Trampoline Theme Parks
> Posted by Moniker in Law
The advent of trampolines is a relatively recent phenomenon, as the invention and development is rooted firmly in the 20th century. It probably has roots that are much, much older, because it does seem to connect very directly to the desire for flight. In terms of the constructed contraption, however, it’s a thoroughly modern phenomenon. The trampoline has become the center of many theme parks, and not coincidentally, theme park accidents . The available data does seem to suggest that their safety is very much contested, and there are some very vocal opponents to their use in any form.
Nevertheless, they are very popular, and there are plenty of amusement centers that are considered to be rather safe for children and adults. One can find theme parks that feature trampolines all over the world. There are small and humble parks in nearly every city in the country. There are also some daunting and impressive versions in places as far away as Kuwait . Whether or not this testifies to an almost universal human desire for flight might be up for question. Yet it does point to the notion that seeking fun is not something limited to one culture, or one time, but has been part of human consciousness for centuries.
read comments (1)Drunk Driving Goes By Many Names
> Posted by Moniker in Law
For decades the public has been lectured about the horrors of drunk driving. Statistics, accident reports, and personal pleas have all been used quite effectively by organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) to appeal to both the public at large and to legislatures across the country. In attempting to reduce the number of fatal traffic accidents due to drunk drivers, these organizations have lobbied state governments to institute stricter and stricter laws against driving under the influence.
Because drunk driving laws are created and enforced at the state level, there are a lot of differences between them. The most obvious is what they are called. While DUI (driving under the influence) is by far the most common phrase, there are actually many other terms in use.
Driving while intoxicated ( DWI ) is the next most common legal term. In some cases it is Driving While Impaired. For both DUI and DWI the emphasis is on the impairment of the driver, which can be from drugs or other intoxicants as well as alcohol. In fact, the words “drunk” and “alcohol” do not appear in any of the common legal terms used. This is because while “drunk” is the term most commonly used in popular culture, there are many other ways to impair one’s judgment and become a road risk.
Several states use the term “operating” rather than “driving” to indicate that boats, planes, and other non automotive vehicles are also subject to these laws. OUI, OWI, OMVI, OVI, and OVWI all make use of this term. Some states have adopted the more obvious BUI ( Boating Under the Influence ) to enact separate legislation for marine offenses. A few states even add the word “unlawful” to their offenses, such as Unlawful Blood Alcohol Level (UBAL) and Driving with an Unlawful Blood Alcohol Level (DUBAL).
Business Cards Make a Statement
> Posted by Moniker in Business
The old fashioned calling card was originally used to announce the arrival of guests making a social call, including those who had called while the host was away from home. These cards later evolved to include contact information for those who met in a business environment. Today, business cards are used for identification, marketing, and as a way to keep track of contacts.
A good business card is going to manage to meet all three criteria while standing out from the many other cards a recipient collects over time. Cards should be designed to provide the necessary information. Who the company or employee is and what goods or services they provide is essential business card content. Cards should also indicate where the company is based and the best ways to contact them or the specific, titled employee. This usually means at least a phone number if not an email address, website URL, or even social media profiles.
If standing out weren’t a consideration in business cards, everyone would have plain white cards with plain black lettering. Instead, cards come in all colors, textures, and even slightly odd shapes. There are plastic business cards as well as different thicknesses of cardstock. Logos, taglines, and other features are used to make it easier to associate a company or individual with a given card. The goal is to create a clear statement that is memorable and, thus, easily retrievable when needed.
Dreaming of a Nursery
> Posted by Moniker in Home
If you are a first-time expectant parent you are likely being inundated with advice. It sometimes seems as if everyone in the world is an expert on parenting — even people who don’t have children will have read an article or have stories of things from their siblings and inlaws . And all that information will be forwarded or otherwise shared with you until you feel like you are literally drowning in child development theories.
When this happens, you may want to hide in a closet and turn off your phone. While the latter is a good idea, there are better places to retreat to than a closet. Focusing on one project is a good way to recharge your batteries while still being productive. So why not spend some time planning the nursery that will be the first home of your new offspring?
You can literally lose hours browsing through the offerings at land of nod . Don’t worry about things like safety or theories of the effect of certain colors on infants. Allow yourself to just sink into the options available and pick the ones that resonate with you and your partner. What do you want to give your baby? What colors, furniture styles, and accessories will make you want to spend time in the nursery with your newborn?
There will be plenty of time later to make adjustments to your choices based on all that advice you’ve accumulated. For now just make it a place that you and your child can enjoy together.
Becoming a Loan Officer
> Posted by Moniker in Careers
During the recent real estate boom many people made a fortune handling residential mortgages. As the market begins to recover in many parts of the country, some people think it is the perfect time to get into the game. They need to realize that they can’t just set up shop as a loan officer or mortgage broker. In order to be employed by a mortgage bank or broker firm, they will need to obtain the appropriate state license. They will also need that license if they want to open their own firm.
The requirements for mortgage brokers and loan officers are determined by each state, usually by the banking department or commission. As a result of the recent crash, there are some federal guidelines set for licensing, but those have been incorporated into the state requirements. All states require that individuals complete extensive Loan Officer Training . They must provide documentation of the training as well as pass appropriate exams proving they have mastered federal and state mortgage law and understand lending practices as well as products.
In addition to education, most states require that brokers and loan officers pass extensive background and credit checks. They usually must be fingerprinted and may have to purchase liability insurance. The requirements vary from state to state, so the first step is contacting the state agency to find out what is involved and to obtain the necessary application and other paperwork.
Licensing and education requirements don’t stop once the initial license is granted. States routinely require continuing education and additional checks when licenses are renewed.
Protecting Your Guns from Burglars
> Posted by Moniker in Home
One of the reasons that many people decide to purchase a gun is for personal safety. They feel that if someone were to break into their home or attack them they would be better equipped to protect themselves and their family if they have a firearm. What some people fail to realize is that when they are not home their guns are left out for anyone to take and potential cause harm with. Owning a gun is as much about knowing how to use it to keep yourself safe as it is keeping your gun out of the wrong hands.
It is unfortunate that many gun owners make little to no effort to hide their guns from intruders. And others keep them slightly concealed in a closet or under the bed. While this may work for burglars who are attempting a quick “in and out” job, it won’t do much to protect them against burglars who have time on their side.
The best way to protect your guns is with a gun safe . There are small wall gun safes that most burglars wouldn’t think to look for as well as larger gun cabinets for bigger guns. If you decide on a larger gun cabinet it is important that the safe is able to be bolted to the floor. There are also some that have special locks that can detect when the lock has been broken and relock themselves.
No matter what type of gun or guns you have, security is important and keeping your guns out of the wrong hands can be a matter of life and death.
Romantic Costumes for Couples
> Posted by Moniker in Leisure
There’s nothing grown men dread more than their wife or girlfriend suggesting they dress up as a romantic couple for a costume party. They are instantly bombarded with mental images of wearing matching Prince and Princess outfits or something else involving tights — or worse. They can find a way to make their honey happy while still preserving their own dignity by bringing up some alternative couple costumes.
Action-minded men can suggest they go as a spy couple from a movie or TV show. A closely related alternative would be a superhero and his sweetie, such as Spider-Man and MJ or Superman and Lois Lane — although then the tights would be an issue, but at least they would be superhero tights. Anti-heros like Bonnie and Clyde would fit in this category.
Another option is musical lovers — but modern ones. John & Yoko, Paul & Linda McCartney, Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear, Sonny & Cher even Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. There are also star-crossed rock couples like Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, Kid Rock & Pamela Anderson, and Ike & Tina Turner.
And if she still wants something that seems more romantic, suggest beauty and the beast costumes — but the secondary characters, like the candlestick and the mop, which adds a bit of whimsy to the romantic. Just because it’s her idea to go as a romantic couple, doesn’t mean the final choice of costume has to be her idea as well.
Term Life Insurance for Key People
> Posted by Moniker in Money
Companies are finding that they have to protect their assets in order to ensure long-term stability. In some cases, their very survival as a company rests on their ability to recover from any crisis or catastrophe. This is why so many companies have extensive liability insurance as well as insurance against the value of various assets. One asset that companies should really look into protecting is their staff.
While it’s true that most companies offer forms of health insurance and even disability insurance in order to help keep their employees fit for work or to allow them to navigate a serious illness or accident and return to work as quickly as possible. However, companies also need to protect themselves against the ultimate crisis — the death of any of the key people in their organization. This can be accomplished by taking out a special term life insurance policy.
Key people would most likely include the owner or owners of the company as well as executives. It should also include any top managers, sales staff, or anyone who is responsible for an aspect of the company’s operations that significantly impacts business success and stability. It’s easy to get a key person term life insurance quote online or by contacting a trusted insurance agent. While the insurance won’t replace the knowledge and experience lost by the death of an important employee, it will provide the company with benefits to help them survive while they search for a replacement.
A Practical Approach to Window Treatments
> Posted by Moniker in Home
For many of us the current recession has hit hard and forced us to tighten our budgets. As a result, there is not much left to spend on decorating or accessorizing the house .
There are many items that you can do without when it comes to decorating your home. Wall art and fun accessories, although they might be deeply desired, are not essentials. Window treatments, however, are necessary. More than just looking nice, window treatments provide privacy and more security for your home and your family.
Some window treatments can be costly; from expensive curtain roads to elaborate curtains and fancy tiebacks. For several windows the cost can really add up fast. Fortunately, there is another option that is more affordable and more simplified but definitely just as stylish.
Blinds, like those available at Next Day Blinds , are one of the most popular options. Horizontal to vertical, mini to full size, blinds will fit any style and any budget. Not only that, but they fit nearly every room of the house from the living room to the kids’ rooms .
For even more style and flare there are shades, many are on display at Next Day Blinds Rockville. They come in a variety of colors, styles, fabrics, and materials.
The best thing is, practically speaking, all of these options can be used alone and still look great. They are simple, no fuss, easy to clean options that could be added to later, but for now they are looking good.
Internships Have Many Benefits
> Posted by Moniker in Careers
Many college students seriously consider taking an internship at some point in their studies. Besides being a way to get college credit while earning money, there are other internship benefits that can tip the scale in favor of this pursuit.
Internships help students begin to develop a professional network . Getting to know people in a potential career field can be invaluable when it comes time to find that first job after graduation. Interns can also use their fledgling networks to determine if the career is right for them, not just whether a specific company is a good fit.
Internships can be a great place to find mentors. Students may be assigned a mentor as part of their internship or may simply be exposed to a wealth of potential mentors both in their workplace and in their growing business network. Savvy interns will keep a watch for established, successful individuals that can provide insight and share experiences that will be invaluable during the current internship and continue throughout their college years and future career.
Interns develop work skills such as teamwork, time management, and general business procedures. These are in addition to job specific skills. These skills, and the overall work experience will look good to prospective employers once the student enters the job market, degree in hand.
Some internships actually turn into business opportunities. Organizations like Southwestern Company encompass a variety of individual companies in different fields. Successful completion of their internship program can lead to at least an interview at one or more of the member companies. Some companies regularly hire from their intern pool, which is an important fact to research before choosing an internship.
Whether or not an internship leads directly to employment after graduation, there is no question that a successful internship program, or series of internships throughout college, can greatly impact the life of most students.