is a fantastic country.

Rome, Italy

Rome is an utterly amazing city and a fantastic place to visit. The amount of history and culture available in the city is staggering and is a place I would recommend to anyone. Rome is also rampant with pickpockets and holiday makers are their main target. Rome’s resident pickpockets are fairly sophisticated and come in all ages, young children are known to take wallets and purses and the older thieves tend to dress up a little in smart clothing. Pickpockets in Rome are quite fond of creating uncomfortable situations by means of confrontation and the Metro is well known for pickpockets operating on stations and on trains. The best defense in Rome is to dress like the locals and keep your wits about you.

Madrid, Spain

Spain’s second offering to the list and this time it is the capital of the country. Madrid is another city where pick pocketing is a serious profession and many of the thieves won’t be kids. The El Rastro market is a well known hot spot, as is the Metro in the city. Thieves in Madrid are fond of distraction techniques, so be aware of people with coats over their arms or who may be pushing into you on the Metro while they rummage through your bag. Another clever tactic employed is for the thief to push a piece of paper between your eyes and your pocket while asking you to sign something like a petition.

Paris, France

I love Paris, it’s a fantastic city, but it too is another of the major European capitals that suffers from a spate of pickpockets. The Metro system is another favourite hot spot for thieves looking to make a day’s wage, as well as the major tourist attractions such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Even tourists at the top of the Eiffel Tower aren’t safe from the light fingered Parisians and at the base of the tower you can often find beggars looking for money who also have particularly light fingers.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

This came as a bit of a surprise to me when researching this topic because Amsterdam is a laidback and extremely safe city. If you are pick pocketed while visiting Amsterdam then it will probably be the worst thing to happen to you while in the city. The train from Schiphol International Airport to the city is a popular place for thieves to target tired travellers. While in the city, be aware of a few of the local’s favourite tricks such as using newspapers or jackets to conceal the crime while in a crowd, spilling something on your coat and offering to clean it, and sitting back to back with you in a restaurant and rifling through your coat pockets while it’s hung on the back of your chair.

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About the Author: Alex is a freelance internet marketer and copywriter working a company that specialises in luxury tailor made holidays. You can find him on Twitter @harvey1dash8.

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19 Tips for Buying Maternity Clothes

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:21:53 +0000

If this is your first rodeo, you’re either sprinting to Maternity Chic to dive into full-figured everything or feeling just plain fat. A growing form can be a huge mental hurdle for women who struggle with gaining weight or a welcome change for health-conscious folks. But regardless of how eager you are to cloak your growing bod, take heed to these much-needed tips to avoid a pile of maternity clothing debt. As a mom to soon-to-be three, I’ve made every mistake under the fluorescent strap-on belly sun. Save your budget and look good at the same time.

First Trimester

You may barf five times each day or feel like a completely normal person. Some women gain ten pounds during the first 13 weeks while others lose that much. The first portion of your pregnancy is a total mixed bag. You’ll start to feel different, regardless, and will need to make some clothing adjustments by the end.

1. Eat well, but not for two.

Getting started with the right portions and nutrition will not only save in potential health complications for you and your baby, but also in wardrobe costs. Excessive food intake for baby #1 (at the behest of every well-intentioned friend who said “eat for two”) not only added crazy amounts of weight to lose plus severe foot and back pain, but also sent me back to the maternity section many more times to buy ever increasing sizes. While you may need to purchase a few larger clothes toward the end of your pregnancy, keeping weight gain within the recommended guidelines (25-30 pounds) will avoid buying two or three sets of clothing. Carbs will stick to your gut and thighs like spitballs on a junior high ceiling.

2. Invest in a bigger bra.

The girls will swell early on, at least for most of us. If you’ve been comfortable in a B-cup, get ready to go to a C-cup. And while it isn’t necessary, you’ll want to avoid underwire as much as possible, so you may as well ditch the wire now. That extra supportive feature quickly becomes a straight jacket when your belly swells. And get fitted! Women at quality lingerie shops know exactly what will work for your size and shape.

3. Look for front pleated shirts before buying maternity counterparts.

One of the biggest shocks you’ll ever have is seeing how large you are after giving birth. You still look 6-months pregnant when you waltz out of the hospital. Depending on how much weight you put on, it will take up to 9 months to get back to your original size. Your pregnancy shirts worked great for a large belly but they’re cut to accommodate for a giant belly. Post-partum you’re just larger and frumpy. So as much as you can make use of the billowing, pleated style right now, do it! Daisy Fuentes top or several pleated Apt 9 options, both from Kohls, are long enough to cover your new tummy mileage for several months while also looking great when the baby comes.

4. Buy a few larger shirts and “flexible” pants.

Early on is not the time to go crazy at Maternity Central. Buy one or two traditional pants and shirts in larger sizes rather than pants with the elastic band. They are more comfortable and you’ll wear them longer.

5. Only buy one or two band pants.

During my first pregnancy I was convinced that the full tummy coverage pant would be ridiculously hot and uncomfortable. But after a dozen pairs of elastic band jeans and the full panel pant, I wouldn’t trade one full-coverage for all twelve! Elastic waistbands always curl and are just uncomfortable. Plus they roll down like a snowball as soon as you develop a belly. Yes, they can be worn longer after delivering, but I’d much rather have a larger pair of pants than deal with bulky elastic. If you do buy them, reinforce the band with several vertical stitches so it doesn’t separate from the fabric pocket.

6. Buy a waist extender to use your regular clothing.

With fun names like the Tummy Tube and Bella Band it’s hard to resist this splurge. Essentially fancy tube tops, these circular hose-like bands hold up your britches so you can continue wearing the same pants. I wouldn’t recommend trying to wear thick denim with a band as they wiggle out too easily, but thinner dress pants work very well with them. Another trick that pushes you well into the second trimester without much shopping is an elastic button extender.

Second Trimester

This is the fun part, where your bump is cute and small and looks like a model at the maternity store. Most women lose the nausea and start to enjoy their (obvious) body changes. New clothing is definitely in order during these few months.

1. Purchase regular jackets and sweaters.

Open cardigans and wrap sweaters are hot right now and will fit you! The maternity store has the same version of these cover-ups, but they will only fit well during your big-belly months. Buy a size or two larger than you normally wear and they will do for all but a few weeks toward the end (when nothing fits anyway). You’ll be much warmer than usual so jackets aren’t that big of a priority.

2. Rouched shirts actually slim.

You may have avoided the side-pleated shirts with “rouching” for fear that they make you look even larger. But the pleating across the front makes your growing tummy look more prominent than the extra chub you’ve put on the sides. It’s the vanishing point in action. Buying rouched shirts will also allow more fabric for your belly to expand.

3. Avoid exclusively maternity stores.

Before heading to Future Mother Central check out your favorite stores’ maternity options first. Digs like Old Navy, Gap, Ann Taylor Loft, and JCPenney have great options and less restrictive return requirements than traditional maternity stores. I’ve found the best prices for maternity during sales at JCPenney and Gap rather than exclusive maternity outlets. And don’t forget Target, Kohls, and Walmart too. The quality of clothing at Motherhood Maternity isn’t nearly as durable as clothing from other retailers. A Pea in the Pod has some really attractive options, but I wouldn’t spend the bulk of your maternity budget there.

4. No more heels.

Flats are in, so take advantage of it! According to a recent study at Iowa State University in Ames, wearing heels causes significant knee damage, adds to poor posture and unnaturally shortens the calf muscle by about 13%. Add 20-35 pounds to that pressure and you can cause serious long-term damage. You need to live in comfortable flats that support your growing body.

5. Buy what fits now with a little room to grow.

“How huge will I get?” is always a lingering question for pregnant women. At some point, ladies, you will be enormous. Those model pictures you see of stick-thin armed women at Japanese Weekend are about six or seven months pregnant. Your final girth will amaze you. So buy for clothing that fits now with a little room to expand (outward) and don’t worry so much about covering all your bases for the length of your pregnancy.

6. Hang-dry all clothing, especially shirts.

The biggest complaint I have about overtly marketed maternity shirts is they’re often as short as regular shirts. Make absolute sure your maternity clothing is long enough. You can squeeze into a top that’s a bit too narrow, but nothing is more unsightly than a nude-colored band popping out under your short shirt. Hang every shirt to dry, stretching it length-wise just a bit.

Third Trimester

Well-meaning fools will start to ask if you “are due any day?” at 7-months and they deserve a swift kick in the nether regions for it. The belly will grow and grow and you will feel like a freak. Those last few weeks are excruciatingly long and increasing. Just know that you’ll soon be delivered from breathing pains and uncomfortable nights.

1. Stick to dresses and skirts for comfort.

Dresses will become your best friend during this last push. If you have a winter due date, stick some tights under a dress and throw on a comfy cardigan. Wearing light-weight cotton dresses is like waltzing around in pajamas–you just can’t beat it at your size! And summer baby-mommas should live in swimsuits at the pool. No excuses.

2. Choose highly flexible fabrics.

Blouse material is out. Stick to cottons and breathable polyester blends. Anything that stretches will become your best friend. Depending on your size, you may just look large regardless of what you wear (which is naturally what happens when you make a baby), so you’ll need to aim for comfort.

3. Don’t be afraid to go up a size.

Even if you were a medium before getting pregnant, don’t be afraid to try clothing a size larger for this last push of pregnancy. The worst thing you could do is squeeze into clothing too small and be even more miserable during the last few weeks. Expect to retain extra water toward the end. When the 9th month rolls around, you probably won’t fit many of your maternity clothes anyway. Yoga pants will become your best friend.

4. Buy a nursing bra that fits your 8-month size.

The girls have grown to their full size by about now. While this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule (since they will be slightly larger during the first months of nursing), you can buy a good nursing bra and start breaking it in. Bravado Designs makes several comfortable and supportive bras that will carry you through to the next stage.

5. Avoid adding bulk with excessive pleating.

Now is not the trimester to bring out the billowy tops. They will only accentuate your width. Stick with tailored and fitted tops in muted tones that don’t scream “I’m my own continent!” Flowing, unshapely things are great for a smaller bump, but they just don’t work for the third trimester.

6. Not every full-paneled pant is created equal.

You’ll need a full-paneled pant at some point, so buy a good one. Look for hose-like, firm panels that stretch easily, but hold well. Motherhood’s Secret Belly jeans are lightweight and very comfortable–at $44 they aren’t the cheapest on the market, but the wash well and feel great. Cotton panels sag with denim and thicker fabrics, and the last thing you need is to pull your pants up while you’re trying to hoist your giant body up as well. If it feels like forgiving tights, you’re on the right track. Plan to spend more for a good full-panel jean or short, but it’s worth every dime.

7. No more underwire bras.

Unless you plan on suffocating yourself, don’t wear underwire. It will be an amazing relief to ditch the wire after putting up with months of discomfort. And you might never go back it after delivering!

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About the Author: Ashley writes about fashion for the Go Frugal blog on FreeShipping.org, where she covers topics like buying maternity clothes for less from internet-based discount stores like Overstock.com and Amazon.com. Check out the blog for more great tips!

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America’s the Most Popular Unisex Baby Names

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 21:29:58 +0000

What makes a name “unisex,” or androgynous? In the United States, the incredibly helpful baby names data published annually by the Social Security Administration provides the needed insight.

A reasonable measure of whether a name is unisex or not is whether the same name appears in the Top 1000 names of the year as reported by Social Security. If a name does appear in both the boys’ and girls’ columns, it can be fairly described as unisex to some degree. Since Social Security ranks the Top 1000 names according to popularity, we are able to see exactly how popular a name may be, both for boys and girls. Then, by giving a weighted average to each name, we can rank unisex names in their actual order of popularity.

At last count, based on the most recent data, there were 68 unisex names in America’s top 1000 names. This is an increase over the number of unisex names in the previous decade, which was below 60. So the incidence of unisex names, consciously or not, is on the rise. Furthermore, several of America’s top names fit into the androgynous category.

The top twenty American unisex names for 2009 are as follows:

1. Riley 11. Cameron 2. Peyton 12. Logan 3. Jordan 13. Morgan 4. Jayden 14. Dakota 5. Alexis 15. Kayden 6. Angel 16. Dylan 7. Hayden 17. Parker 8. Avery 18. Ryan 9. Taylor 19. Reese 10. Payton 20. London

Clearly, some of America’s favorite names are androgynous, including top names such as Riley, Jordan, Jayden, Cameron, Dylan, and Ryan. As it happens, most of the names are favored much more by one gender than the other, so the unisex quality of a name may not be readily apparent in day-to-day terms. Hayden and Dakota, however, are fairly well-balanced between the sexes, with Dakota split nearly 50-50 between girls and boys.

Of the top ten names, Jordan, Jayden, Hayden, and Angel are currently favored more by boys, while the remaining six are more heavily female. But some, such as Riley, Peyton, Jordan, and Jayden are chosen in sufficient numbers by both genders that it would be hazardous to guess at the gender of any individual with one of these names without prior knowledge. The same can be said, to a lesser degree, of the remaining top 20 unisex names.

2009 was the year that saw Jordan lose the # 1 spot for unisex names for the first time in at least ten years. For more than a decade, Jordan reigned supreme as America’s best-loved unisex name. Now, the more trendy Riley has taken its place, and the hugely popular Peyton has grabbed the number two spot.

One interesting sidelight is that several of the newest, most trendy American names also happen to be unisex. This group includes upstarts like Harper, Rylan, Finley, River, Reece, and Armani. Time will tell where these new names land on the gender scale.

Perhaps at no time in history have so many new names been entering the American vocabulary in such large numbers as today. Spurred on by the trend towards unique names, which shows no sign of slowing down, newly-coined names seem to sprout overnight. Many of these names, freshly-minted and with no real history, tend to be claimed by both girls and boys (or rather their parents), awaiting the time when one side or the other wins the tug-of-war. At that time, a name frequently finds its permanent home on one side of the fence or the other. And just as frequently, when one unisex name fades from the scene, another one swiftly appears to take its place.

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About the Author: Neil Street is co-publisher of Baby Names Garden, a comprehensive baby names resource.

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A Top 5 “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Episodes” For The Uninitiated

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:19:25 +0000

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia has been running for over 5 years now. In that time we’ve seen the four misanthropic monsters “grow” across 70 fantastic episodes whilst tackling each and every social ill including solvent abuse, prostitution, gambling, gun crime and even Christmas present theft. And all in the name of comedy.

But there are still literally millions of people out there who have yet to watch a single episode of this groundbreaking show. I know! Ridiculous behaviour! I honestly don’t know how people like that can live with themselves.

It occurred to me that perhaps they feel that because they’re joining the party so late they’ll never pick up the plot enough to enjoy the show. This is, of course, nonsense. “Always Sunny” (as we fans know it) works as a comedy no matter when you first join the Paddy’s Pub party.

There are some particular episodes though that will give you a good understanding of the characters (Dennis, Sweet Dee, Charlie, Mac and Frank) and of the show as a whole so if you’re unsure where to start and you can’t be bothered working your way through all six seasons in order then I present, for your entertainment and edification, a top 5 Always Sunny episodes for the uninitiated.

You can thank me later.

Underage Drinking: A National Concern

This is the third episode from Always Sunny’s first season, and was also the first episode I ever saw. When I went back to watch the first two episodes themselves I was very surprised to find that neither served as well as series openers as Underage Drinking: A National Concern.

The plot of this episode revolves around the unusual relationship that develops between The Gang and a large group of high school kids who are busted for underage drinking in the bar at the beginning of the episode.

This is a great taster episode of Always Sunny as the relationship with the schoolkids causes the gang to revert to their own high school personalities and we see that they are really not that different now.

Dennis is and was a vain sociopath, Dee is and was socially inept, Charlie is a hopeless romantic and pushover and Mac is just, well, really, really uncool.

Dennis and Dee Go On Welfare

In this, the fourth episode of season two, we are shown in graphic detail just what the Reynolds twins are willing to do for an easy life and what Mac and Charlie do with a little trust (which is to abuse it, of course).

As the episode opens Dennis and Dee decide that they are meant for bigger and better things than just working in a bar their whole lives. They sign up for unemployment benefit while they work out their next move. Their next move turns out to just be drinking on the front step in the sunshine.

Once the unemployment money dries up they apply for welfare. When they find they don’t qualify they decide to become crack addicts. Huh, what? Yep, you read that right. They deliberately become crack addicts to just to claim welfare.

Meanwhile Charlie has been letting Frank (played by Danny DeVito, a new addition to the Gang in season two) hide money in his bank account. In short order Mac persuades Charlie to make some withdrawals for a low-key evening out. This of course spirals out of control into top hats, tuxedos, limousines and a bevy of, erm, “ladies of the night.”

This episode clearly demonstrates that you can never rely on the gang to do the right, smart or even safe thing if they think that they can get something out of it.

The Gang Solves The Gas Crisis

This is perhaps my favourite episode of all (with one possibly other contender to follow next).

The second episode of season four finds that Charlie has been running the bar off a petrol generator to save money on their electricity bill. This leads them to try to make money on the rising price of gasoline by buying it in bulk and then selling it off later to turn a tidy profit.

In the pursuit of this dream they try to seduce an assistant bank manager (badly), blow gasoline fireballs to draw in crowds (disastrously) and inadvertently end up persecuting some poor guy who just wants to watch TV golf in peace.

What really appeals to me about this episode is how the gang hits upon the idea that they need to follow the dynamic of successful teams from 80s pop culture, namely the Ghostbusters, Scooby Doo’s gang and the A-Team. Mac is the brains (apparently), Dennis the looks and Charlie is the wildcard, a badge he wears with glee. The gang, you see, view themselves as cool, larger-than-life TV characters, even as they meander through their pedestrian existences, blissfully unaware of how the people around them view their odd existence.

The D.E.N.N.I.S. System

Another contender for my favourite ever episode is this Machiavellian gem from season five.

You see, Dennis has “a foolproof system for seducing any woman” he desires. That system is The D.E.N.N.I.S. System, and it runs like this:

D – Demonstrate Value
E – Engage physically
N – Nurture dependence
N – Neglect emotionally
I – Inspire Hope
S – Separate entirely

At the start of the episode he has already “separated entirely” from Caylee, a beautiful young pharmacist but he uses the system to win her back to prove his sister wrong.

Meanwhile we find that Dennis’s awful roommate and business partner has his own system, The M.A.C. system, as in “move in after completion” i.e. once Dennis is “finished with these girls” Mac moves in to give them a shoulder to cry on. Mac insists he is not “bogarting these chicks,” instead he is “swimming in [Dennis’s] wake.”

The hapless Charlie attempts to use The D.E.N.N.I.S. System to woo the waitress with less than stellar results whereas Frank misses any slight amount of subtlety in the system and, well, you’ll just have to watch it yourself to see what Frank does…

Interestingly the victim of The D.E.N.N.I.S. System in this episode is actress and model Jill Latiano who married Glenn “Dennis Reynolds” Howerton in 2009, having met him during the filming of this episode. Huh. I guess The D.E.N.N.I.S. System works after all.

The Gang Buys A Boat

This season six episode is another great chapter that can also act as a perfect introduction to the show as a whole.

The Gang has made some money from a particular business venture (that they’re not supposed to talk about) and decide to invest it in a boat, The Drowning Sailor. This rust bucket is meant to be their ticket to a new life of excitement and romance on the ocean wave but it soon descends into predictable disarray.

This episode clearly underlines Charlie’s role in the group, that of the put-upon servant, tasked with all of the “Charlie work,” i.e. all of the tasks that are too unappealing and/or dangerous to be tackled by the rest of the self-centred gang.

One of the funniest (and most chilling) moments is when Dennis explains to Mac that owning a boat will lead to plenty of sex because of “the implication” of girls being on the boat alone with them in the middle of the ocean. Mac’s horrified response mirrors what the audience feels about Dennis’s plan and gives a glimpse into what a twisted character Mr Reynolds really is.

Another fantastic thing about The Gang Buys A Boat is that it proves once again, should proof be needed, that It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is still as inventive and laugh-out-loud funny as it ever was. Co-creators Rob “Mac” McElhenney, Glenn “Dennis” Howerton and Charlie “Charlie” Day are contracted to deliver a seventh season to FX for the fall 2011 season. Whether this fantastic show will continue on for any subsequent seasons is anyone’s guess.

But if it doesn’t continue beyond season seven then FX will surely end up kicking themselves (if I don’t do it for them!)

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About the Author: Dominic James Muncle is the chief writer for Cable, a UK based TV, broadband and phone comparison website. He lives and works in the sometimes sunny Staffordshire area of Great Britain.

Would you like to publish a guest blog article with Romow blogs? Submit an original article, and we will be happy to consider it for publication.

8 Common Problems in Web Development and How to Avoid Them

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 03:12:19 +0000

Like your business, you should consider your website a constant work-in-progress, one that must be flexible enough to change with the needs of your clients, improve with the advancements in your products and respond to shifts in the market of your industry. To make sure that your business has an advantage over competitors, you’ll also need to stay on the cutting edge of progress in web design, online advertising and internet marketing strategies which means frequently considering how your website can be developed to maintain a high level of online performance.

In order to allow for future development of your website, you’ll need to put a plan in place from the outset that allows easy modification of the initial content and structure. To help you out with this, we’ve put together a list of some common website planning and design mistakes that can hamper the functionality and future development of your site (plus some tips on how to avoid them):

1. Disorganization: It may sound simple, but you should keep copies of all the content that is on your website, or that you plan to add to your website, in an ordered manner on your hard drive. Having copies of all the elements on your website, and new information you hope to add, stored in easily accessible and well-ordered files will save you a lot of time when it comes to adding new content and features.

2. No room to grow: Your website should be built around a structure that allows for easy expansion of each theme or section. If it is likely that a particular section of the website will expand from one page to several you should ensure that you select a basic design that allows for extensive addition of content in the future.

3. Use of Flash: Unless your website necessarily includes complex design elements, including flash in your web development plan can cause problems for your customers by slowing the load time of pages. Flash also does not show up in search results and does not run on most smart phones and personal wireless devices. When it comes to redeveloping your website, video, rather than flash, is a feature that is successful in capturing the attention of your customers and is also very search-friendly.

4. Crash: As your company develops and your products and services gain more widespread popularity you may find that the amount of visitors to your website increases dramatically. It is therefore important to make sure that all elements of your website can be adjusted accordingly (graphic files that allow for compression in size and dynamic elements that can be replaced for example) to prevent your website crashing with increased traffic.

5. Information overload: As your website grows in the course of development and begins to cover an increasing amount of topics and contain greater quantities of information, it may become difficult for visitors to find exactly what they are looking for. Including a search box in your original design will allow for easier navigation of your site in the first instance and help to filter information to customers in a way that is relevant and under their control.

6. Insecurity: When your website begins to contain an increased amount of information and boasts a greater amount of daily traffic, security risks can also increase. To prevent hacking and unauthorised access to your customer databases and confidential company information, it is crucial to establish and maintain secure operating systems and coding.

7. Immobile: As people increasingly use their mobile phones and other hand-held wireless devices to access websites, it is absolutely imperative to ensure that the developments you implement on your website are compatible with all manner of mobile platforms. Nothing will frustrate visitors to your site more than if they are trying to access information on the go and your site will not display.

8. Cross browser compatibility: Another possible problem that must be taken into account with any new web development is the site’s incompatibility with some of the most popular web browsers. To make sure that your clients don’t become ‘cross browsers’ themselves, make sure you rigorously test your website for cross browser compatibility.

Finally, it is most important to find a web designer that will listen to your web development needs and be equipped to advise you on the best way to prepare and implement a solution.

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About the Author: This guest post is written by John, who writes for Infinite IT Solutions that offers services like web design, SEO, online marketing, email market and web development in Melbourne to their clients for a decade now.

Are you interested in guest blogging with Romow blogs? Send us an unpublished original article, and we will be happy to review it for publication.