Birthdays - The First One

Birthdays - The First One

In this article we're going to discuss probably one of the most important birthdays you'll celebrate, your first. Ironically, you will not remember your first birthday. But your parents will. So this article is more for them than for the birthday boy or girl. A first birthday for your child is very special. For one thing, he or she has made it through the first year of life on earth. That in itself is an accomplishment since during your first year you're pretty much dependent on your parents for everything. So this particular birthday celebration should be a special one.

For starters you (the parents, not the baby) should really get nice invitations. A front cover of "Baby's First Birthday" is probably the most common, but do not be afraid to be different. After all, you want this party to be special, right from the invitations down to the party itself. Forget the expense. This is a once in a lifetime event. So invite everyone you know who you've been or are close to. This includes friends, family, even people you work with. You want everyone involved in this special day as possible. Obviously this will mean renting a hall, without of course you live in a mansion. Go for it. Find the nicest hall you can afford. Have the meal catered. This can either be an early lunch or late dinner. Your best bet is to have a buffet. That way people can pretty much eat what they like. Have a large selection of foods both hot and cold. Some suggestions for the cold buffet would be all sorts of salads like tuna and potato. Have a variety of cold cuts like bologna, salami, ham, roast beef and turkey. For the hot portion of the buffet you may want to have a wide variety so there is something for everyone. Maybe some chow mein, hot beef, chicken and even fish. Have a nice selection of hot vegetables like peas, corn, carrots and green beans.

For dessert you obviously want to have a cake. The best bet is a large sheet cake that will be enough for all the guests. But have other desserts as well such as ice cream, brownies and cookies. It's best to have a table just for desserts.

Your guests are going to have a lot of gifts for your child. Make sure you've arrived in a vehicle where you'll be able to transport everything. If you do not own a van or a truck then bringing more than one vehicle or have friends help you bring the gifts back home. Make sure you keep track of what everyone gave your child so you can write proper thank you notes afterwards. This may sound obvious but do not forget about your child on this day. Make sure you bring baby food, change of diapers, etc. It's your child's day and you want to make sure that he or she is as well taken care of as your guests. Finally, make sure you bring plenty of film and a video camera. This is a day that you are going to want to remember for a long time, especially when that one year old is heading off to college.

An Introduction to CNC Turning Machines and How They Can Help Boost Productivity

An Introduction to CNC Turning Machines and How They Can Help Boost Productivity

For those that are not sure of what CNC turning machines are, these devices are machines that would make your milling, drilling and machining tasks a lot easier with the help of Computer Numerical Control (CNC). Highly thought-after in the world of manufacturing and processing of components, these machines are able to produce precise, accurate parts and components in fast and cost-effective manner. Some of the parts that are manufactured precisely through the use of these devices include aerospace components, automobile parts and many other different components. If you are unsure of whether you need these CNC turning machines or not for your business, going through the benefits of these devices and exploring how they can help to boost productivity might help you decide.

Wondering how CNC turning and milling machines can help enhance your productivity and increase your profit margins? Here are some of the reasons how:

1. CNC-based machines work based on CAD / CAM software that can produce and manufacture large output numbers without any compromises in terms of precision or accuracy. In return, you would have an advantage over your competitors that do not own such machines, as they would be limited by the limitations of manual labor. One good example is the outstanding capacity of these CNC milling and turning machines to perform multi-axis cutting processes, for instance a machine can work on 5 or 6 different axis, so you can produce fine and precise components when you own such a machine


2. You would be able to save your design and re-fabricate the same design over and over again when required. The utilization of CAD / CAM software allows this to happen, so you would save plenty of time once you have a design saved, all you have to do is retrieve the design and start manufacturing


3. These CNC turning machines come with good waste and chip management modules, so you could rest assured that you will minimize waste and your device would also be able to manage your wastage well


4. By owning a CNC turning machine, you are also making your plant environment a lot safer to work within. Instead of exposing your workers to the dangers of cutting, milling, drilling and other machining processes, let the machine take all the danger and shield your workers from such dangers. Your machine can also work for long hours without much issues, so instead of having a manual worker perform the same task (he would be given to fatigue), opt for a machine to do the task instead. You would automatically increase your productivity rate!


5. You would be able to produce a wide range of products without much restrictions when you own a CNC turning machine. When you are able to manufacture different products with varying levels of complexity and difficulty, you have found yourself a niche in the marketplace to distinguish yourself from your competitors

CNC turning machines are suddenless expensive, so if you can not afford these machines, consider outsourcing the processes instead and continue to reap the benefits. All the best!

How To Formulate The Right Gift Certificate Wording

How To Formulate The Right Gift Certificate Wording

Wording for a gift certificate (also known as gift voucher) is difficult to get right. There are a few mandatory elements and some optional elements you want to include in a gift voucher. In addition to these standard elements, you may consider a few legal arguments to include in order to force certain restrictions on the usage of your gift voucher.

Mandatory elements

When you're filing a gift certificate template, do not forget to include the following elements:

• name of your company


• recipient's name


• voucher value (in dollars or your local currency) or service provided. This is the most sensitive element of the certificate. In particular, you do not want for the customer to easily change the amount! So it's better to have it printed rather than manually written.


• certificate serial number. A serial number is important for multiple reasons, in particular to fight against fraud and to keep track of gift vouchers you've issued. By giving every gift voucher a unique number, you can easily verify that it has not been modified when the customer wants to redeem it. For example, you can have a tracking log associating serial number with its value, issuance date and customer name.

A few optional elements

• purchaser's name: probably a mandatory element for most vouchers!
• personal message: this is a very nice way to personalize a certificate, by giving the possibility to the purchaser to add a custom message for the receiver.

Legal mentions

• restriction for a certain type of service / product: if you want to offer a certificate for a specific service, mention "valid only for service X" or "to be used towards the purchase of X".


• no cash value. This will protect you against customers willing to redeem the certificate for cash (people will try to do that!). Mention "no cash value" or "not redeemable for cash" on the certificate.


• non-transferability: if you want the certificate to be redeemed only by the person whose name is stated on the certificate, mention "non-transferrable" on the certificate.


• certificate expiration: this might not be legal in your state / country. Check your legal regulations or an attorney for this. If it is legal, you might want to include a certificate expiration date, to avoid having certificates out in the open for years. One year from now is a good default. Mention "expiration date: 2012-03-17".

Now you know what elements are important to come up with for a good gift certificate word, so work your way through a gift certificate template and mix and match the different elements until you're satisfied with the result!

Automotive Locksmiths Help With Spares and Lost Car Keys

Automotive Locksmiths Help With Spares and Lost Car Keys

In 1980's the BMW and General Motors began creating and developing what was called "smart Keys." This made it difficult for thieves to take the cars.

Technology is moving fast and over the last few decades, the automotive industry has changed the most. This change has taken place because of the electronic aspects of how the vehicle operates with electronic ignitions and auto-start up options. About half of the late model vehicles on the road today have electronic options that do require computer chip keys to start.

Automotive locksmiths have an important part in the automotive industry because they have become certified in this particular area. They own a stock blank computer chip key, or transponder key as part of their necessary equipment. If you lose or damage your key, they can duplicate it. Because there are different electronic codes, which are in different type of vehicles, this blank key will allow them to program the electronic codes into the blank key so you can use them.

The ignition key is made up of a computer chip that has copper wiring. This wiring is embedded inside a plastic head or a rubber head. It uses standard Radio Frequency Identification or RFID in order to communicate between the chip and the ignition. The ignition, when turned on, will signal the vehicle's computer, which will then signal the key. The key will use these signals to begin emitting a code that contains 32 digits to the computer on the vehicle.

The computer will then decipher the signal to make sure that it is a legitimate signal and then begins the process of starting the ignition. If the signal was not valid or if the chip key malfunctions, the vehicle will not turn on. A copy of the computer chip can be duplicated to match the teeth on the ignition key however, if there is not computer chip found in the head then it is not able to communicate with the computer in the vehicle and the key will only be able to unlock the door and manually start the vehicle.

Chip keys are out there because cars become stolen. The price to insure one's vehicle or at least reduce the risk is very expensive. This new technology makes it impossible for thieves to get into a vehicle with ease. By the time that they do get in, the vehicle alarm is triggered or they may be done. Vehicle insurance is a requirement and the cost of the insurance is increasing because of this crime. Automotive locksmiths have the 'know how' and the techniques to program and cut keys of any model. Most of the Chicago automotive locksmiths have the latest gadgets and equipment to laser cut keys, program immobilizer and transponder keys

A computer chip transponder key is a more secure way to prevent theft. The new computer chip key ignition system provides a wireless ID that only the vehicle can respond to. There are no batteries to keep up with so you never need to worry about a malfunction. The consumer benefits from this the most because of the security it provides. With a demand for high end automotive locksmith in Chicago , it is easy to get a spare key cut and programmed when you need it. Next time you are fretting over a misplaced, lost or broken key, just call an emergency automotive locksmith and get back on road within a few hours!

Why One Should Own an Air Purifier

Why One Should Own an Air Purifier

Air quality is and ever increasing concern that affects our health more than most people are aware. Pollutant levels are actually much higher inside the home than outside in most cases. Indoor air pollution has been linked to many airborne diseases and sicknesses, including asthma and bronchitis. For those who already have asthma or allergy problems, an air purifier is more of a necessity than a luxury item.

Mold is the most common irritant found in homes today. It is everywhere that oxygen and moisture are present. The particles float around and tend to pick up germs and bacteria, which ultimately end up in your lungs. By putting and one of these appliances in your house, you can greatly reduce the number of doctors visits your family may have to make over the course of the year.

Allergies are a problem in virtually every part of the country. When allergy season hits, the airborne irritants are a source of misery for millions of people. Air cleaners are simply the best defense you can have against allergies in your home.

Air cleaners have come a long way since the early days. They come in a variety of different filtration systems. There are some that need filter replacement from time to time, but there are now filter systems know as an ionic system. They only need to be opened and have the filtered cleaned every couple of months or so, depending on the amount of airborne particles your home produces. All types of air cleaners are about equal, but the ionic system holds the advantage of not having to purchase more Air Purifier Filters

Air purifiers are a benefit to your health, pure and simple. With an increasing population, people are exposed to more and more harmful airborne germs and irritants. You can not escape what you breathe in outside of your home, but why not take the step of making sure the place your family dwells is as clean and healthy as possible? In a clean home with good insulation and venting, an air purifier can only be an advantage against bad health, diseases, asthma attacks, and allergy problems.

7 Tips for Saving Money on Car Rentals

7 Tips for Saving Money on Car Rentals

Renting cars does not have to be as expensive as you'd imagine and sometimes you can a great deal just by working with the car rental companies systems to get the best deal you can without compromising on the service you receive.

Car Rental companies have many complex operations and fees that they need to take into account when setting their rental charges so, if you know what these are and how to avoid them, you can get a car rental, very similar to the one you ideally want , at a greatly reduced price.

Follow these simple tips and use as many of them as you can while still getting the rental you need and you should be able to save a lot of money on your next car rental.

- Picking a Car up at the Airport

Car Rental companies have to pay what's called an "Airport Concession Fee" for all the cars they rent from their airport locations. This is basically a charge made by the Airport to the rental company to allow them to rent cars from the Airport. Obviously the rental companies pass this on to their customers, so if there's a rental location close to the Airport you can use, you could save money by booking there instead.

- Book the Most Popular Car Group

Car Rental companies have to manage a complex stock system to make sure they've got the right cars in the right places at the right time. The more popular the car group, the more difficult it is for them to maintain stock. Generally, if they do not have the car you booked they'll give you a free upgrade. This is because the larger, more expensive cars do not get booked as much as the smaller cheaper cars. If you book the smallest car that is acceptable to you, there's always a good chance of getting a free upgrade if you're picking it up at a busy time.

- Book Well in Advance

Because it's much easier to forecast how many cars they need if they've got all their bookings in advance, the car rental companies will very often have their cheapest rates loaded for rates well in advance, so book your car as soon as you know your travel dates and save more.

- Always Get a Discount Code

Apart from during peak periods (Christmas, Easter and the height of Summer), you should always able to get some kind of discount code, although you might have to hunt around a little to find it. Always check the terms of the offers as often, even though an offer may say it's for a weekend rental, you could still use the offer for other times. It's worth searching a little to find one.

- Watch Your Collection and Return Times

Another trick to watch out for is that most rental companies charge daily rates. That means if you pick up a car at 10am and take it back at 11am the next day you'll get charged for 2 days rental. Wherever possible try and ensure that your return time is always the same, or preferably just before your collection time. This way you'll never get charged the extra day.

- Where Possible, Book When They've Got Too Many Cars

If your travel plans are reasonably open try and book when they've got too many cars and you could land yourself an absolute bargain. Book just after Christmas and you could find that all the cars that have just been returned are very cheap to book. In car rental terms, a car sat in their car park is a huge cost and they'd rather let you have it very cheaper than just have it sitting there.

- Always Ask for More

The one golden rule to bear in mind is to always ask for more, the worst they can do is say no. When you get to the counter always ask if they have any free upgrades. Often, this prompt may be all they need to remember that they can not shift that big Mercedes out the back, and if you had it, they would not have to worry about it anymore!

Each one of these tips should save you some money the next time you rent a car. If you can combine all 7 of them into one rental, you'll be amazed by how little you need to pay to drive a very nice car for your rental!

GMC Trucks - 100 Years of Heavy-Duty Trucks

GMC Trucks - 100 Years of Heavy-Duty Trucks

History of GMC Trucks

When it comes to trucks, GMC is known the world over for its production of a variety of trucks from service trucks and commercial vehicles to pickup trucks. It had its beginnings with a commercial hauling truck company created in 1902 by Max Grabowsky called the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company.

Seven years later, General Motors bought out Grabowsky's business because they wanted to form their own trucking company, which was called General Motors Truck Company. They added Reliance Motors to their inventory in 1911, and in 1912 GMC (General Motors Corporation) Trucks was born out of those two acquisitions.

GMC - The Early Years

GMC produced a mere 372 trucks out of the nationwide total of 22,000 trucks that first year, which pales in comparison to the millions of commercial vehicles they produce today. An interesting note though is that GMC was a forerunner in battery-powered electric model trucks and made nine different models varying from one-half to six tons capacity.

In an effort to bring up their popularity, GMC Trucks put on a public stunt in 1916 featuring one of their truck models. William Warwick drve a loaded GMC 1-1 / 2-ton truck from Seattle to New York and back, making it the very first truck to cross the entire USA in less than 32 days.

GMC During World War I

The venture may have worked, as that same year the Army went with t ton GMC trucks as part of their fleet of vehicles. In fact, WWI bought major breakthroughs for their business, as 90 percent of all its production was bought by the military from 1917 and 1919. GMC delivered 8,500 vehicles to the Army during those years.

GMC Trucks After World War I

The next few years bought more innovation in the GMC Truck production as pneumatic tires replaced solid rubber tires in 1920, and their K model trucks came out that year as well with a capacity between and and five tons. The following year electric lights replaced what had been oil lamps as standard gear on all trucks as well and seven speed transmissions became the standard for heavyweight trucks.

By 1923, GMC trucks had capacities ranged up to 10 tons if you count the trailer. Rear wheel brakes were starting to be used on some models by 1925.The company expanded by 1927 when they built a truck assembly plant in Pontiac, Michigan which was the largest truck building plant in the world then at 26 acres of property.

That same year the company bought out their T model of trucks with a t ton panel express truck and a screen side express truck and "Cannon Ball" Baker drve a T model 40 GMC tank truck full of water from the Atlantic Ocean all the way from New York to San Francisco in under six days, which set a speed record for heavy-duty trucks.

GMC continued its innovative strategies when it started providing tandem driving rear axles for their heavyweight service trucks in 1930 and the following year it was a GMC T-95 model truck that filled a refrigerated GMC trailer full of fresh produce from Los Angeles to New York, setting another record.

Between 1931 and 1940 GMC Trucks were producing more than 20 models of truck trailer chassis, 15 new models of different weight trucks, and it had added several models of heavy weight trucks to its lines.

GMC During World War II

The next war also seemed to benefit GMC as their production numbers continued to escalate with all of its trucks going to the war effort by 1942. GMC built 600,000 trucks during this time frame for the military. In fact, GMC trucks were presented the E Award for Excellence in 1944 because of its help in the war effort.

GMC After the War

The company was back to making trucks for the civil market by then, but had some issues with a six-month long strike by its workers in 1946 that briefly slowed things down. Even so, by 1950 it proudly had 75 models of trucks going through its production lines.

In 1954 GMC Trucks offered power steering for the first time on some models and in 1956 tubeless tires were standard, and they were the first to put air suspension on front and rear axles on some of their heavy weight model trucks.

GMC Trucks continues to Grow

Between the 50s and the 60s GMC larger even larger and by 1968 they were considered the third largest truck producer in the world. Once again they prospered in the war effort and produced more than 9,000 trucks for the military in 1951. They were M-135 series that had the ability to ford deep water, so being very useful for military operations.

The company again showed how GMC was first in implementing innovative features when in 1967 they produced trucks with energy absorbing steering columns, instrument panel pads and dual brake systems well before they were required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

GMC Trucks Between 1970 and 2012

GMC continued its truck production over the next several decades, weathering many difficulties changes in production lines, increasing production costs, competition from foreign companies, problems with the fuel shortages in the middle 1970s and deregulation and recession issues in 1980s. The problems were so severe, that some trucking companies went out of business. The production plant in Pontiac was also torn down in late 1980s and the production was moved to Janesville, Wisconsin.

GMC's high points include placing third in the production of trucks in the US, being displaced as the official truck of the 1984 Olympics and in 1988 they stopped making heavyweight trucks, in 1990 electronic fuel injection became the norm, and by 1996 the name was shortened to just GMC, instead of GMC Trucks and they merged with Pontiac Motor Division to form Pontiac GMC Division of General Motors.

The following year all of its commercial vehicles production was moved to Flint, Michigan. Since then, GMC Trucks has continued to grow and produce award-winning trucks of all kinds with production and distribution all over the globe.

GMC Trucks will celebrate a milestone anniversary in 2012 - 100 years of truck manufacturing.