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How Much Should You Spend When Hiring A DJs

What is a DJ?

DJ is the short form for disc jockey. A DJ is someone who plays the music you hear on radio stations, internet radio stations, local bars and dance clubs, and even at wedding receptions. A disc jockey will consider their target audience when selecting the tracks to be played and often has a set list given to them by the company they work for.

Successful DJs commonly have some specific personality traits and accept the lifestyle that comes with the career.

Personality • A love of music: Without the love you’re nothing more than a jukebox. – Josh Chambers, Professional DJ • Comfortable with networking and meeting people: necessary to build a fan base and establish professional contacts • Fun-loving and outgoing: excitement translates to the audience and makes them respond in a similar way • Versatile: versatility in both music genres and use of music technologies is key • Adaptable: no two gigs or audiences are exactly alike • Hunger for knowledge and improvement: music technologies and trends are constantly evolving

Lifestyle • Weekend and late night work is typical; work/family life balance can be challenging. • Beginner DJs usually hold down day jobs and start off by playing on slower nights. • Many new DJs offer to play sets for free so that venue managers get to know them, their work ethic, and how audiences react to them.

To further help you decide whether a career as a DJ may be for you, here are some insights and advice from working DJs:

• Practise, practise, practise. • Learn how to mix on more than one device. Technology can backfire on you easily. Always show up with your laptop, CDs, and a USB stick to make sure you can play no matter what happens. • If you’re not writing music that is getting released, you will never make it to the next level. • Learn to play an instrument or at least take a course in music theory • The best part of the job is seeing people enjoy music as much as you do. • The worst parts of the job are managing the odd technical disaster and dealing with drunk or high audience members and with some shady promoters. • The biggest misconception about the job is that the work stops when you leave the building. The best DJs are always listening for new remixes and are always ready to build a relationship with a vendor, venue owner, or other DJs.

What does a Disc Jockey really do?

DJs are the performers. They are the ones that travel, go club to club, they in effect promote the music that is produced in studios around the world. They create sets based on the music they like, the selection of those tracks and how they are played, creates a sound that appeals to a certain groups of listeners.

DJs play an important role in showcasing new music and many themselves produce music as well. Some DJ sets are a standard beat mix, where tempos are matched and the songs are blended together, but many totally reinterpret and remix tracks making an old favourites new again by rearranging and resampling songs with other samples.

Certain clubs around the world are known for the genre of music they host, some clubs will showcase multiple genres over different nights, these club nights attract the DJs who play in the particular genre eg Progressive House, Dub Step, Techno etc. Cities themselves have a sound that they are known for that has been shaped by DJs eg Detroit and Berlin.

DJs can make or break a party, and for those that do put on a show, people come back. Its an experience and a story people can share. No different from any other musical act. They are putting on a show, they are entertainers.

To perform DJs use different types of technical setups. Some use software such as Native Instrument’s Traktor or Ableton Live, some CD-Js or turntables. The DJ setup has been evolving rapidly over the years as technology becomes more affordable.

The scratch action you refer to has been traditionally done on a turntable but can be emulated in software. It’s was made famous in hip-hop where the scratching becomes the prominent part of the set. Some DJs specialise in this artform and are known as turntablists.

So what does a Disk Jockey do? Well that depends on what music they play, where they are playing, what technical setup they have and how good they are at connecting with fans through the set they put together

How DJs are different from music composers?

A DJ traditionally plays pre recorded music in clubs. There are a lot of skills associated with DJing in a club. Beat Matching, track choice etc etc.

If we’re talking in terms of the dance music world still, a music composer is the one who creates the music. They either write it for someone else to produce or (more frequently these days) they record it themselves.

Some DJs actually compose their own music too. But the act of DJing itself, is not the same as composing.

Note. Re Editing someone elses music is not the same as composing.

Disc Jockey Career Video Transcript

Part researcher and part public personality, announcers and disc jockeys—or DJs— use writing skills and a pleasant speaking voice to share news and information with the public. Broadcast announcers and radio DJs present music or the news and comment on important current events. Announcers who host talk shows usually research and discuss issues with guests and audience members in a subject such as politics, personal finance, sports, or health.

Announcers and DJs schedule guests for their shows, maintain a social media presence to encourage a following, and develop other creative content such as contests and events. They also give updates on weather and traffic conditions. Some work as sports team announcers, party DJs, and event MCs, providing background information and entertaining the audience or detailing the event as it unfolds for the listening audience.

Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys usually work full-time schedules in soundproof studios. Shows are usually recorded during the day for later broadcast or podcasts, but some announcers broadcast live, and may work late night hours, weekends or holidays. Deadlines and tight work schedules are common in these fields. Broadcast announcers and radio DJs typically need a bachelor’s degree in journalism, broadcasting, or communications to enter the field, but some jobs may not emphasize educational requirements. They typically need previous experience gained from internships or from working at a college radio or television station.

Disc Jockey Responsibilities:

  • Reviewing the weekly and daily playlist.
  • Ensuring music and commercials are played on schedule.
  • Introducing weather, traffic, and news presenters.
  • Taking music requests and engaging with listeners.
  • Responding to social media interactions.
  • Presenting on-air competitions.
  • Interviewing guests.
  • Presenting sponsored live events.
  • Mixing and playing music at sponsored events.
  • Presenting live on-air advertisements.
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Loading Services Help

We Know How to Move People

Search our navigation for the moving service you’re looking for. Save tons by hiring pros only for as long as you need them, or comparison shop for the big moving service of your dreams. We’ll crunch numbers to make sure it’s the cheapest and most highly reviewed service available in your area.

Get Only the Labor You Need

didn’t become the most highly reviewed place for moving services because we sold people stuff they didn’t need. Avoid that dreaded, giant moving quote by getting professionals who’ll only do what you need done.

Book Affordable Pros to Load Your Moving Truck for You

Imagine if loading a truck took a few mouse clicks, not a gym membership. Our loaders are pros at loading rental trucks, moving containers or freight trailers.

Need a Moving Truck?

Still looking for the perfect moving truck to make your move? We’ve got all the average prices and honest reviews for every major moving truck company inside

Best Moving Labor Companies

What should you look for in a moving labor company?

There are four things you should look for in a moving labor company:

Local and long-distance availability. Most moving companies aren’t available nationwide, so you need to find one that’s available in your area. If you’re looking for a hourly labor to help you with a long-distance move, you also need to make sure they’re available in your departure and destination cities.

Services. Not all companies provide the same services. Some companies might offer help packing and unpacking or loading and unloading, but not help with furniture assembly or charitable donations. Check to see what services are available before getting a quote.

Licensed and insured contractors. Most moving labor companies use amateur labor (think a random dude from Craigslist who’s looking to bank an extra buck or two). While that often keeps the price low, it’s a risk to trust a stranger with your belongings. Look for a company that uses licensed and insured workers and that doesn’t have a ton of angry customer reviews.

Cost. Find a moving labor company that fits your budget (just be aware of the tradeoff between low prices and low-quality labor).

It’s easy to find

The moving labor industry is still in its infancy. Even some of the best-known companies are located in only a handful of states.

It’s easy to get a quote

Makes it easy to get an estimate for your job. With a quote box that pops up as soon as you go to its home page and multiple bids to choose from, you can get a ballpark estimate for most services in under 60 seconds.

How much should I pay someone to help move?

Most moving labor services for loading and unloading cost $40–$80 per hour. Costs vary, but you can learn more in our guide to moving prices.

How much does moving labor cost?

Moving labor costs depend on factors such as location, date, and service type. Our research shows the average cost for loading and unloading (the most common moving labor service) is approximately $68 per hour.

GUIDE TO LOADING AND UNLOADING A MOVING TRUCK

One of the important things when moving is renting a proper moving truck. You should pick the truck that fits your needs and where you can place all or most of your belongings. In order to do that, make sure you pack your items properly so you can place as much as possible into the moving track and to avoid multiple trips back and forth between homes

If you have decided not to call the moving company and you have to pack and prepare your belongings yourself, the smart move would be to rent a moving truck. The first thing to do is to find the right moving truck

check what type of moving trucks they can offer and which sizes do they have. Measure each of the items you want to relocate to your new home so you can pick the right size of the moving truck. The next step is to provide a lot of packing supplies. Then pack your belongings.

LOADING AND UNLOADING A MOVING TRUCK

There are some steps that you should take when you are loading and unloading the moving truck. From packing properly your belonging, using the space in the moving truck, to lifting and unloading techniques. If you don’t want to hire a moving company,  check out the following tips

PACK A MOVING TRUCK

First thing is to pick the truck of the right size. Make sure you prepare everything before the moving day so you don’t waste your time. Provide enough packing supplies, cardboard boxes in different sizes, bubble bags, moving blankets, plastic bins, furniture pads, a dolly, and the tools in case you need to disassemble some of the furniture pieces. If you have some massive furniture, you should disassemble it. If you are not sure how to disassemble it, maybe it wouldn’t be bad to find some manuals. Before the move make sure you unplug your appliances, clean appliances, and let them dry before packing. All rugs should be rolled up and packed in plastic wrap to save room on the truck.

Moving Help: The Ultimate Guide

A move of any size is a big job. You might have 20 years worth of items in your garage alone. Hiring moving help is the most common answer to this major transition. Explore this comprehensive guide on moving tips and industry choices. Settle into your new destination with ease when moving professionals are along for the ride.

Do-It-Yourself Moving With a Rented Truck

Renting a truck is one of the most cost-effective choices you can make for a move. Simply select a truck that matches the size of your move, such as a one- or two-bedroom apartment. You become your own moving service. Keep in mind, however, that extensive heavy labor is in your future. Loading and unloading the truck just like professional moving labor takes considerable effort. If you’re up to the task, you have a clever way to move without too much cost.

Finding and Driving the Vehicle

Ideally, hire a truck from a local dealer. Most cities have hubs where rental trucks are found in several sizes. Read over the facility’s reviews to verify cost and service quality first. One of the most popular options for renting a moving truck

Insuring the Trip

When you hire moving help, insurance is already part of the cost. For a rental truck, you must insure the trip with a policy offered by the dealer or your personal insurance company. Don’t overlook the importance of insuring the vehicle and the occupants. Acting as your own moving help may seem simple, but you’ll be traveling over unfamiliar roads in a large vehicle. Accidents can happen. Protecting the vehicle is a great way to take some stress away from the journey.

How to Load the Truck

Moving labor professionals normally load any truck with an “I” formation. Stow your heaviest items, including appliances and furniture, in the shape of an “I” within the truck’s middle section. Fill out the remaining space with lighter items. Following this moving service tip forces the heaviest weight to stay above the vehicle’s chassis where it’s as stable as possible. As a result, the vehicle won’t sway too much on the road.

Moving Help

Easily find movers ready to help with packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, and even cleaning. Search for movers in the area you need service, then sort by price, overall reviews, or services offered to find your perfect Moving Help

Loading & Unloading

Moving Help Service Providers ensure that your moving truck is properly loaded and unloaded, allowing your boxes, appliances, and furniture to safely reach your destination.

Home Cleaning

Reduce stress from your moving day when you pick a provider who also offers cleaning services.

Packing & Unpacking

Ensure that your belongings are moved safely and securely when you add packing and unpacking to your Moving Help order.

Heavy Furniture & Specialty Moves

In addition to providing standard moving services, you can find moving companies ready to move your piano, gun safe, or even rearrange your storage unit.

Load/Unload

For this option you will personally arrange the delivery of your storage container, either by self-delivery or truck delivery. Once delivered, Moving Help Service Providers will come and load or unload your storage container. You will also be responsible for getting your storage container back to the respective center.

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Tips To Follow When Switching To LED Electrical Lighting

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Energy Saving Light Bulbs

I bought my first LED light bulbs. They were to replace halogens in my bathroom. I spent too much money on not enough lumens and way too many kelvin. You know what I mean? No? Perfect. Let’s make a deal. If you spend ten minutes reading this post, I promise you that by the end of it you’ll understand how to buy a low energy light bulb. In return, I’ll try not to bore you senseless.

What fitting do you need?

This is simple, but you really don’t want to mess it up. Although there are literally hundreds of light fittings in existence, your home probably only has a couple. I’ve got two in my ceiling fittings, a couple more in table lamps.

You don’t need to know what they mean. But if you scribble down the fittings before you start shopping for bulbs, not only will they fit, they’ll be the right voltage too

What shape bulb do you want?

Bulb shape is not just a question of liking the look of a bulb: it is about how it throws light. The design of the bulb determines what direction the light goes, so you need to consider what you want the bulb to do.

There’s an encyclopedia of different bulb shapes, but since I promised not to bore you, I’m not going to go there. All you need to do for shape is use your common sense. For a ceiling pendant you might want an ‘omnidirectional’ bulb like the arbitrary, stick or spiral shape. For a lamp, you might need a candle shape with a broad spread. And if you are putting a spot into a recessed downlight, you’ll need a reflector with an appropriate beam width for the context.

How to Install Low-Profile LED Lights in Your Kitchen

Tools Required

Drill

Drywall circle cutter or manual drywall saw

flexible drill bit

wire cutter

wire stripper

I’ve tackled several kitchen projects over the years, but I’ve never made such a major improvement with so little time and money. I spent less than $350 and just four hours brightening our kitchen. My original intent was strictly practical: I just wanted better light to make food prep and cleanup easier. But replacing the single fixture with bright LEDs transformed the room, surprising me and amazing our guests.

LOW-PROFILE LEDs MADE IT EASY

Initially, I thought I’d install recessed can lights for a sleek look and lots of light. Then, I ran across these ultra-slim Halo LEDs ($30 each). These LED lights are super bright (900 lumens) and have such a low profile (less than 1/2 in.) that you can even locate them directly under a joist if needed. They’re rated for insulation contact and wet locations, so you can use them in a shower or even outdoors. A switch on the side of the box lets you adjust the color temperature. They’re also dimmable.

All you need is a power supply, a means to cut round holes, 14-2 NM-B cable, basic electrical tools and a drill. The transformer box converts 120V to low voltage, and it’s UL-listed as a junction box with room for power in and power out. That lets you take power from the first box and string together as many lights as you want. You might need to fish wire, but aside from that, installation is easy. Several companies make a similar product, but this was in stock at the local home center.

PLANNING THE JOB

If you have an attic above, you can access the joists from there instead of working from below as I did. That simplifies fishing wires, but you’ll still have to dig through insulation. Before starting the job, remove the ceiling fixture and look inside the junction box. My box had just one incoming cable. If your box contains more cables, wiring will be a bit more complicated. You may need to install a second junction box because the box for these LED fixtures can house only two 14-2 cables. I replaced the existing fixture with an LED like all the others.

Mark all the joists involved in the installation using strips of tape. Then mark the location for each new light with tape. The lights can go anywhere, but I kept them close to the joists to get better access for attaching the transformer boxes to the joists.

LED Fixture Installation Guide

Tools You’ll Need

Tape measure

Wire stripper

Scissors

Screw driver

Before You Begin

We know how boring it can be to read instructions, so we’ll keep this installation guide as short and sweet as possible. Before you begin with your installation, be sure to fully read these instructions. They contain many useful tips and pointers that will help to ensure a perfect installation, save you time, and ensure your safety.

It is important that this product (and all other electrical products) are installed by a qualified person in accordance with the National Electric Code (NEC) and all applicable local building and electrical codes for your area. If you are unfamiliar with the NEC, your local building/electrical codes, and/or the proper installation methods for electrical devices, you should hire a qualified and licensed electrician to do the work for you.

If you have at least 1.75” of space above your drywall, you will usually choose the conventional installation method. If you have a pipe, wire, joist or other obstacle in your way, you may be able to use the conventional installation method, if you have enough room to get a junction box through your hole. If you have less than 1.75” of space above your drywall, you’ll typically use the low clearance installation method.

Planning your layout

Most electricians space recessed lights equally apart from each other forming a grid pattern on the ceiling. The distance between each light generally depends on the LED wattage of your light. Here are a few rough rules of thumb for spacing when using the lights as primary lighting (if you are using the lights as accent lighting or you have other lights in your room, you can space them further apart)

New Construction Rough-In Plate/Bracket

These rough-in brackets make installing ultra-thin recessed LED lights in new construction applications a breeze. Simply install the rough-in plates at your designated locations before installing drywall, have your drywallers cut/router the holes for your lights using the rough-in plate as a guide, and then snap your ultra-thin light into place after drywalling is completed

Light bulb buying guide

Simple steps to light bulb success

Standing in front of rows of light bulbs can seem overwhelming, and choosing the right one can be hit and miss if you don’t have the right information. So, whether you’re working out if it’s a BC or ES fitting or trying to compare watts with lumens, we can help you choose the right bulb and brighten up your home in no time.

Either check the symbol on the packaging of your existing bulb if you have it or look at the base of the bulb. This illustration on the left is an example of what you’ll see on B&Q light bulb packaging to help you identify your cap fitting.

Know your bulb shapes

There are a few things to consider when choosing your bulb shape. Does the bulb need to be exactly the same shape as your old bulb? Some bulb replacements will be like-for-like, so if you’re changing a spotlight, you will need a spotlight shaped bulb.

Replacing old bulbs

If you’re replacing an old-style energy saving CFL spiral or stick shaped bulb, you can change these to a newer LED bulb. These new bulbs not only look better but they are more energy efficient too. Incandescent bulbs have largely been removed from the market, but don’t worry if you need to replace one of those; you just need to find an equivalent option from the bulb technologies below.

LED bulbs:

LED stands for Light-Emitting Diodes. LED bulbs cost less to run, produce less heat and last much longer than the older style bulbs. Don’t be put off by the initial cost of LED bulbs, these bright lights will save you more in the long run due to their low energy consumption. Dimmable LED bulbs are available.

The Complete Guide to LED Christmas Lights

Before you put your Christmas lights up this festive season, there’s a few essential things you need to remember. With so many lights on the market at this time of year, it’s important to compare your options and find out which type of lighting works best for you. Whether it’s incandescent lighting or LEDs, we compare them both and find out how LEDs can save you money.

Installing your Christmas lights won’t be a scary thought anymore as we look at both inside and outside lighting ideas, and the best way to install them. Have you ever wondered how many lights you need to get that extra sparkle on your Christmas tree or where’s best to buy LED lights? Then follow our complete guide to Christmas lights to find out more!

Buying Christmas lights

If you have older, traditional incandescent filament lighting and have kept them over the years, maybe for sentimental reasons, it’s best to make sure that your traditional filament bulbs meet the most recent and highest safety standards.

If your lights do not carry either of these safety marks, it could be that your lights have not undergone the rigorous testing and are not safe to use. Poor safety standards mean they carry a greater risk of fire and have been made with cheap electrical components.

With the high fire risk of filament bulbs, LEDs have become the popular choice for Christmas lighting. They don’t get as hot, have less chance of catching fire and they work at a lower voltage than traditional bulbs. As LEDs are diodes instead of incandescent bulbs, they are less likely to break, which means they’re more likely to withstand a variety of cold and damp British weather.

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The Family Law Attorney Concerns Of A Paternity Attorney

Types of Family Law Attorneys

When you see the words “family lawyer”, you may think of divorces or child custody attorneys.  Family law covers a wide range of services and can extend into adoptions, adult adoptions, even probate. Divorce and probate are actually becoming increasingly intertwined as people live longer and develop cognitive issues that prompt marital changes.  While a lot of people think that family lawyers only deal in divorces, in reality, a family lawyer handles a range of cases, usually relating to the establishment of or the dissolution of a family. Here are some types of cases that family lawyers deal with. Keep in mind that not all family law attorneys may handle all kinds of cases.  Some lawyers stay out of court entirely, and others focus entirely on litigation.  Because the laws relating to custody, divorce, and probate or juvenile court issues like guardianships can intersect, many lawyers have the experience to address a case at any number of “stages.”

Divorce Lawyers

If you have experienced a divorce, you may be familiar with what divorce lawyers do. For starters, our firm gives every client a “divorce introduction letter.”  This letter gives our clients the process of a divorce or legal separation.  This is true whether the divorce or legal separation is filed.  Legal separation and divorce are terms that could be used together because a legal separation filing can be converted to divorce rather easily, and some divorces resolve in a legal separation or even reconciliation.

A divorce lawyer may assist you throughout your legal separation and/or divorce. The lawyer will work alongside you to get you the best settlement you may get, knowing that the judge will usually award that same settlement.  Just this morning in court, I had offered a resolution that was declined, but when we re-offered it again, the judge was really interested in that offer.  Ultimately, that was the resolution for that case. The divorce lawyer may assist you in negotiation on matters such as who gets the marital home, who pays alimony or spousal maintenance, the division of assets, and how to split any debts of the marriage.

A lot of the time, a divorce lawyer may help you get the outcome you want without needing to go to trial. If your case uses collaborative law, you’ll get a lot more face time with your lawyer and a lot more thorough review of your financial documents by a neutral expert you both pay.  This is a win-win, but unless both lawyers use collaborative law, don’t expect this efficient, cost-effective resolution.  In a handful of cases, a trial may be necessary; when this occurs, your lawyer will represent you throughout that process.  Trials can take a long time to complete because you have to finish discovery, and court schedules are packed.

Some divorcing couples cannot afford an attorney or just don’t want to pay for a private attorney. Under these circumstances, we find that people can reach results that cause them to call us afterward to explore whether they got the best outcome.  Some people are friendly enough to resolve their cases without arguments between them, but for many people, there is some conflict.

Child and spousal support

Second to divorce, the most common type of family law case that we handle is child and spousal support, also called alimony. These types of cases often go hand-in-hand with divorce and can be one of the most contentious aspects of the proceedings.

Child custody – Another outcome of divorce, child custody hearings are incredibly sensitive and require a compassionate, strategic lawyer. Whether you are looking to secure sole custody of your child or come up with an arrangement that benefits both spouses.

Adoption

Family law has various regulations surrounding adoption. These regulations were included to ensure the adopted child’s best interests. A couple or an individual who wants to adopt a child must comply with these regulations. Adopting a child involves lengthy paperwork that can result in delays. To comply with different guidelines and complete the paperwork swiftly, adopters must consider hiring a family law attorney.

Marriage and Civil Union Lawyers

Those who are getting married or heading into a domestic partnership or civil union may want to draw up agreements.  By law, when you get married, you create a contract.  You may not realize it, but your contract is with the state, and it says that everything you acquire during the marriage is the joint property of both spouses.  Debts are also joint debts if acquired while you are legally married.  Someone who owns a business, or property, or has other legal issues may want to create a prenuptial agreement to protect that asset or to protect the other spouse. Many couples who are already married may also choose to put together a postnuptial agreement, which an attorney may help with that also.

Family Law Lawyers Dealing with Abuse

Child abuse and domestic abuse are very serious issues that a family law attorney may address. We have to be trained to understand the nuances.  These are really discreet issues and often the signs of a domestic violence cycle aren’t obvious to just everyone.  The lawyer may represent the person who is the victim in the case, or the person who is defending against these allegations.  The lawyer could help the victim to file a restraining order, called an Order of Protection.  These Orders of Protection have very specific laws dedicated to them, and consulting an attorney to defend against an Order of Protection or make allegations in the Order of Protection is vital.

If an attorney is hired by the person who is being accused of violent conduct, it may be possible to disprove the allegations.  In some cases, the abuse happened, but there is still good cause to ensure the children see the parent who is accused.

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Services You Can Get From A Mold Remediation Company

Remediation and prevention of mold growth and water damage

Mold growth inside buildings can lead to adverse health symptoms in building occupants. Preventing or minimizing exposure to mold and its contaminants is essential to reduce indoor air-related symptoms in building occupants. If water damage or mold growth does occur, the removal of mold-contaminated materials and remediation of the moisture source is critical. The following guidelines are provided to reduce or minimize exposure to mold in buildings.

Building materials can become mold colonized as a result of chronic exposure to moisture. Measures to repair sources of water release or penetration into a building must be taken to prevent future damage to building components and materials.

Mold growth inside buildings

Mold growth in or on building components or materials stored within a building is considered a public health nuisance subject to enforcement action or removal by the Board of Health pursuant

Removal of mold contaminated materials

Mold contaminated materials should be removed in a manner to prevent cross contamination of clean areas of a building in order to minimize exposure to building occupants. Such removal should be done in a manner consistent with the most current guidelines established by the US Environmental Protection Agency document entitled “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings”.

Below grade space in public buildings

The conversion of below grade space in public buildings should not be done if that space is subject to chronic dampness. Existing below grade space should be inspected at least twice a year for evidence of water penetration or water damage of building materials after significant precipitation events. The results of inspections should be recorded in a log book. Information or evidence of mold/water damage in rooms and building components should be noted

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Professional Mold Remediation Process

What is Mold?

Technically, mold is everywhere. Mold has microscopic spores that float in the air, both indoors and outdoors, and the problem arises when those spores form a colony and grow in your home.

Mold thrives in moist environments. That’s why experts recommend keeping the humidity inside your home or office below 45 percent. But even then, certain areas of your home or building can become more susceptible. If you have a leaky pipe or a damp basement, these areas are going to be the likely culprits of a mold infestation.

The type of mold known as black mold can be especially toxic. The symptoms of black mold poisoning range from the unpleasant, such as sneezing and a runny nose, to far more serious issues such as immunosuppression.

How Do I Know If I Have a Mold Problem?

While a rampaging mold infestation is easy to see, mold grows best in damp, dark places, such as ventilation ducts or crawl spaces.

However, if you have had recent water damage, there is a good chance you have a mold problem. That’s because moisture combined with certain organic compounds found in both drywall and insulation make a great home for mold. That’s why when you do have water damage, experts generally recommend that the section of damaged drywall or plaster be completely replaced, rather than painted over.

Guide For Professional Mold Remediation

This document is written for use by those involved in the mold remediation industry, primarily for mold remediation companies and workers, and secondarily, for others who investigate or assess mold complaints, prepare remediation specifications, protocols or procedures, and manage remediation projects, (e.g., indoor environmental professionals (IEPs), other specialized experts) and finally, for other potential materially interested parties (e.g., consumers and occupants, property owners and managers, insurance company representatives, government and regulatory bodies)

The S520 is a procedural standard. It is based on reliable remediation principles, review of available scientific and industry literature and information and practical experience. In addition, there has been extensive consultation with, and information obtained from, numerous other sources. The Second Edition of the S520 has been updated and rewritten. An additional Chapter and Section have been added covering Building and Material Science, and an additional section has been added covering Equipment, Tools and Materials

This document supersedes the IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation (S520 First Edition 2003, 2004 and 2008).” The ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard summarizes most of the significant and important procedures and methodologies of a mold remediation project, while the IICRC S520 Reference Guide restates and further explains those procedures and methodologies, and provides additional background information, which supports the Standard. Although the material in the Reference Guide does not carry the official status of a Standard, the two sections complement one another and should always be considered in tandem.

Mold Remediation in the Workplace

Course Outline

This three-hour online course provides guidelines for the procedures and measures taken for the mold remediation of offices and commercial buildings. The topics covered in the text include the causes of indoor mold problems, sources and types of mold, guidelines for cleanup of buildings having or not having mold growth and how to determine if the mold remediation and cleanup has been finished successfully. The course presents methods and recommendations to identify and measure sources of mold; mold growth related health effects, ways to reduce exposure and methods for mold prevention. The course covers several links and references to informative sources and resources covered in the text topics.

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Understand the causes and sources of indoor mold problems in the workplace;

Be familiar with the health risks of exposure to mold in buildings and understand how to identify mold problems;

Be familiar with steps and measures to take if there are indications of mold problems in a building;

Be familiar with reference information and resources for mold contamination by sources, health effects and measures typically taken to reduce exposure to the building occupants;

Understand the importance of building management and maintenance necessary to prevent remediation of mold problems;

Be able to evaluate a mold remediation plan, to determine whether it can be done in-house or out sourced and to determine who can best manage the remediation and cleanup work;

Understand measures to take to protect the health of building occupants and remediation workers during remediation/cleanup activities;

Understand the principles of mold sampling, types of samples and key requirements for sampling and whether sampling is necessary; and

Be familiar with the types of molds and toxic molds.

Benefit to Attendees

The student will become familiar with the causes of mold, health risks, which people are more susceptible and suitable actions to take for indoor mold problems. Information is provided on how mold problems are identified and pollution levels are evaluated. The basic methods for improving indoor air by controlling the sources of water, moisture and ventilation are discussed. The student will consider the principles of mold sampling and requirements for taking samples. Reference sources are provided for additional information pertaining to indoor air problems, health effects linked to the molds and appropriate steps for reducing the exposure to occupants and remediators.

Course Introduction

Molds can be found anywhere and are important for breaking down matter. When found indoor mold presents health problems to the occupants and cause destruction of building materials, building structures and furnishings. The text for this course was prepared by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) as a guide to assist building professionals, building managers and others interested in improving building air quality. Many organizations, governmental and private industry, have published documents for guidance in mold remediation

It should be noted that for mold remediation to succeed not only must visible mold be removed but any moisture problems, which promote mold growth, must also be corrected. Hidden mold must also be considered. The goal of the course is to understand the causes of mold growth and the effects on indoor air quality of buildings. The recommended methods used to reduce adverse health problems that affect the welfare and performance of the building occupants are discussed.

Mold Remediation Step-By-Step Guide

We’d like to offer you a brief mold remediation step-by-step guide, but please keep in mind, that removing mold can be an incredibly complex task. If you have mold that covers a surface areas greater than ten square feet, or if you have mold in your HVAC system, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends hiring a mold removal professional to handle the job. If you have any health problems, especially respiratory problems, it’s also best to hire a professional so you don’t expose yourself to greater health risks.

Locate All Mold

There’s really no point only removing some of the mold in a home. If you miss even a little bit, it will simply grow and spread and soon you’ll have a full-blown mold problem on your hands again. We recommend having a professional test your home for mold, but there are also tests you can purchase and conduct yourself. (Professional tests are more accurate and detailed). Check for mold in every room of your house, paying particular attention to any damp areas and any areas that have a musty odor. Keep in mind that mold can be found growing under carpet or other floor coverings, above ceiling tiles, inside walls, and inside heating and air conditioning ducts.

Assemble Your Supplies

While some people use bleach to clean up mold, we recommend purchasing a fungicide like Foster 40-80. You’ll also need sheets of heavy plastic and tape to seal off your work area, heavy plastic bags for removing moldy materials, an N-95 face mask, gloves and other protective clothing, a spray bottle of water, and a scrub brush or rag for cleaning moldy surfaces. You may also need disposable paint brushes and a product for encapsulating mold, like Foster 40-50. We also recommend a vacuum with a HEPA filter, especially if you’re performing mold remediation over a large area. In addition, you’ll need whatever tools and materials are necessary for removing and replacing moldy materials that cannot be cleaned, such as new drywall or new carpeting and the tools to install it.

Prepare the Work Area

Remove any personal items from the area, or if items cannot be removed, cover them completely with sheets of heavy plastic so they do not become contaminated with mold. To prevent the spread of mold spores from your work area to other areas of the home, seal off the area in which you will be working with sheets of heavy plastic and duct tape. Tape plastic over any heating or air conditioning vents, as well.

Set Up Air Pressure in The Work Area

Negative pressure in the work area causes air to flow out of that area, usually outdoors, thereby preventing airborne mold spores from spreading to other areas of the home. You don’t have to set up negative pressure in the work area but it’s a good idea, especially if you’re dealing with a large amount of mold. You can create negative pressure with a high performance shop vac. After using sheets of heavy plastic to create barriers around your work area, put the shop vac with intake and exhaust hoses attached in the work area. Make a small hole in one of the plastic sheet barrier walls and extend the exhaust hose through the hole and out the nearest window. Use duct tape to seal the opening around the hole in the plastic sheet barrier wall and around the window.

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Small Business Payroll Service Outsourcing

How to Run Payroll: The Ultimate Guide to Doing Payroll

Running payroll is an essential part of operating any business that has employees. But it doesn’t come without its challenges. And the more employees you have, generally the more complicated the process can become. So how are businesses handling this essential process? A recent Paychex poll* of payroll users found that 39% of businesses do payroll manually, and just 17% of respondents would consider changing from a manual to an outsourced solution.

These and other professionals may not realize that if and when things go wrong, they often come at a high price. To prevent this from happening at your company, read this overview on how to run payroll, as well as your options for completing the process accurately and efficiently.

How does payroll work?

Once you have employees, you need to pay them and handle applicable taxes each pay period. There are many steps involved to complete these tasks, which we will cover in detail. These and other responsibilities make up the payroll process, which you or another staff member such as a bookkeeper can do, or you can find an accountant or payroll provider to handle these tasks for you.

Can you do payroll yourself?

Running payroll is an essential part of operating any business, no matter the size or type of industry. Business owners can do payroll themselves, though they must become familiar with the terminology, options, and basics of running payroll, as well as payroll tax laws to avoid making mistakes. Approximately 33% of all employers make payroll errors, and those mistakes can be costly. Unpaid taxes can result in hefty penalties, and mistakes on employee paychecks can erode worker morale and be a detriment to your business reputation.

Business owners have several options when it comes to running payroll, including outsourcing the process. Depending on the method you choose, consider actors such as how much control or oversight you want to have, cost considerations, and time commitments, among others.

Business information for payroll

Before getting acclimated with payroll basics or getting started, the following business items must first be in place:

  • Apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN): This is assigned by the IRS and is used to identify a business entity. You need this nine-digit number to pay federal taxes, hire employees, open bank accounts, and apply for business licenses and permits. You can do this online on the IRS website.
  • Register with your state and local government: Depending on your business structure and location, you’ll need to register for a state ID number to pay your business’s state taxes. Tax obligations and steps to get an ID number both differ at the state and local levels, so check with your state and local agencies.
  • Look into workers’ compensation coverage: This insurance is mandatory in most states, although rules vary from state to state as to how many people a business can employ before it is required. Nonetheless, it’s strongly recommended that you have workers’ compensation coverage if you have employees.
  • Report new hires: State and federal laws require employers to report information on new and rehired employees to the appropriate agency within 20 days of beginning employment. Some states require reporting this data sooner. This information is used to locate parents who owe child support.

Employee payroll information

There are also specific pieces of employee information you’ll need to gather before getting payroll started. They include:

  • Worker classification (exempt vs. non-exempt, employee vs. independent contractor): It’s important that any worker you bring on board is classified correctly, since each classification falls under different rules. This will determine the appropriate wage and net pay amounts.
  • New-hire documents: (Form W-4, Form I-9, etc.): Although certain forms are completed by nearly all new hires, they may vary from company to company due to industry-specific regulations, company benefits, and policies. In addition, for employers with more than one location, different state and local laws may require that employees at only one worksite complete certain documents.  It’s your responsibility to ensure that all required new hire forms are completed as part of the onboarding process.
  • Payment method: Depending on the options you offer, you will have various tasks to complete to successfully deliver paychecks via direct deposit, paper checks, or paycard. Learn more about employee pay options that may be available to your business.

Payroll Service As a Home Business

Certain types of business are easier to operate as a home business, and running a payroll service as a home business is a viable option. A payroll service handles calculating taxes, withholding taxes from employee paychecks, filing employer tax returns, making tax payments and cutting the payroll checks for the businesses that are your clients (and/or making the direct deposits). Since you can handle most of the transactions between you and your clients by phone, email and online, it is possible to offer payroll services to clients anywhere in the country.

Experience

While it is not a necessity, it is helpful to have an accounting or financial background to run a payroll service from your home office. You also need to have, or gain, a full understanding on employer taxes, such as withholding taxes from employee paychecks like Medicare and Social Security taxes. Your job is to make the life of your clients easier. They don’t want to take the time or effort to do payroll or learn the wage laws on their own. So, the more experience you have, the better. At the very least, enroll in a tax and wage withholding class or seminar before starting your business.

Licenses

Running a payroll service from a home office may require you to carry an occupational license with the county or city where you operate your business. Some counties also require you to have a home-based office license from the county zoning board. To run a payroll service, you do not have to be federally licensed, but you do have to register your business with the state in which you operate the business. Contact your Secretary of the State for the state where your business operates (where your home office is) to obtain the paperwork you need to register your business entity name as a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation or limited liability company (LLC).

Considerations

Consider how you wish to interact with your payroll clients so you can transmit payroll information back and forth. Clients need to submit the hours employees work, wage rates and withholding information to you so you can calculate the correct paycheck amounts for each employee. Decide if you want to offer an online option, where clients can upload this information to a self-service Internet platform that they can also use to access their account information with a username and pass code. This is the most technologically advanced option for interacting with payroll clients, but you can also have them submit this information via email, fax or by phone.

Geography

Geographic boundaries do not necessarily apply to a payroll service you run from a home office. You can serve a client in the same city as easily as you can a client clear across the country, since offering the service does not require face-to-face interaction. If you do offer payroll services out of state, you need to be aware of any state laws that apply to client that operates the business in the state. For example, Texas does not have state taxes, but Virginia does, so you need to be aware of how to deduct Virginia taxes from employee paychecks and how employers pay these taxes to the state.

Time Frame

Generally, you work on the clients’ payroll schedule. Most paycheck schedules run weekly, every two weeks or once a month. You also need to be aware of and adhere to tax payment deadlines for employers, which is once a quarter. Being prompt and providing the services on time each pay period is imperative for a payroll service to be successful.

Equipment

Starting and running a home-based payroll service does not require a huge cash investment or the purchase of a lot of fancy equipment. You can start and run your business with a computer, payroll/accounting software, a phone and Internet service. If you want to offer your clients a self-service online platform, where they can submit and access their personal account information, you need to work with a service that can provide this type of interface, so your costs will increase.

Do Payroll Calculations

Once you know how much an employee has worked for the pay period, you can start figuring the important payroll calculations. That includes gross pay, taxes due, deductions for insurance premiums and other benefits, and final net pay.

Gross Pay

Calculating gross pay is as simple as adding up the straight time hours (up to 40 hours within a week) and multiplying by the employee’s hourly rate. Then, add up the overtime hours worked in the pay period and apply the employees’ overtime pay rate to those hours. Straight time is paid at the employee’s regular pay rate, while overtime is calculated at 1.5 times the regular rate of pay.

Payroll Deductions and Taxes

Doing payroll requires you to know in advance what payroll deductions you’re going to make. Deductions include federal and state payroll taxes (be sure you know the tax rates), benefits you might offer, and things like unemployment insurance or Social Security.

Here’s a list of potential deductions with links to more information such as determining what to deduct for each employee. If you use payroll software like Gusto, deductions are processed automatically.

Examples are:

  • Social Security and Medicare (FICA)
  • Federal unemployment tax (FUTA)
  • Deductions based on benefits you offer employees, like health insurance
  • Tax deductions based on employee tips
  • Miscellaneous deductions such as a uniform expense

To process those deductions, add up all the deductions for each employee to get a total, then subtract that total from the employee’s gross pay. Alternately, you can list each deduction as a line item and subtract them one by one from the employee’s gross pay until you come up with a net pay amount.

The Pros & Cons Of Manual Payroll

Some small business owners choose to do their own payroll manually. It saves money but it is not necessarily the best option for everyone.

Pros Of DIY Payroll

  • It’s Cheaper: When you outsource payroll, you incur an extra cost. That cost will depend on the kind of business you are running and the number of people on your payroll, but when you are running a small business, every penny counts. If you just can’t justify the expense of outsourcing Payroll, you can do it yourself using free resources available.
  • You Stay In Control: Small business owners often fear losing control of their business. A third-party payroll provider may not do things the way you want them done. Doing it yourself allows you to maintain total control of your business operations.
  • You Know What’s Going On: Doing it yourself provides a good opportunity to understand everything about your payroll process and payroll taxes.

Cons Of DIY Payroll

  • It Takes Dedication: Successful DIY payroll depends directly on the effort of an individual. If you can’t take care of it for some reason that month, it won’t be taken care of.
  • There’s A Significant Time Commitment: Doing your own payroll means sacrificing your own time. Time is the only resource that is even scarcer than money in the small business landscape, and there is an automatic cost to doing payroll yourself.
  • Lots Of Room For Error: You might get it wrong or incur too much stress. If you are not a naturally detail-oriented person, doing your own payroll might cause more stress than its worth — and put you in a position of liability when you get things wrong.
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Window Cleaning In 2 Simple Steps

Do It Yourself Guide for Window Cleaning

Do It Yourself Guide for Window Cleaning contains everything you need to know about cleaning glass. In the “Equipment & Supplies” chapter, there are digital photographs and descriptions of the various types of equipment now being used by the Pro’s. The “Techniques” chapter contains 48 digital photographs; an actual step by step pictorial of a journeyman window cleaner cleaning a window using the swirl method, the straight pull method, cleaning a box window and the proper procedures for poll work

The “Helpful Hints & Safety Procedures” chapter contains pertinent information that will save you time and money and the most important thing, your life. “The Business End” chapter takes you through all the steps necessary to start your own small business, such as licenses and certificates, insurance, advertising, bidding jobs, writing proposals and hiring help

There is also a copy of a standard proposal. It’s compact in size but big on information, which, for the do-it-yourselfer, makes it ideal for on the job referencing. With the information in this book, you can learn to clean windows like the Pro’s, and if you so desire, become a Pro and make the money the Pro’s make.

Window Cleaning Cost & Prices

Are your windows beginning to display that thin layer of film? Do your windows seem to be letting in less natural light these days? If so, it’s probably likely that they are overdue a good clean. A comprehensive window clean can remove any grime, dirt and pollution that has built up. It also improves the overall impression of your property.

Average Window Cleaning Prices

We requested quotes from 25 different window cleaning companies across. Special thanks to Window Cleaning Services. Prices quoted are for a window clean of a 3 bed house (exterior only). Prices include VAT.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Window Cleaning Services

These are a few common factors that can affect the prices quoted.

Number of rooms

Window cleaning contractors may quote in different ways. Some may charge by the hour, whilst others can charge by type of building being serviced. Contractors sometimes quote according to the number of rooms, specifically the number of windows.

Size and Type of Property

Whilst the number of rooms is important, cleaning jobs on building like flats or large estates with multiple stories will naturally come at a higher price.

Window Washing and Workplace Safety

There is a new standard in place when it comes to workplace safety, specifically for those who are exposed to certain safety hazards at commercial buildings on a regular basis. It is called “Prevention through Design,” highlighted by the recently published American National Standard.

The “Prevention through Design Guidelines for Addressing Occupational Hazards and Risks in Design and Redesign Process” provides guidance on how to include prevention methods through design concepts “within an occupational safety and health management system.” Introduced in 2011 as ANSI/ASSE Z5903-2011, the standard is intended to complement existing safety practices and procedures.

While developing a written work plan, a professional window cleaning contractor will need to incorporate several elements to prevent accident or injury while on the job: equipment, training, and site assessment. These elements are important to note if your business currently provides window cleaning services or is exploring the possibility of offering them.

Element One: Equipment

The first element—equipment—involves the components that you, as the contractor, will bring to a site to properly and safely perform window cleaning services. The early part of the year often finds many window cleaning companies in a sluggish, if not inactive, state of operations in certain parts of the country. While some companies that work in climates where it is warm year-round are still at it, it’s still not as busy as spring and fall.

This downtime is the perfect time to do in-house inventory and equipment inspection. Additionally, this is one method for practicing Prevention through Design, because now you’re planning for the upcoming busy season by ensuring you have equipment that is in safe working condition and meets codes and standards.

ULTIMATE WINDOW CLEANING TIPS – INSIDE & OUT

ULTIMATE WINDOW CLEANING TIPS

By now, your windows have a thick sheen of streaks, dust and debris. That’s what happens when your windows withstand a relentless assault of smudgy fingers and seasonal elements. Don’t fret—backup is on the way. The cleaning pros here at Molly Maid bring you this complete window cleaning guide for clean windows – inside, outside, screens and sills!

STREAK-FREE SOLUTION

All it takes is a couple drops of dish soap and a warm bucket of water. But be careful: Too much soap will leave streaks. Vinegar alternative: You can also use equal parts vinegar and water as a multipurpose solution. Vinegar manufacturer Heinz recommends using 100% vinegar to spot-clean stubborn streaks from windows.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

Bucket

Dish soap

Natural sponge

Professional squeegee

Microfiber cloth

Old rags

White vinegar

Toothbrush

Dust Mask

Sturdy ladder

NEWSPAPER?

For the best clean, we recommend using a squeegee. But when the squeegee won’t fit, you can use crumpled-up newspaper to wipe down your windows. Unlike paper towels, newspaper doesn’t leave behind residue.

WINDOWSILLS

Cleaning windowsills requires an old toothbrush, some elbow grease, and a dust mask to protect you from mold spores. Using your vinegar solution, wet the toothbrush and start scrubbing the moldy spots. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the surface clean. A chlorine bleach solution also works in place of vinegar, however, please use safety cautions when using bleach. We recommend wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands.

Things To Consider Before Hiring A Window Cleaning Company

Spring cleaning is just around the corner and one of the most important tasks on your list is to hire a window cleaning service to get gleaming and streak-free windows. If you have been thinking of hiring a professional window cleaner, there are important things you need to do to ensure you are employing the right one.

Moreover, a professional window cleaner can save you money, time, and handle this tedious job for you. Window cleaning is one of the household chores that gets easily moved to the bottom of your “To Do” list but once this task is accomplished, you’ll see the huge difference clean windows do to your home’s curb appeal.

Now, let’s discuss some things to do before hiring a window cleaner:

Hiring a window cleaning professional requires a few phone calls to make inquiries. It would be worth your time to ask a few questions before making your final decision to get the service you need.

Here are some questions to start with:

1. How do you ensure the safety of your employees?

One of the most common accidents that happen during window cleaning is ladder-related. It is the main cause of injuries for cleaners. Therefore, it is wise to ask about the company’s safety measures. Do they provide safety training or education to their employees? Hard-to-reach windows or those placed at upper stories require climbing and sometimes need roof access so it is crucial to keep all window cleaners and other people at the area safe all the time.

2. Do they clean blinds?

Windows, no matter how much you clean them regularly, can still gather dust and grimes from blinds. If you’re not up to the task of cleaning your blinds before hiring a window cleaning professional, then it would be wise to ask if they accept blind cleaning too. If the window cleaning company accepts this kind of job, ask for the additional fees. However, if they do not, it’ll be good to clean your blinds before getting your windows cleaned. If you don’t, all that dust and grime can shake off and mar your freshly cleaned windows.

3. Ask for reference and check for reviews online

Experienced and reliable window cleaner professionals should have a list of references and good reviews — this goes for both residential and commercial services. Take some time to reach out to the potential services you have on your list or check their social media pages or websites for reviews, you can also check their Yelp reviews for your reference to know their trustworthiness.

4. Do they move fragile items or furniture?

There are instances when moving fragile items or furniture is not included in a window cleaner service’s task inclusions. Let’s face it — no matter how extremely careful and professional window cleaning services are, accidents can happen in reality. So if they don’t offer this kind of service, you can move fragile items of furniture to safety ahead of time. Again, if they are accepting this kind of service, it is essential to ask for the additional fee that they would charge.

5. What are other services they offer, if any, what are those?

Many window cleaning professionals expand their services to tasks such as a house, roof, or gutter cleaning. There are instances when they even offer pressurized washing too. That’s why it is essential that you ask this when you make an inquiry — combined services are more efficient and cost-effective because of bundled pricing. Furthermore, this can help you deal with your spring cleaning tasks that can sometimes become a challenge to accomplish, especially when you don’t have the luxury of time.

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Plastic Surgery And Plastic Materials

The Most Dangerous Types of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery procedures are nothing new. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported for 2014 that 15.6 million cosmetic procedures, including minimally-invasive and surgical, were performed in the U.S. — a 3% increase since 2013. Additionally, 5.8 million reconstructive surgery procedures were performed in 2013, up 1% the following year. Despite the risks that come with any surgery, some plastic surgery procedures are more risky than others, especially those involving multiple areas of the body or surgery on very complex or sensitive areas. Here is a look at three plastic surgery procedures that put you at the most substantial risk of harm if you have them done.

Body lift

The body lift is among the riskiest of plastic surgeries and is a prime example of multiple surgeries being performed at once, which results in greater risk. The body lift involves lifting the belly, thighs, buttock, and genitals all at once to improve the shape and tone of the underlying tissue that supports fat and skin. A body lift benefits those who have lost a lot of weight by removing excess sagging fat and skin that can improve a dimpled, irregular skin surface, known as cellulite.

Safety concerns

One of the biggest concerns of the procedure is the risk associated with extended time under general anesthesia. The longer a patient is under, the greater the risk for cardiovascular complications and the longer the recovery period. Phillip Haeck, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon in Seattle and chairman of the ASPS Patient Safety Committee, tells New Image that while there isn’t a time limit per se, being under anesthesia for longer than five to seven hours can bring on an increased rick for recovery — specifically when two major invasive procedures, like liposuction and abdominoplasty, are combined.

Liposuction

Some tend to think of liposuction, or “lipo,” as a quick fix that can easily substitute proper diet and exercise — but they are very wrong. Liposuction reshapes and slims different areas of the body by removing excess fat depositions while improving your body contours and proportion. The procedure may be used to reduce localized fat deposits of the abdomen and waist, thighs, chest area, hips, buttocks, and so on.

Safety concerns

It’s yet another risky plastic surgery procedure that can cause some serious complications, such as systemic infections, perforation in the stomach wall, blood clots, and fat clogs in the lungs. You also run the risk of having uneven, bumpy skin after surgery. It can be performed with other plastic surgery procedures as well, such as a tummy tuck, which carries its own risks.

Facial Reconstruction Surgeries (Especially Those Involving The Jaw)

Facial reconstructive surgeries usually involve several areas being treated at once and are very complex procedures. If celebrities are any indication, extreme facial procedures can have a dramatic impact on one’s appearance — and not always in a good way. While some reconstruction procedures are elective, meaning that the choice to have them is more for vanity reasons, some are performed after a trauma, surgery, or illness that can leave a person malformed. The face can be affected in appearance and function and expert surgeons can rebuild major structures of the face and help to reshape them as closely as possible to one’s original appearance.

Some reconstructive procedures include facial reanimation, nose reconstruction, skull base, and facial trauma treatment to name a few, but one of the more dangerous is surgery involving the jaw. It’s called orthognathic surgery and is particularly delicate because several important blood vessels sit below the jawbone.

Before you have any procedure done, make sure you do your research to make sure the surgeon is certified, and be aware of the risks of having surgery.

Where is the cheapest country to do plastic surgery with cheapest price but best and professional result?

While I personally have not had work done overseas many many many of the ladies and male stews I regularly fly with go outside the US for all all plastic surgery procedures known to man. The hot spots and from what I see are fabulous results from facial plastic surgery to boobs to all over body procedures are Lima Peru and Ecuador. Also the pricing for plastic surgery is a fraction of what we pay in the states. For the best facial injections and dermal fillers, they place to go is Seoul Korea. If your into the big booty bubble butt trend aka butt injections or implants, head down to South America. Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo Brazil where its all about the butt. As you can see with a trip to Ipanema Beach in Rio. Brazilian butt procedures in Rio or São Paulo are again, a small fraction of the price you’d pay in the US- plus you get stellar results.

Financing plastic surgery

If you are considering plastic surgery, here are some payment methods to explore:

Medical credit cards

Medical credit cards are the latest wrinkle in borrowing for beauty. Business is booming for the cards, which are limited to covering only medical expenses and are often offered as a financing option to cosmetic surgery patients.

Regular credit cards

You can use an existing low-interest credit card or apply for a new card with a 0 percent introductory period to pay for the procedure(s).

Pros: Assuming the card has a reasonable interest rate, this can be an affordable way to pay for the surgery while you maintain or even build your credit.

Cons: A large purchase such as cosmetic surgery can tie up your credit line and reduce your credit utilization ratio (which in turn may lower your credit score) initially.

Bank loan

Another option: A personal loan from your local bank or credit union.

Pros: While the interest rates on an unsecured loan from a financial institution run close to or more than those on credit cards (depending on your creditworthiness and ability to qualify, of course), bank loans have fixed interest rates and a fixed amount of time in which to repay. Plus, if you’ve never taken out a personal loan before, it can boost your credit rating by adding to your “credit mix.” Of course, you still need to make on-time payments until the repayment term is complete. And, unlike a credit card, you won’t be allowed to add more to the balance and dig yourself deeper in debt.

Cons: Unsecured loan interest rates can add quite a bit to the final cost (in interest charges) of your elective procedure.  The rates are usually similar to credit card rates, and will vary with the borrower’s creditworthiness.

Advice: For a lower interest rate, you may want to ask about a secured loan (where you offer up collateral against the loan, such as a car or house), although if you end up being unable to make the payments, you risk losing that property.

Home equity loans and lines of credit

These are loans against the equity of your house, with interest based on current mortgage rates.

Pros: Can be easily accessible for homeowners and affordable as mortgage rates remain low. Plus, interest is tax-deductible for most people.

Cons: An uncertain housing and job market means that you could be left holding your hat should you be forced to sell your home — or if interest rates take an unexpected jump.

Cash savings

Money in the bank, not earmarked for emergencies.

Pros: You don’t have to borrow or pay interest.

Cons: Your savings decrease.

Unsecured medical loans

These loans, which can come in the form of personal loans or credit cards, and are often brokered through third parties, such as doctors or brokers.

Pros: If you have a low credit score and have trouble finding other sources of financing, this can be a viable option.

Cons: Interest rates tend to be high or can balloon after an attractive introductory offer. If you have a co-signer and default on the loan, that person’s credit will be damaged and on the hook for repayment — not to mention the hit your relationship may suffer.

Advice: Shop around for the best deal. As always, read the fine print, and consider whether financing cosmetic surgery at a high interest rate is truly within your financial goals.

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Where Bed Bugs Came From And Why They’re Here To Stay

Prepare for Battle: How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Once the suspicion of a bed bug infestation became reality, the second phase begins: fighting bed bugs. Why? So you don’t have to worry about itchy bed bug bites anymore and so you can finally sleep tight again

Important things first: If you

don’t know anything about bed bugs yet,

don’t have time for detailed research and recommended methods of bed bug control,

but you have enough savings

then you should definitely think about contacting a professional pest controller.

The reason for that is easy. Bed bug control is very labor-intensive and many components must be considered. So that all “infested” rooms or objects are taken into account and, thus, a further spread of bed bugs can be prevented.

A professional who knows about these unruly insects will be able to solve the problem more effectively and faster than a layman. However, the decision to use professional help or not is of course up to you.

How to get rid of bed bugs: an overview of methods & products

In order to effectively fight bed bugs, you can use different methods and products. There is no “miracle cure” for a bed bug infestation. That’s why – above all – the application of a combination of different methods and products against bed bugs can lead to long-term success.

How to Deal with Bed Bugs in Computers and Other Electronic Devices

Bed bugs are highly adaptable and resilient creatures, making them difficult to eradicate once they gain a foothold in your home. If you’ve ever experienced a bed bug infestation, then you’ll know the pesky critters love to hide in bed frames, mattresses, baseboards, furniture and clothing.

Given enough time, most of these hiding spots are reasonably easy to treat using sprays, powders, vacuum cleaners and hot steam (or a heated clothes dryer for clothing). But did you know that bed bugs can also crawl into your computer, television, hi-fi equipment, and other electronic devices? These appliances all offer bed bugs a cosy, warm, dark environment with minimal disturbance.

If bed bugs begin to reproduce inside your electrical device, then this can lead to increased population of the insect inside the appliance. Eventually the impact of dead insects, bed bug feces and molting skin will prevent the equipment from functioning correctly, so it’s important to eradicate them as quickly as possible.

While it’s rare for electrical devices to harbor bed bugs, and it usually only occurs in the most severe infestations, bed bugs are certainly flat and small enough to fit through the tiniest of cracks or openings in electrical equipment. The electronic items most likely to conceal the parasites are bedside radio alarm clocks, due to their close proximity to the bed. However, anything with nooks and crannies can harbor bed bugs, including iPhones, mice, keyboards, remote controls and cameras.

If the insects do enter into your electrical equipment, then the task of eradicating them becomes much more challenging. Electricity and water don’t mix, so you certainly can’t launder or steam these devices. Chemical sprays and powders could corrode the circuitry, and heat could cause plastic components to melt.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

When I was little, my parents used to tell me to not let the bed bugs bite when they would tuck me in at night. Back then, the phrase was almost comforting, and I didn’t think much of it. After all, I didn’t know exactly what they were.

Now that I’m older and know that bed bugs are very real, that statement suddenly comes with a much scarier connotation. The last thing I want to think about before I shut my eyes is sleeping with bed bugs.

If you don’t already know what a bed bug is, they’re small, brown insects that resemble an apple seed. They feed off of the blood of other animals and humans, so they definitely don’t make for good bunkmates.

Buy Encasements for Your Bed

Purchasing an encasement for your bed and box spring won’t necessarily prevent bed bugs from getting to your mattress, but it does make them easier to get rid of. The encasement stops the bugs from being able to get inside the mattress, forcing them to crawl on the exterior.

Be Careful About Returning from Vacation

It can be easy to pick up bed bugs when you travel, as they tend to hide in hotel mattresses and box springs. Therefore, it’s best to unpack your suitcase somewhere other than your bedroom.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs may be tiny, but finding them in your house or apartment is a big nightmare. These small bugs — formally known as cimex lectularius — love to suck your blood. Worse yet, they’re expert hiders and can live as long as a year without a meal, so they’re not very easy to kill off.

If you find yourself in the middle of a bed bug infestation, your stress is understandable. But take heart, you can get rid of bed bugs — and we’re here to help. With this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know (probably more than you want to, really) about these nasty little bugs and how you can banish them from your space — for good.

Bed bugs are small, flat, brownish bugs. So small that they’re easy to overlook, especially when they’re hiding under your pillow (yuck). There’s a myth that bed bugs are so tiny you can’t pick them out with the naked eye, but that’s not true. A full-grown bed bug is usually a little bit bigger than a flea and a little smaller than an ant. You can definitely spot it yourself — if you know where to look.

How do you get bed bugs?

If you mentally link bed bugs with dirtiness, consider this: Bed bugs feed on blood alone. They’re just as likely to lead a healthy, hearty life in an immaculate home as they are in a pigpen as long as they can find a human to bite.

How to check for bed bugs:

If you notice unexplained red, itchy bites on your body when you wake up in the morning, it could be bed bugs. Start by checking your mattress, especially the protected underside and the sheltered folds, to see if you can spot any bed bugs. These little pests are excellent hiders, though, so you may not have much luck seeing one in person.

Guide To Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs

For those of us that live here in the U.S., it is hard to believe that bed bugs are anything more than the topic of a bedtime nursery rhyme, but they certainly are. While at one time they were nearly eradicated from our country, these tiny invasive pests have found a way to make the world’s greatest comeback. Many believe that the success of their comeback stems from the banning of a product once used successfully to control these pests, and others say that the resurgence of bed bugs stems from increased world travel. Whatever the cause may be, the fact remains that we are faced with an ever-growing population of bed bugs here and unfortunately, it is a problem that many of us will have to deal with.

What Homes Do Bed Bugs Infest?

Bed bug infestations bring with them unprecedented stress and embarrassment because people tend to connect them with the stigma that the homes or businesses they invade are somehow dirty and unkempt, but this is simply not true. Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt or filth; they are attracted to places that offer them their favorite meal: human blood. There really is no foundation for the emotional reaction to a bed bug infestation, but it is hard to shake that centuries-old shame.

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

It is sometimes hard to know where to turn when bed bugs invade. Many believe that a spray can or a powder from a box store will help solve their problems, but these typically are not able to completely eliminate your bed bug infestation. Sure, the few bed bugs that stumble into the area that you have treated may die, but these products cannot reach deep into wall voids and other hidden areas where the majority of the colony resides. The complete eradication of bed bugs requires the intervention of a trained pest control professional. These professionals know their favorite hiding spots, have the best tools to treat and remove bed bugs.

environmentally responsible solutions to bed bug infestation for homes and businesses. Our bed bug experts can utilize bed bug heat treatments, K-9 bed bug detection services, mattress and box spring encasements, as well as conventional treatments.

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Auto Repair Advice

Common Auto Repair Scams To Avoid

Finding a great auto mechanic can be as good finding the perfect babysitter for your children. Once you find one you like, you’ll want to keep them for as long as you have small children — or a car.

Like the babysitter who naps while your children are watching TV, you may occasionally get ripped off by a mechanic or auto repair shop. Whether it’s high prices, problems not fixed properly or repairs that don’t hold up, there are some auto repair shop scams that consumers should be aware of. Some may be innocent and may just be overzealous salesmen trying to make sure your car is extra safe, while others may be simple fraud.

Here are some auto repair scams to avoid:

Dirty fuel injectors.

A repair shop mechanic may tell you that fuel injectors need to be cleaned every 15,000 or 20,000 miles. Not true. Gasoline contains detergent to keep fuel injectors clean. Someone may show you a dirty fuel injector, but don’t believe that it’s yours. Check your owner’s manual, but most fuel injectors are recommended for replacement once a year or at 35,000 miles, and even that may be too often.

Used parts passed off as new.

If you’re paying for new parts, you should get new parts. Ask to see them before they’re installed. Check that they’re new, brand-name parts approved by the manufacturer, called Original Equipment Manufacturer, or OEM, parts.

Engine flush.

Spending $200 on an engine flush is wasted money on a service that’s not part of normal maintenance unless you’ve neglected your engine and don’t change the oil when needed. An engine flush gets rid of sludge in an engine, which is something your engine won’t likely need if you’ve taken care of your car. Look in the oil filler lid for deposits and other gunk. A flush could break loose such sludge that could get into the engine, though you’re unlikely to see such sludge buildup.

Nothing lasts a lifetime.

Don’t pay extra money for transmission fluid, filters, brake pads or anything else that is supposed to last for the car’s lifetime. A “lifetime” transmission fluid is only good for 35,000 miles, so don’t fall for the hype.

Frequent oil changes.

If you go to a shop that specializes in oil replacement for your car, you’ll likely get a reminder sticker to return at 3,000 miles. That may have been accurate 20 years ago, but cars now run better and don’t need oil changes as often. Most manufacturers recommend 5,000 miles for an oil change. Check your owner’s manual for details. Also make sure you’re getting high quality oil that’s recommended by your car’s manufacturer.

Common Scams to Watch Out For

AIRBAG FRAUD

Dishonest repair shops frequently use stolen, previously deployed and salvaged airbags to replace a customer’s deployed airbag. Shops pay very little for these airbags and then bill your insurance company for the retail value of a new one. Some unscrupulous shops will even attach a deployed airbag to the steering wheel of a vehicle that contains a non-deployed airbag, creating the illusion of a deployment and thereby increasing the insurance claim amount. Not only are you not getting the new airbag you deserve, but you may well receive an airbag that won’t work when you need it most.

BANDIT TOW TRUCKS

Be cautious if a tow truck driver you did not call arrives at the scene of an accident and tries to persuade you to allow your vehicle to be transported to a repair facility. These tow truck drivers often charge exorbitant fees and bring vehicles to dishonest repair facilities. Once a vehicle is at a facility, it can easily be held hostage with demands for an insurance company payment. The tow truck driver may also attempt to refer you to unscrupulous medical providers and attorneys who specialize in insurance fraud scams.

“BURYING” THE DEDUCTIBLE

Unscrupulous collision repair shops may offer to “bury the deductible” or hide the cost within the estimate for repairs so the insurance company ends up paying the deductible. One common way to bury the deductible cost occurs when a shop bills the insurer for original equipment manufacturer parts but instead installs less expensive parts or repaired, damaged or junk parts.

Steer Clear of Car Repair Rip-Offs

Auto repair complaints consistently rank among the top consumer grievances. So don’t get taken for a ride. Watch for these warning signs of unnecessary and overpriced service by mercenary mechanics.

Diagnostic dialect

Many rip-offs are the work of outright crooks who, betting that you (like most drivers) are clueless about what’s under the hood, knowingly try to sell unnecessary repairs. They snow you with terminology you don’t understand. But sometimes inflated bills come from car mechanics who don’t know what the problem is and replace various parts in hopes of finding a resolution.

Modern vehicles contain more computing power than the moon-reaching Apollo spacecraft, so you should insist on a high-tech check for dashboard warnings and other drive-impacting issues. This computerization removes a lot of the guesswork.

Oil change add-ons

Many repair shops barely break even on routine services like oil changes, so you can be confident that a mechanic will give your car a thorough inspection looking for other possible jobs. A common con that can pad a bill by hundreds of dollars is the “wallet flush.” The mechanic changes the radiator coolant and the fluids for your power steering, automatic transmission and brakes, when your car doesn’t need it. Many newer cars, for instance, have extended-life coolant that lasts up to 100,000 miles. Make the owner’s manual your guide to all scheduled maintenance.

Front-end fraud

Unless you notice handling problems, be suspicious if a mechanic says your car needs front-end work like an alignment or new ball joints, which offers free advice on car repairs. Why be suspicious? Most customers can’t easily locate or identify those parts. And with ominous warnings from the mechanic about steering loss, the repairs have a high scare factor. If your car seems to be driving fine, get a second opinion.

Repair Estimate Scams

Consumers who don’t get written repair estimates can suffer the consequences when they pick up their cars. This problem occurs when a shop provides a very reasonable quote when the car is dropped off, but at the end of the day, the consumer finds that the shop has raised the final bill considerably from the verbal quote. This may seem to be perfectly legal; since many mechanics find additional problems with a vehicle once work begins. Shop owners and mechanics have been known to leave the estimated amounts blank when they ask customers to sign repair authorizations. Later on they fill in an inflated amount or descriptions of problems after the consumer leaves the premises.

Maintenance Hook Schemes

Repair shops will advertise check-ups or preventive maintenance service at very reasonable rates. Unethical shops will use these maintenance specials to “hook” and deceive their customers. A simple oil change and lubrication process can turn into expensive and unneeded repairs. Some mechanics will even cause damage during an inspection to enhance their income by “discovering” new car repair needs.

Time to Fix Your Vehicle? Beware of These Tricks

Almost every driver hates dealing with any car repairs, especially when not knowing or having any handy mechanics in their circle. No matter where you live, there is always a small (or big) group of car repair mechanics who represent a source of worry as their deceptive practices can result in you paying thousands to fix a small issue. This article will tell you all about how you can avoid the repair shops that are only interested in thinning down your wallet.

ways you can avoid car repair scams:

1. Get Written Proof of Given Estimates

An extremely common trick that you might come across when interacting with a mechanic from a car repair shop is a very convincing first estimate of how much things are going to cost. More often than not, that’s the fishing bait they use to lure you into their future schemes.

They’ll give you a small amount at first and then raise that number as they work on your car, putting you in an extremely awkward position. They exploit the people’s inability to be rude by slipping in tiny “necessary” repairs along the way, and by the end of it, you’ll be paying triple the original price estimate. Getting proof that the mechanic stated a specific price would give you leeway to argue their future prices, prohibiting them from exploiting you in any way.

2. Look for Shops with a Good Reputation

Much like any other business offering a service, you need to continually be on the lookout for car repair shops that are known for their fair pricing. Asking a large number of friends to get a trusted opinion is crucial to finding a car repair shop that won’t try to play any games to get your money. Ask for their experience dealing with the shop, the quality of the work, their normal process of doing business, and, most importantly, their trustworthiness.

While it would be reasonable to stop after you get the trusted review of a friend, it wouldn’t hurt to take a few extra minutes to search for some other online reviews from other customers to double-check their validity and to put any doubts to rest. Third-party reviews are usually very trustworthy, so make sure you check a large number of them before heading to the chosen car repair shop.

3. Use Your Location to Your Advantage

Living in certain places can yield a lot of benefits, especially for car repair shops. Car companies in Asia are always in competition, and that can be extremely good for you. If you live in a country like Singapore, you’ll see a wide variety of car dealerships that offer car repair services for a very reasonable price due to high competition.

You’d need to be careful, though, as lower prices often mean lower quality of work, so you’ll need to choose a reliable workshop like Vin’s Automotive Group or any other company offering a workshop that contains car mechanics with a large number of years under their belt. These shops feature both reasonable prices and high quality of work, and they can reliably fix your car without a massive bill.

4. Don’t Fall for Emotional Manipulation Tricks 

If there’s one thing car repair mechanics are proficient at, other than repairing cars, it’s manipulating you into getting other pieces of your car fixed. You’d send in your car for a simple task like replacing your AC filter and they’d look at your car in a horrified manner, asking you how long it’s been since you repaired your car with extreme worry on their faces.

They’d ask you questions like if you’re aware of how dangerous it is to ride your car at its current state and if you know that it’s extremely risky to continue operating it in this condition, but all these questions are meant to scare you into paying more money, even when it’s not necessary.