Christmas traditions in the world

China - Christmas traditions & customs

Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Chinese Children hang muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas Old Man." Since the vast majority of the Chinese people are not Christian, the main winter festival in China is the Chinese New Year, which takes place toward the end of January. Now officially called the "Spring Festival," it is a time when children receive new clothing, eat luxurious meals, receive new toys, and enjoy firecracker displays. An important aspect of the New Year celebration is the worship of ancestors. Portraits and paintings of ancestors are brought out and hung in the main room of the home.

Australia - Christmas traditions & customs

In Australia, the holiday comes in the middle of summer--it's not unusual for some parts of Australia to hit 100 degrees Farenheit on Christmas day. In Sydney, thousands of families prepare their Christmas dinner and take it to Bondi Beach for a picnic. Australians decorate with Christmas Bushes, plants with little red-flowered leaves that are native to Australia.

United States of America - Christmas traditions & customs

Contemporary 'Santa Claus' was born in the United States - thanks to a myriad of artists, writers, legends and the evolving nature of our country at the time. 'Santa Claus' is claimed to have been the Dutch word for St Nicholas, Sinterklaas. Although the Dutch had brought him with them in the 17th century, he did not become an important person at Christmas until the Novelist Washington Irving put him in a novel that he wrote in 1809. This first Santa Claus was still known as St. Nicholas, he did smoke a pipe, and fly around in a wagon without any reindeer, but he did not have his red suit or live at the North Pole, he did however bring presents to children every year.

In 1863 He was given the name Santa Claus and bore the red suit, pipe, and his reindeer and sleigh.

Now Christmas celebrations vary greatly between regions of the United States, because of the variety of nationalities which have settled in it.

In Pennsylvania, the Moravians build a landscape, called a putz - under the Christmas tree, while in the same state the Germans are given gifts by Belsnickle, who taps them with his switch if they have misbehaved.

Early European settlers who brought many traditions to the United States. Many settled in the early days in the South, these settlers would send Christmas greetings to their distant neighbors by shooting firearms and letting off fireworks. In Hawaii this practice is still in use as under the sunny skies, Santa Claus arrives by boat and Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors.

In Alaska, a star on a pole is taken from door to door, followed by Herod's Men, who try to capture the star. Colonial doorways are often decorated with pineapple, a symbol of hospitality.

In Alaska, boys and girls with lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star from door to door. They sing carols and are invited in for supper.

In Washington D.C., a huge, spectacular tree is lit ceremoniously when the President presses a button and turns on the tree's lights.

In Boston, carol singing festivities are famous. The singers are accompanied by hand bells.

In New Orleans, a huge ox is paraded around the streets decorated with holly and with ribbons tied to its horns.

In Arizona, the Mexican ritual called Las Posadas is kept up. This is a ritual procession and play representing the search of Mary and Joseph for a room at the inn. Families play the parts and visit each other's houses enacting and re-enacting the drama and, at the same time, having a look at each family's crib.

In Hawaii, Christmas starts with the coming of the Christmas Tree Ship, a ship bringing a great load of Christmas fare. Santa Claus also arrives by boat.

In California, Santa Claus has been known to ride in on a surf board.

In America the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Mince pies, pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.

The majority of Americans celebrate Christmas with the exchange of gifts and greetings and with family visits. For many, the day begins on Christmas Eve with the Midnight Mass. At Christmas it snows in many states, so dinner is usually eaten indoors. Dinner usually is roast turkey, goose, duck or ham served with cranberry sauce, then plum pudding or pumpkin pie followed by nuts and fruit.

American homes are decorated with holly, mistletoe and branches of trees, most have a Christmas tree hung with electric lights, tinsel, baubles, strings of popcorn and candy canes.

In Colorado, an enormous star is placed on the mountain, it can be seen for many kilometers around, while in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a star is lit in early December.

Polish Americans on Christmas Eve spread hay on their kitchen floor and under the tablecloth to remind them of a stable and a manger. When they make up the table for dinner two extra places are set up for Mary and the Christ Child in case they should knock at the door to ask for shelter.

In Philadelphia, a procession called a mummers parade runs for a whole day with bands, dancers and people in fancy dress.

There are two homes for Santa Claus in the United States one is in Tirrington, Connecticut, where Santa and his helpers give out presents. The other home is in Wilmington, New York, where a village for Santa and his reindeer is located.

In Arizona they follow the Mexican traditions called Las Posadas. Families play out the parts of Mary and Joseph searching for somewhere to stay. They form a procession and visit their friends' and neighbors' homes where they admire each family's Nativity crib. In parts of New Mexico, people place lighted candles in paper bags filled with sand on streets and rooftops to light the way for the Christ Child.

England - Christmas traditions & customs

The English enjoy beautiful Christmas music. They love to decorate Christmas Trees and hang up evergreen branches.

One of England's customs is mumming. In the Middle Ages, people called mummers put on masks and acted out Christmas plays. These plays are still performed in towns and villages.

The English gift giver is called Father Christmas. He wears a long red or green robe, and leaves presents in stockings on Christmas Eve. However, the gifts are not usually opened until the following afternoon.

Christmas in England began in AD 596, when St Augustine landed on her shores with monks who wanted to bring Christianity to the Anglo Saxons.

Father Christmas delivers them during the night before Christmas. The Children leave an empty stocking or pillowcase hanging at the end of the bed. In the morning they hope it will be full of presents.

In England the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day because boys used to go round collecting money in clay boxes. When the boxes were full, they broke them open.

In England Christmas dinner was usually eaten at Midday on December 25, during daylight.

In England, the only thing that people ate on the day before the feast was Frumenty, which is, was a kind of porridge made from corn. Over the years the recipe changed. Eggs, fruit, spice, lumps of meat and dried plums were added. The whole mixture was wrapped in a cloth and boiled. This is how plum pudding began.

In England the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Mince pies, pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.

Japan - Christmas traditions & customs

Christmas was introduced in Japan by the Christian missionaries, and for many years the only people who celebrated it were those who had turned to the Christian faith. But now the Christmas season in Japan is full of meaning and is almost universally observed. The story of the Child Jesus born in a manger is fascinating to the little girls of Japan, for they love anything having to do with babies. In the scene of the Nativity they become familiar for the first time with a cradle, for Japanese babies never sleep in cradles. Many western customs in observing Christmas have been adopted by the Japanese.

Besides exchanging gifts they eat turkey on Christmas Day, and in some places there are even community Christmas trees. They decorate their houses with evergreens and mistletoe, and in some homes Christmas carols are sung gaily. In Japan there is a god or priest known as Hoteiosho, who closely resembles our Santa Claus. He is always pictured as a kind old man carrying a huge pack. He is thought to have eyes in the back of his head. It is well for the children to be good when this all-seeing gentleman is abroad. New Year's Day is the most important day of the whole calendar in Japan.

On New Year's Eve the houses are cleaned thoroughly from top to bottom, and are decorated for the morrow. when everything has been made clean and neat the people of the house dress themselves in their finest clothes. Then the father of the household marches through the house, followed by all the family, and drives the evil spirits out. He throws dried beans into every corner bidding the evil spirits withdraw and good luck enter.

Mexico - Christmas traditions & customs

Several weeks before Christmas, elaborately decorated market stalls or puestos are set up in the plazas of every town and city. Some people travel for days from remote areas to get to these markets. The puestos offer crafts of every conceivable kind, foods such as cheese, bananas, nuts, and cookies, and flowers such as orchids and poinsettias. The poinsettia is native to Mexico and is believed to have first been used in connection with Christmas in the 17th century when Mexican Franciscans included the flowers in their Christmas celebration. There is a legend connected with the flower. A little boy named Pablo was walking to the church in his village to visit the Nativity scene, when he realized he had nothing to offer the Christ Child. He saw some green branches growing along the roadside and gathered them up. Other children scoffed, but when he laid them by the manger, a brilliant red star-shaped flower appeared on each branch.

The main Christmas celebration in Mexico is called las posadas, which refers to processions reenacting Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. The processions begin nine days before Christmas because the original journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem took nine days. Friends and family members divide themselves into two groups - pilgrims and innkeepers. The pilgrims travel from house to house asking for a shelter and are refused at each until they finally reach the house where an alter and Nativity scene have been set up. Here the pilgrims are admitted with great rejoicing, a traditional prayer is spoken, and the party begins. During Christmas in Mexico food and drink are served and then children take turns trying to break open the pinata.

Scotland - Christmas traditions & customs

The Scottish people have their big celebrations on New Year's Day, called Hogmanay. A long time ago There is a superstition that it is bad luck for the fire to go out on Christmas Eve, since it is at this time that the elves are abroad and only a raging fire will keep them from coming down the chimney.

On Christmas day, people sometimes make big bonfires and dance around them to the playing of bagpipes. Bannock cakes made of oatmeal are traditionally eaten at Christmas.

In Scotland, Christmas had traditionally been celebrated very quietly, because the Church of Scotland - the Presbyterian Church - has never placed any great emphasis on the Christmas festival, However, the Scots are members of the Church of England or other churches generally celebrate Christmas in the same way as the English people disapproved of Christmas for they believed that there was too much riotous festivity that went on. Nowadays these things are held at Hogmanay, but they do celebrate Christmas with some very interesting customs.

Birth of Jesus History

In the western world the birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25^th since AD 354, partly to replace the pagan worship that was commonplace in those days. However, we can be fairly sure that Jesus wasn't actually born on that date.

The Bible tells us that shepherds were staying out in the fields overnight when Jesus was born (Luke 2:8), but in that part of the world it would have been far too cold at night to do so in December. What is more likely is that He was born in the Spring, perhaps between March and May. Whatever the time of year, it is virtually impossible to identify the actual date.

This situation is further complicated by the fact that the Christian scholar Dionysius Exiguus was asked by the Pope in AD 525 to calculate new cycles for fixing the date of Easter. However, he decided to base his calculations on the date of Jesus's birth. Unfortunately, it wasn't discovered until the 9^th century that he got it badly wrong, by which time it was too late to change the calendar.

He fixed the birth in the year 1 BC or AD 1 (Historians apparently can't agree which.) and began counting from the latter. But both earlier and later scholars agreed that Jesus was born at an earlier date. Indeed, it was eventually established that Herod the Great died in Spring of 4 BC. If Jesus had been born at the start of AD 1, as we currently have it, then Jesus would have been born some 4 or 5 years after Herod died. There is no way of accurately establishing the actual date of his birth, but it is most likely to have been between 5 and 6 BC.

The important thing is that he was born, and his nominal birthdate of December 25^th seems as good as any to celebrate his birth and his message. It also a wonderful catalyst for enjoying the precious and simple pleasures of being, if only for a brief time, close together in the warm familiarity of friends and family, renewing relationships and sharing memories.

History of Christmas - Before Christ?

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight. In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Saturnalia - In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun.

Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year. In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated.

Flashcards As A Learning Tool

by: John Daye

Flashcards are wonderful teaching tools. They offer fun, interactive learning for all levels of education for all subject types. Often created by teachers or purchased in educational stores or departments, flashcards can help with memory skills, mathematical skills, advanced discussion work, interaction via games, speaking and listening skills of all ages.

Flashcards come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. They often have space on them for students to insert their own replies and they can be personalized. In addition, flashcard software is becoming increasingly popular due to new technology. Computers are used more and more often in education.

People can get creative with the cards. For instance, popular uses of flashcards include writing calculations on one side with answers on the other, or developing thoughts on one side with pictures or other images and by writing correlating bullet points on the reverse side. Some write questions on one side, answers on the reverse. Others add colors to the cards (with markers, colored pencils, paints, chalks, etc.) and then jazz them up with colorful stickers, glitter, felt or other fun craft items.

And not only students reap rewards with flashcards. Take a look at this brief overview of who benefits and how.

Students - Of course students are among the number one benefactors of flashcards. Skills they learn using flashcards include: memory, association, verbal, cognitive, interaction, mathematical, listening and more.

Parents - Parents benefit by having tools to help their children with learning and examination preparation. Flashcards can be purchased or created fairly inexpensively, fitting into family budgets of all income levels. And the cards offer opportunities to extend learning beyond the point or points mentioned on the cards, opportunities for family interaction as well.

Teachers - Teachers benefit with flashcards in a variety of way: via teacher-directed study, self-paced student study, and by helping team up student partners, teaching them to work with the fronts and backs of flashcards for enhanced learning. Flashcards are creative outlets for many teachers, as well, allowing for use of crafting materials and instruction with imaginative teaching methodology on two sides.

So get flashcards, the little pictures that can lead to the big picture!

About The Author

John Daye

To learn more about using flashcards to study visit http://www.pectoviewer.com. Pectoviewer is powerful new test-prep software that will help you pass your next exam quickly and easily.

The All Time Top Ten Study Tips For Success In Tests And Exams

by: Michael Tipper

There comes a time in every student's life when those things that you dread begin to loom on the horizon. Depending upon how confident you are about them, your horizon will either be measured in months, or maybe days. What am I talking about? Of course I mean examinations. You may be about to go into mid term mock examinations or you could be facing your final tests.

Whatever your situation and whenever you are going to be sat in an examination room it is never too early to start getting ready for those tests. Thorough preparation will provide you with a strong foundation and will give you the confidence and belief that you can do them and that you will get the grades you want.

But where do you start and which of the hundreds of study tips and study skill ideas do you use?

I am often asked for my top ten tips when it comes to exam success and over the years I have accumulated many ideas, some of which are more effective than others. However if I were to limit myself to just the top 10 that I felt were the most powerful based on all of the work I have done in this field, here are the ones that I think are the most powerful:

1. Find your own deep and compelling reason to successfully learn your subject and pass your exams.

This really is the most important of the study tips I shall share with you here because your success will be deeply rooted in your motivation to learn. Many kids at school do not want to be there and can't be bothered to try which is often why they fail. It does not mean that they are unable to learn, it just means that they have not applied themselves to the work at hand. I know that this is often true because I have met literally hundreds of people who "failed" at school by conventional standards yet later in life made the decision to go back to studying a subject because they wanted to do it. And because of their motivation to succeed the did.

So what does that mean to you? Well understand that you are driven by emotional needs and not necessarily logical ones. If we were driven by logic, the world would be a much better place. So you have to find a deep emotional reason for achieving success as a student. And if you can dig deep and find that reason then nothing will stop you because you will find a way.

2. Plan your time to include study, revision and social commitments - a balance of having fun, taking breaks and studying is vital.

Balance is very important to have a successful and rewarding life and the same is true when you are a student. OK you could spend every waking hour reading every book you could find and learning everything you could and yes you would pass your exams provided you had not burnt out. But it would not be fun, you would have no friends and you would definitely be out of balance.

Taking appropriate breaks and giving yourself little rewards when you have finished an essay or learnt something new for your exams is vital for your success. This is because it keeps you in balance and gives you a degree of variety that keeps you fresh and alert. Yes having a night out with your friends is good for you - but only if it is as a reward for doing good work and is as part of your overall plan.

3. Use multi-coloured Mind Maps for your notes.

My friend and mentor Tony Buzan developed the most powerful thinking tool ever (and I am not exaggerating here) when he invented the Mind Map. Imagine being able to get the key facts from an entire book on a single page in a way that was not only easy to remember but would stay in your memory for as long as you wanted it.

Imagine having a thinking tool that allowed you to prepare essays and assignments in a fraction of the time than you do at the moment AND have them much better. Imagine being able to give a powerful hour long presentation from a single page of colourful notes that you put together in about 10 minutes.

Well all these are possible with the Mind Map. It is an amazing tool that combines the power of association, the fact that we have a very strong visual processing mechanism and that it combines right and left brain processing.

I have seen what Mind Maps can do for students of all ages and all abilities and if I had my way it would be a compulsory tool taught to kids from a very young age.

4. Review your notes regularly to reinforce your new-found knowledge.

This is another very simple but extremely powerful tip for you. The experience of most students is that the learning that takes place in the classroom is really an information gathering exercise. When it comes to revising for their exams at the end of the year they go to their notes and often can't remember ever seeing that information before. They know they must have because the notes are in their handwriting but they can't remember anything! So the preparation for exams becomes a re-learning exercise.

This study tip is so simple and powerful yet most will not bother. If at the end of every day, every week and every month you quickly scanned what you have learnt, made a few key word notes and then reviewed those ultra-condensed notes regularly, you would be amazed at how much you could remember. This only need take 10 minutes at the end of the day, half an hour at the end of the week and maybe an hour or two at the end of the month.

Each time you review what you have learnt, even in condensed key word format, it is more deeply engrained in your memory.

5. Swiftly skim through your text books and course material before you read them in depth to give you an overview of your subject.

Now there is not enough space here to explain why this tip is important because it is a fundamental part of learning how to read faster and absorb more information. Just trust me on this one and before you start reading, skim through your book (no more than 10 minutes) to get a feel for the contents.

As you read in greater depth later on, some of what you have got from the quick scan will help put into context that information and allow you to make the necessary links in your mind and memory.

Doing this will often stop you from getting stuck at any point because you will have a flavour of what is to come later in the book and this added preview can help the understanding of earlier information.

6. Learn how to remember lists of things by linking each item to a location on a journey or route you are familiar with around your town. You could even use your own home.

At some point, once you have understood your subject, you will need to be able to memorise it. Many people think that just understanding it is enough to learn it but unfortunately that is not the case and so some memorization is necessary.

The most powerful way of doing this is to create a "filing system" in your mind. One way to do this is to create a little journey in your imagination (it can be a real place or you can make it up). See for example the chair, the bed, the TV, the door and the window in your bedroom. If you wanted to remember a sequence of items you would link an outrageous (and therefore memorable) picture to each location.

To recall the information, simply revisit the journey in your own mind and "see" the information in the silly pictures you have created.

7. Before you do any revision, warm up by doing some gentle exercise to relieve any tension in your body and to get a rush of healthy oxygen flowing to your brain.

There is a saying - "a healthy body, a healthy mind" - and nowhere is this more true than when it comes to learning. Two things happen when you physically warm up before studying. First of all you get rid of any physical tension that will create stress in the body and mind (not good for learning) and secondly you will get a rush of oxygen to the brain which will help you think more clearly (definitely good for learning).

8. Do past papers under thorough exam conditions as often as possible to familiarise yourself with the format and the pressures of working under exam conditions.

If you are training in a sport or practicing a musical instrument, you will practice the plays or rehearse the pieces for the big day. It would not make sense to spend months doing push ups and then turn up on the big day and expect to play soccer really well. It would also be unwise to only practice scales on your instrument and then when the big performance comes up expect a perfect recital.

So the same is true of exams. Fortunately these days you can get hold of past exam papers from previous years. Do these, under the same exam conditions, over and over again so that when the big day comes you will have exam experience under your belt.

Doing this will give you more confidence, much better exam techniqe and an insight into how the examiners for your subject think. Remember practice makes perfect.

9. In an exam, make sure you read the question completely and fully understand what the examiner wants before you allocate your time and begin answering the questions.

This is commonsense but you would be amazed at how many people do not do this. Take your time, plan what you are going to write and then write it.

10. If you are faced with a mental block breathe deeply, relax and ask yourself "If I did know the answer to this question, what would it be?"

This might sound silly but if you do it with a positive expectation that your very powerful subconcious will give you the answer, then you will be amazed at what comes to mind. The combination of the breathing, relaxation and expectation is the key. Of course you have had to have done the preparation beforehand because this won't work with information that you have not previously learnt or covered in class.

So there you have my top 10 tips. Each are very powerful and just doing one of them will make a big difference to your success...but if you do all 10...Wow!

Good luck and please do let me know how these work for you.

About The Author

Michael Tipper makes it very easy to be highly effective at learning and passing exams in a way that any student can easily achieve. To receive your free 7 day mini-course on being a highly effective student visit http://www.the77habits.com.

himself@michaeltipper.com

Use Mind Maps to Improve Your Learning

Are you still taking notes to organize your information the old fashioned way? Try the technique of making mind maps, and see whether this method of organizing your thoughts works better for you.

When you need to organize your thoughts, you probably write out all your thoughts the old fashioned way.

However, there is a technique called mind mapping which can help you organize your thoughts and help you understand the relationship of all the components. Try it and see.

Many students find that the use of mindmaps helps them take notes more effectively and remember better when they study for exams.

The main problem with taking notes the traditional way is that this is a very passive process. Simply taking notes does not get the brain very involved in interacting with the information. If you can get your brain to get more actively involved in organizing the new material you will remember it better.

The following technique for note-taking is particularly effective for people who are highly visual. This method of making notes is sometimes called “mind-mapping” or making a “learning map”.

Although it takes some practice to use mind-mapping effectively, most people who use it find they can retain and remember far more information with a lot less work.

The essence of the learning-map (also known as “memory-map”, or “mind-map”) technique is quite simple. You will need a blank piece of paper, the larger the better. You will need at least one pen, more if you want to use a variety of colors.

You will be trying to fill the entire page with your notes, so it is important to keep the size of your writing quite small. With practice you should be better able to judge what size of writing will work effectively.

As you listen to the lecturer, or read the article you are studying, decide what you think the central theme is. For example, you might be listening to a lecture where you decide the central theme seems to be, “Conditions in Europe on the eve of World War 2”

Or you might be listening to a talk that has a central theme of “Strategies that plants use to survive winter”

Once you have decided what the central theme is, jot down the words in the center of the page, and draw a circle around the main theme. Don’t try to write down a sentence or a paragraph--just get down enough of the key words that will bring the ideas back into you mind.

Keep listening or reading, watching for the first main sub-theme.

When you come across the first major sub-theme, pick a spot on the page to jot down a few key words that sum up the sub-theme. Draw a circle around the sub-theme words, and then join your sub-theme circle to the main theme circle with a line.

Each time you come across a new major sub-theme, write down a few key words to summarize the new idea, and draw a circle around those words. Then draw a line to join the sub-theme circle to the main idea circle in the center of the page. Eventually you will have a circle in the center with several spokes radiating from it.

The lines or spokes don’t have to be straight, and they can be of any length required. The “circles” don’t have to be circles; they can be squares, triangles, or oval squiggles if you prefer. You can use different colors to help you organize the ideas better.

As the speaker or writer continues to present his ideas, you will find that some of the ideas being presented are additional supporting details that clarify or illustrate one of the sub-themes you have already identified. In this case you will write these “sub-sub-themes” down using just a few words, enclose them in a circle or squiggle, and link them to their sub-theme with a line.

Eventually your sub-theme circles may have many spokes radiating from them as the author or lecturer continues to present his ideas. At a glance you will be able to take in the dominant themes of the talk and the underlying organizational structure of the ideas.

If you happen to have any ideas of your own while you are reading or listening to the lecture, jot them down as well. This shows you have your brain actively interacting with the material.

by: Royane Real

When you make a mind map or a learning map of all your notes, you create a very visual document that differs a lot from traditional methods of making notes for class.

People who learn very well visually will particularly benefit from the way that learning maps clearly show the relationships between main themes, sub-themes and supporting facts and ideas.

Try this method and see if this is the note-taking technique that works best for you!

About The Author

This article was written by learning expert Royane Real. If you want to improve your learning, get her new short report “Your Quick Guide to Improving Your Learning Ability” at www.royanereal.com.

Talking Dictionaries And Language Learning

by: Frank Gerace

Is it worth the extra money to purchase an elecgtronic dictionary with sound?

The following comments have specific reference to learning Spanish but I believe they are relevant to the learning of other languages as well.

Some people (curiously and unfortunately, not all) who learn a new language are interested in achieving a good accent in their new language. Nevertheless, it is not well known that there are three components of the accent of a given language: the rhythm or intonation (the music) of the language, the links between the sounds, syllables, and words in an utterance, and lastly, the proper pronunciation of the sounds of the language. The lesson here is that the formation of the vowels and consonants of a language is only part of the task of learning that language. However, it is where most learners begin. Let’s look at the place of the pronunciation of the vowels and consonants of Spanish.

Many language experts believe that the intonation and linkage contribute more to speaking like a native than does the proper pronunciation of all the sounds. This can be seen in the manner in which the people of San José, Cost Rica pronounce the Spanish letter “ere”. For some strange reason, which I have not been able, to track down historically or linguistically, they pronounce the word “arroz” just like a Gringo would. Their double “r” is not trilled as in most Spanish speaking countries; it is not velar as it is in much of Puerto Rico. It is pronounced just as an untrained American would pronounce it. Yet, the person hearing this “error” has no doubt that the persons speaking are native speakers of Spanish. The flow of their speech is perfect and the listener just thinks, “I wonder why they pronounce that word that way…” In other words, often the pronunciation of the sounds is the least important element of speaking well.

Yet pronunciation is the place where the learner should begin. Habits of bad pronunciation once ingrained become automatic and are hard to eliminate, while errors of intonation and linkage can more easily be consciously detected and corrected in later stages of the learning process.

The person learning Spanish has one advantage over the person learning another language. The advantage is that most the vowels and consonants of Spanish are close to those of English, and their pronunciation is perfectly regular.

First of all, the vowels sounds represented by the 5 letters, a, e, i, and u, have five sounds. That’s right, five! It is not like the case of the many English vowel sounds represented by the same letters, such as rough, cough, though, and through, or the case of the same sound represented by different letters in the words, ache, weigh, pay, hey, jail, and tape.

The major difference is that the vowel sounds in Spanish are pure; they do not have the little “tail’ that English vowels have.

The consonant sounds in Spanish are largely similar to those of English. This does not mean that they are all the same! There are differences with the “l”, “b” and “d” sounds. The main difference with some consonants in Spanish is that they are not “aspirated”, that is they are not made with a puff of air, as are those of English. If you put the back of your hand in front of your mouth when you say “Papa” or “tonto” in Spanish you should not feel the same movement of air that you feel when you say “Pope” or “tent” in English.

These differences are real but fairly manageable by the learner who wants to start off right in Spanish. Once the differences are known they can be worked on. For example, it is relatively easy to leave off the English glide at the end of the Spanish vowels.

Progress can be made with written descriptions of the Spanish sounds. The sounds can be described by comparing them with close English words. And the ear can be trained by listening to native speakers. There are many speech samples on the Internet and most large cities in the United States have at least one Television channel transmitting in Spanish.

All of the above has the purpose of leading into the issue of the value of a “talking” dictionary. Many people who want to learn Spanish think that they need a talking dictionary. Often the learner thinks that this will provide an advantage in learning the language. However, it is a mistake to invest in a talking dictionary. The very best are very expensive and most of them, even the most expensive, have such small speakers that it is impossible to hear the fine points of the pronunciation of Spanish.

The learner very soon knows how to pronounce Spanish since the rules are 100% regular. What is need is the effort to actually pronounce the sounds. Many learners are ashamed of imitating the sounds of the language they are learning and they speak the new language with the same intonation, linkage, and pronunciation of their own native language.

The end result of the learner’s pronunciation (as of his or her overall accent) will be the result of his or her own ability and of the effort expended. The talking dictionary does not contribute anything to the equation. A good electronic Dictionary such as the Oxford Spanish English Dictionary, found at www.LeerEsPoder.com/dicOxford.htm , will be all the learner needs.

About The Author

Frank Gerace has taught in Latinamerica and now teaches English in New York City. He provides resources on accent reduction and the proper American English accent at http://www.GoodAccent.com. He also maintains resources for Spanish Speaking learners of English at http://www.InglesParaLatinos.com.

Top 7 Ways A Knowledge Base Program Can Improve Your Office

by: Brandon Doyle

One of your employees has just tried to print something and he/she gets a printer error. The error says, “Out of paper.” Well the employee knows that the printer is not out of paper and it does not have a paper jam. What to do? Well the traditional answer is to call technical support. But wait. Hasn’t someone else in the office seen this error before? Can it be corrected faster with the help of a co-worker? In this article we will review 7 ways a Knowledge Base program can improve overall office communication.

1. The biggest reason to use a Knowledge Base program is to keep track of software problems. Almost all offices have three dynamics to their software: Operating System, Productivity Software, and custom built software for your business. Entrusting all your business computers to all of this software is indeed a brave move. A Knowledge Base program allows your employees to enter detailed information on a variety of software topics including; how-to(s), program errors, settings and options, hardware settings, and many others.

2. A Knowledge Base program is perfect for storing… well, knowledge. Quite often your office will have an employee who has been with the business for several years and then suddenly submits their two week notice for a variety of reasons. This employee takes all of his/her knowledge with them. This leaves other less informed employees to fill their shoes. Not an easy task. It doesn’t need to be that way any more. With a Knowledge Base program, an employee can be required to make at least one entry a week. If you have 5 employees, that is 260 entries in your Knowledge Base per year!

3. How does one define knowledge? A Knowledge Base can be basically anything you desire. Quite often we have contact information, vendor information, and policies and procedures stored in hundreds of files over the whole hard drive; or worse, papers all over the office. A Knowledge Base makes it easy to have all that information in one place. If the Knowledge Base has a robust search engine; a search can be completed in a few seconds.

4. Customer Relations. A Knowledge Base can improve customer relations. Customers can now have advanced knowledge of polices and procedures and well as product and service pricing, and with a quick response from the employee.

5. More accurate answers. Often, you simply give up trying to find the information and take your best guess at what you think the material contained. While this may be acceptable to you some of the time, it may not be acceptable to the customer or client you are talking to.

6. Improve Office productivity. The same employee that had the “out of paper” error message found out from the Knowledge Base that he/she needed to re-install the printer driver. This saved the employee twenty minutes out of the work day.

7. Beat the competition. The competition may have never even considered using a Knowledge Base program in the office. By having this basic idea and software in place, you will be able to work smarter, save time, and save money. The competition will be left in the dust!

Bonus Tip:

Research the best Knowledge Base software for your business. Knowledge Base(s), sometimes called Knowledge Management comes in many different flavors. Check out the vendors! Make sure they have a free demo or product information on their website.

About The Author

Brandon Doyle
http://www.doylesoftutah.com

How To Improve Online Get Paid To Survey Models For More Profits!

by: Kenneth Echie

As somebody who has spent the last 2 years doing online surveys, I have come to notice a few things wrong with most of the current online survey models. The behavior of my affiliates and visitors to my online survey review website (http://www.extra-income-ideas.com/paid-to-survey.html) also gives me unique perspective in the industry.

I know for me some of the things wrong with the current online survey model have reduced the number of surveys I currently take. I have no doubt it’s discouraging a lot of the people that came online to take surveys as a way of making extra money.

I believe the current model is causing a lot of attrition in the business. This needs to be reversed if online paid survey companies want to continue to thrive. Making these changes will help reduce the turnover of survey takers.

Below are the things I feel need to be changed:

1. The current model of taking surveys for a chance to win prices should be changed. This model makes online paid to surveys look like a lottery or gamble. It’s frustrating for people looking to make extra income to have to rely on luck to make that income.

A person that signs up for online get paid to surveys to help pay a kid’s karate or piano lesson can not depend on luck to pay the bill. He/She wants to be able to know that at the end of the month, the money will be there to pay the bill.

What happens is that after a few months of taking online paid to survey for a chance to win money or price and not winning anything, they think online paid to survey is a scam. They stop taking the surveys and start looking for other ways to make extra money.

What I recommend is a model that guarantees every survey taker some money or price. If an online survey company is going to give a luck winner out of all survey takers $10000.00, why not use a model that guarantees every survey taker some money or price.

For example, the survey company could use 400 people in the survey and pay every survey taker $25.00. A sample size of 400 people is enough to get the answer you’re looking for in the survey.

Like one internet guru said, “if I find out what 100 people think, I can takeover the world.” So a sample size of 400 people is more than enough to get the information needed.

2. Online paid to survey companies should reduce the number of qualifying surveys. For those new to the business, a qualifying survey is the survey they give you to see if you qualify for a survey they’re conducting.

Even though most online survey companies make you fill out a profile when you register with them, they still send you a qualifying survey. Granted there are surveys that require this, I don’t thin it should be done in each and every survey.

I have a survey company that regularly sends me qualifying survey about buying computer system for the company I work for. They have my profile that shows my background yet they constantly send me this qualifying survey.

The qualifying survey will ask if I’m the CIO of the company I work for. My answer is always No. Then they further ask, are you in charge of buying the computer system where you work. My answer again is always No. Then I get “sorry you do not qualify for this survey.”

After a few times of getting this, it starts getting irritating. I have since started ignoring their surveys. I just feel they’re wasting my time when I could be earning extra income in other ways. I don’t think I’m the only one that feels this way.

It may take a little work initially, but all it takes is a database that has the profile of your registered survey takers. Then when a survey comes up, you run a program that calls the database for people that fit the profile you want. Armed with this information, you’ll then only send the survey invitation to these people. I don’t believe that’s too much to ask.

In the end, all it will take is to send out a newsletter reminding your registered users to update their profile when it changes. They should be reminded that doing this will increase their earning power.

In conclusion, I firmly believe doing the above things will improve the online survey experience. Improvement of this experience, will help the industry to continue to grow.

About The Author

Copywrite © Kenneth Echie. Kenneth updates the latest extra income ideas at http://www.extra-income-ideas.com. Subscribe to his informative newsletter by sending blank e-mail to Mailto:bye925 AT getresponse.com. His other websites include: http://www.online-degree-guide.org http://www.free-satellite-tv.org http://www.vitamin-supplement.org.

Internet And Business Online – The Act Of Interdependence

by: Scott Lindsay

The best role of business online is that of interdependency. We’ve all heard the old saying, “No man is an island.” When it comes to online business this is especially true.

If a business owner who takes their business into the online world determines they will be self reliant and never accept the help of anyone then that individual will not be in business long enough to change their minds.

It is accepted fact that the greatest tool for long-term exposure to your website is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Without it potential customers can’t find you. It is unreasonable to expect that you can adequately develop a website without optimizing your website for the best possible search engine ranking.

Search engines also place a high value on sites that have links placed on existing sites. These ‘backlinks’ demonstrate to search engines that others trust your site. By placing your link on their website these other businesses indicate a trust and recommendation for your site.

In effect the two strategies listed above rely exclusively on what others can do for you when it comes to your online business.

Shirley Temple once proclaimed in her movie Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, “I’m very self-reliant.” American westerns are filled with lines dealing with pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and holding down the fort. Many of us have grown up to believe if we want something done right we have to do it ourselves.

This thinking is in opposition to the rules associated with an online business.

The online world can only exist because people share. Individuals share technology, but the also share links, reviews, blogs, forums and a wide range of other marketing strategies that find a commingling of interdependency.

In online business you are as dependent on others as they may be on you. Unlike the word ‘dependent’, the term interdependent indicates a mutual dependency. In other words you are depending on others to help provide links back to your site while they are equally dependent on you (or others) for the success of their business.

Have you really taken a proactive approach to networking? It’s possible you are reading this today and you’ve never considered asking someone else to place a link to your site on his or her online business site.

It can feel awkward depending on others to achieve online success especially if you’ve been lead to believe reliance on others is also a sign of imposing on their otherwise brilliant generosity.

I suppose it could be a deep-seated sense of pride that makes it hard to consider the need to ask others for help. However, the truth is depending on others is really what has made the Internet possible. The growth of this online world is comprised of a link of computers, networks and servers that are connected in a way that provides the maximum benefit for all.

Building an online business can feel a bit like trying to build a house of cards. Without the ability to rely on the other ‘cards’ around you it is virtually impossible to build.

Interdependence. This is the essence of online business.

About The Author

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. Make your own website in just 5 minutes with HighPowerSites at: http://www.highpowersites.com or Build A Website at: http://www.buildagreatsite.com. Start your own ebook business with BooksWealth at: http://www.bookswealth.com

Automobile Financing - Know Your Options

by: Tomas Cullin

You’ve found the car that makes your heart race by 120 beats per minute. Now only one thing stands between you and the car of your dreams: financing the purchase. In a perfect world, you’d pay the full price in cash without blinking. But if you’re like the seven out of ten car and truck buyers who don’t live in a perfect world, chances are you’d be paying for your car through one of several financing schemes.

Understanding the basics of each car financing option is key to choosing the automobile financing strategy that best suits your situation. Here is an overview of auto financing options that may be available to you.

Auto Loans from Lending Institutions

You can get a car loan from a bank, credit union, or other lending institutions. The car that you purchase will serve as collateral for the auto loan. This means that the lender can repossess your vehicle if you default on the car loan. Auto loans are a popular car financing option because they generally offer reasonable interest rates and are relatively easy to get.

Two factors are likely to affect the total cost of the car loan. One is the term or duration of the loan. Generally, the longer the term of the loan, the lower your monthly installment will be. But you’ll end up paying more towards interest and this will increase the total cost of the auto loan. If you can afford it, get a short-term loan. Your monthly installment will be higher, but you’ll be paying less money over all. The second factor that may affect the total cost of your car loan is your credit rating. Creditors with less-than-stellar credit history are usually charged a higher interest rate because of the elevated credit risk.

Dealer Financing

Like traditional auto loans, dealer financing is reasonably easy to get. Most dealerships have relationships with numerous lending institutions, so they can arrange car loans even for car buyers with blemished credit histories. To compete with traditional bank loans, many dealerships offer zero percent or very low interest on dealer loans. However, such loans are available to car buyers with stellar credit ratings. Consumer experts advise car buyers to get pre-approved on an auto loan from a bank or credit union before approaching the dealership for possible financing. By getting loan pre-approval from another lending institution, a car buyer gets the upper hand when bargaining for a lower rate on a dealer loan.

Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit

If you own a home and have accumulated substantial equity on your property, then you may consider getting a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. Home equity loans are fixed or adjustable rate loans that you repay over a predetermined period. Home equity lines of credit are open-ended, adjustable-rate revolving loans with a maximum credit limit based on the equity of your home. Home equity loans tend to have lower interest rates than credit cards and other types of personal loans. Interest payments on home equity loans may also be tax-deductible up to a certain extent. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit use your home as collateral, so make sure you are financially capable of paying the monthly installments if you don’t want run the risk of losing your home.

Credit Cards

A credit card advance or credit card draft from your credit card company can help you drive your dream car home. Like home equity lines of credit, credit card advances or credit card drafts are revolving lines of credit with variable interest rates. To entice existing customers to avail themselves of credit card drafts, credit card companies waive cash-advance fees, guarantee low rates during the initial period of the loan, or offer high credit limits. However, because credit card drafts are unsecured, they generally have higher interest rates than home equity loans, traditional auto loans or dealer loans. Financing your auto purchase through credit cards could also leave you vulnerable to hefty penalty charges if you make a late payment or exceed your credit limit.

You may copy this article and place it on your own website, as long as you do not change it and include this resource box including the live link to the Credit Repair Advice site.

About The Author

Tomas Cullin is a credit repair expert. He recently authored a very popular report: The Dangers of Identity Theft and How To Protect Yourself. Get it at http://creditrepairadvice.net/idtheftsls.html He has hundreds of tips, tools and articles on his website that you can use for your own ID protection! It's a great resource! Visit him on the web at: http://creditrepairadvice.net or the BLOG http://creditrepairadvice.net/crablog.

Biodiesel - What Are The Benefits of This Alternative Fuel Source?

by: Rae Bennett

With the price of gas soaring and our country's dependency on foreign fuel, are you looking for an alternative fuel source? Biodiesel may be just that fuel source you are looking for.

What is biodiesel you may be asking? Biodiesel is an alternative fuel source made from vegetable oil. You can use this fuel in any vehicle that uses regular petroleum diesel fuel. There are places in some states that you can buy biodiesel fuel, but you can also make it yourself with a biodiesel kit.

This alternative fuel source has many benefits compared to petroleum. One benefit is the price. Biodiesel fuel can be produced for much less than its petroleum counterpart. If you are making it yourself, you will need to purchase a biodiesel kit. These can be gotten for a couple thousand dollars, you may be thinking "Wow, that's a lot of money." But if you think about it, once the savings over gas prices add up to the cost of the kit, all savings after that go straight to your wallet. This will definitely put a little breathing room into your budget. If you are not making biodiesel yourself, and are lucky enough to live in an area where there is a biodiesel station, your savings will add up a lot faster.

Another very important benefit of this fuel alternative is it is very environmentally friendly. It is completely biodegradable. Emissions are almost nonexistent. Biodiesel fuel burns clean and is nontoxic. This means not only does it help the planet but it is not harmful to humans as well. Since biodiesel also does not contain sulfur, its emissions do not contribute to acid rain. Using biodiesel fuel also reduces the cancer causing particulates from being released into the air.

One benefit closely related to the environmental issue is the fact that biodiesel is a renewable resource. This means it can be made over and over. It does not have to be pumped out of the ground. You need some more biodiesel fuel? Just plant another crop and you can make some more. This has a hidden advantage of allowing farmers to make their farms profitable again. This in turn helps the economy as well as the environment.

One other benefit of using biodiesel as an alternative fuel source is safety. The point at which biodiesel will catch fire is much higher than petroleum based fuel. This makes biodiesel much safer to transport and store. It also means if a vehicle that is using biodiesel is involved in an accident it is much less likely to explode. The safety issues alone make this a very attractive alternative fuel.

Biodiesel fuel has a lot of benefits as an alternative fuel source. So, are there any disadvantages to using biodiesel? The only one is if you have a vehicle made before about 1994, you will need to keep a close eye on the hoses of the fuel system. Biodiesel fuel can soften the rubber used to make the hoses. After 1994, most vehicles were made with synthetic hoses and this is not an issue. Another issue you should be aware of is the first few times you use biodiesel you may get a clogged up fuel system. This is because biodiesel fuel will clean out all the old gunk in your fuel system. It will pull all the residue left on the walls of your gas tank off, which in turn may clog up some of the lines. If you are aware of this and watching out for it you should not have any problems.

As an alternative fuel source, biodiesel is top notch. It is a renewable source, since it is made from vegetable oil all you do is grow another crop. This in turn allows farmers to make their farms profitable again (another hidden benefit). It is less expensive to produce, good for your wallet. It is environmentally friendly, not causing a lot of the problems as petroleum based fuel. It is also human friendly, less cancer causing issues, as well as breathing issues. It is also safer to transport and store. It also lessens our country's dependency on foreign oil, this would most certainly help our economy.

About The Author

Rae Bennett is author and publisher of http://www.wantinfoabout.com, a site dedicated to providing information on a variety of subjects. For more information about this subject visit http://biodiesel.wantinfoabout.com.

An Automobile Driver? Several Benefits Why It Pays You Dearly, Any Way, For You To Have A Good Fuel Economy

by: Benji O. Anosike

Judging by several public opinion polls and surveys periodically conducted among motorists and consumers by reliable national polling organizations, automobile gas costs and prices have been at the very top of the consumer concerns in Canada and the United States in recent years.

Clearly, high and escalating cost of fuel are a great source of worry and concern by the consumers in these countries, and most consumers would love nothing better than to have them in the lower range today, as in the yester years. In deed, just about everybody and every institution in the society, including the government of the day, frequently tell us that having lower prices and costs for fuel would be just about the most desirable and beneficial thing for the society and for almost everybody - economically, politically, and militarily.

Just recently, only in December 2007, the U.S. Congress enacted, and President Bush signed into law, the “Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,” designed to tackle precisely that very same concern - reducing the average driver’s demand and usage of fuel by requiring that the driver meet a fuel economy standard of 35 MPG (miles per gallon) by the year 2020. That will mean an increase of 40 percent in fuel economy over current situation, literally meaning a savings of some 40 percent in the fuel costs of the average driver compared to today.

Fine. But does everybody, do most motorists, know the reason why, exactly, it is really good and beneficial that the average motorist or consumer should have good fuel economy in his or her driving, any way - aside from just the obvious economic reason or benefit that it would save you fuel and put more money in your pocket?

Following below, are some of the most significant reasons and benefits, aside from simply the personal economic or financial benefit accruing to the individual motorist, why it will still pay you, any way, to have a life of good fuel economy any way, regardless.

A. SURE, IT IS (IN PART) ABOUT MONEY

First, to be sure, a prime reason why American and Canadian motorists seek fuel economy for their vehicle rides, has to do significantly or largely with money — to save money in their fuel costs. At a time when gas prices are near record highs in America and Canada, it is, rather quite understandable that many people would be searching for ways to "beat the pump" to make gas money go a little bit longer.

Recent news reports saturate the newspapers and the news media and airways daily, with stories about the economic woes and horrors of motorists "at the pump" who face escalating gas prices. American drivers, from Los Angeles, California, to New York, and from Michigan to Florida, and in between, who were formerly used to spending about $30 a week to fill up a 15-gallon tank a year or two ago, are today now said to be spending some $50 or more, thus cutting painfully deeper and deeper into their already overstretched home budgets. While in Canada, from Ottawa and Newfoundland to British Columbia, and from Nunavuit to Mannitoba Winnipeg, the pump prices for the motorists have reached as high as Canadian $1.25 per litre (the equivalent of about $5 a gallon for the U.S.) only recently.

Clearly, then, the simple logic and commonsense is quite understandable that one major reason why the contemporary American and Canadian motorists would want — and do want — to find ways to have a higher or better fuel economy, is for economic reasons: namely, to make some real savings in the hopefully lesser amount of fuel they use in the operation of their vehicles, as well as in the escalating and increasingly crushing prices and costs of fuel. A money savings of up to $1,500 per year in fuel costs could be a major reward you get, for example, by choosing to purchase the latest most efficient vehicle of the year in a particular class, according to the latest U.S. EPA/DOE estimate! Not a small (money) saving by any means or calculations whatsoever!

However, there are more reasons and benefits. It is more than just that.

B. IT'S MORE THAN JUST SAVING MONEY, THOUGH

1. Strengthens the National Energy Security

But seeking to attain, or actually attaining, fuel economy and fuel savings, are NOT all about or only about money, however. Or, about personal money savings that go back into one's own personal pocket. Rather, attaining that goal achieves an even higher "reward" and purpose — a national, patriotic, and more "strategic" purpose for America and/or Canada. In deed, for the Mother Earth!

How? Simply by making it more feasible for us to start the process of climbing out of one big, dangerous, and increasingly entrenched, critical national security problem that North America has today — it's called the problem of "American dependence on foreign oil." For example, by recent estimates of the Washington Post, the U.S. citizens use 24% more gas today than they did some 17 years ago in 1990 — thanks to the 84 million gas-guzzling SUV's they are now driving these days. A whole 24% more!

In fact, this “strategic” or public benefit or purpose, rather than merely private or personal benefit or purpose, is the major reason advanced by U.S. Congress and President Bush only recently, in December 2007, when the Congress enacted, and President Bush signed into law, the “Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007” — a law designed to increase the supply of alternative fuel sources (of at least 36 billion gallons of biofuel by 2022), and to reduce the average driver’s demand and usage of fuel by requiring that the driver meet a fuel economy standard of 35 MPG (miles per gallon) by 2020.

2. America's Increasing Dependence on Foreign Oil

But, get this. That is only counting since 1990! What about going a little further back before then? A May 2007 report by the NBC's Today Show featuring John Hofmeister, the Chairman of the Shell Oil Company, stated that in 1973 when the Middle East oil producers embargoed oil shipments to the United States in response to the Yom Kippur War, "At that time the country imported about 35 percent of its oil. Since then and through six different Presidents, America's dependence on foreign oil has increased to more than 60 percent." More than 60 percent — since 1973! But, get this connection: this 60-percent-plus figure in the amount of total oil usage by Americans today, is also largely imported, particularly from the Middle East. And consequently, what this means is that America remains increasingly "oil dependent" on foreign countries.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, at least more than 50 percent of the oil used to produce the gasoline you put in your tank today is imported. The bottom line: America and American consumers continue to be increasingly vulnerable to (i.e., slavishly dependent on) foreign countries and sources for their economic and strategic life and the security of the nation, in terms of what price they'll pay for gasoline at any given point in time, or when they'll get a supply of gasoline or not, or even whether they'll get it or not, or under what terms and conditions, and so on.

Here's the point here, therefore. To put it in simple terms, the fact is that, a an individual motorist, any the gas-saving methods and measures you can find and employ which can actually reduce the amount of gas wastage you have and can economize and save on your gasoline usage, will translate directly into strengthening our national energy security as Americans and Canadians by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Petroleum imports cost Americans about $4.4 billion per week (the U.S. Department of Energy figures). That's money, or a part thereof, that could be used to fuel our own American economy — in whole or in part.

3. Protects the Environment and Our Earth

Finally, saving gas, or having a better fuel economy, has yet another major dividend for the larger society and the humankind that is far more than just your personal pocketbook — it's good for the environment. Burning fossil fuel (meaning mostly gasoline and diesel that are the kinds of fuel used in automobiles), creates a whole host of environmental problems, such as adding 'greenhouse' gases, mostly carbon dioxide or CO2, to the Earth's atmosphere, creating air pollution and smog, contributing to global warming and climate change.

Consequently, having a good fuel economy in the operation of your vehicle, and using fuel more efficiently in that process, serves as well to protect the air, the land, water, and the wildlife around us, and to improve the quality of lives over all.

Vehicles with lower fuel economy burn more fuel, creating more CO2. By expert estimate, for every gallon of gasoline your vehicle consumes (burns), about 20 pounds of CO2 (170cu. Ft) is spewed into the atmosphere. Consequently, when you reduce gas wastage and save on your gasoline usage (by employing the methods outlined in Anosike fuel-savings manual for that), you also automatically reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide your vehicle burns or puts into the atmosphere — meaning that you directly reduce your own personal contribution to the above-described environmental problems and to global climate change. For example, it has been estimated by experts that just by engaging in one single act, namely, opting to buy a vehicle that achieves 25 miles per gallon, rather than 20, you can prevent the release of about 17 tons (260,000 cu. Ft.) of greenhouse gases into this Mother Earth over the lifetime of your vehicle. Consider that!

SUMMARY

Summed up very simply, the task of attaining better fuel economy or of using less gas for your vehicle, is not just good for your pocketbook. It is, even just as importantly, if not more so, also good for our nations, as well as for our environment, and our Planet Earth. What could be a better or more noble purpose and objective overall, for a society, or for a member of that society! That's even all the more cogent reasons why it pays very highly for you, as an individual and an American or Canadian, or as just plain human being in the world, that you should begin very seriously to engage in a credible program and behavior of effective green living, fuel-savings and fuel economy — the types that are fully outlined in the chapters of the manual mentioned below in author’s box.

About The Author

Benji O. Anosike, Ph.D., is an environmentalist and leader in the U.S."drive green" movement, and a best-selling author of over 24 books about self-help and cost-saving consumer techniques. His latest book, "Boost Your Auto Fuel Economy and Cut Your Gas Costs by At Least 50%, Guaranteed," exposes bogus fuel-saving remedies, and explores advanced automotive science that has been tested and proven to increase fuel economy and help motorists save money. For more on the author or his works, or to learn more about his latest book, please visit: http://www.GetAutoFuelSavings.Org

Jeep Tops: Anatomy of a Jeep top

by: Billy Han

Jeep tops are fairly universal Jeep accessories in that everyone from casual Jeep owners to hardcore off road enthusiasts has some basic knowledge of what they’re about.

But Jeep tops can get more complicated that one might think, and while it’s hard to go wrong when making a purchase, having an intimate knowledge about them can go a long way in extending the benefits.

For this reason, we’ve dissected nearly every imaginable Jeep top to take an in-depth look at what makes them must-have Jeep accessories.

Which Jeep Top?

It’s an age old question; perhaps one that has been asked since the time of the dinosaurs. Not really, but choosing a Jeep top has always been a decision that requires a fair amount of thought.

At first glance, choosing a top seems pretty simple. The features are all plainly stated, pictures give you an idea of what to expect looks-wise, and your particular environmental situation further dictates which one you need.

But there are also many factors that aren’t taken into account when shopping for a Jeep top. Intangibles like installation and frame style are examples of lesser-known aspects, while things like road noise or insulation are factors that can only be experienced firsthand.

With this in mind, I’ll do my best to cover aspects that are typically unaccounted for.

Factory versus Aftermarket Jeep Tops

When it really comes down to it, there isn’t a huge discrepancy between what both factory and aftermarket tops have to offer.

A factory Jeep top will give you that genuine Jeep look and feel, plus the added security of sticking to true Jeep accessories that follow the same standard of quality as the vehicle itself. Aftermarket tops are for the most part similar to factory units, but with a few exceptions.

Although both versions of Jeep tops are made from the same materials, equivalent quality, and with the same purpose in mind, aftermarket tops offer certain features, benefits, or other Jeep accessories that you might not get out of factory units.

For instance, certain aftermarket tops have been optimized to reduce road noise better than a factory one. Also, in the event that your Jeep top needs replacing, aftermarket replacement options are typically cheaper than factory tops. For these reasons, aftermarket options usually make for favorable Jeep accessories when replacing aging factory tops.

Narrowing It Down

The first and most obvious way to categorize Jeep tops in terms of need is by splitting up hardtops and soft tops. Clearly, the two styles are distinctive enough that each one serves its purpose in different ways.

Jeep Hardtops

Hard-style Jeep tops are a never-fail option. They rarely if ever need replacing and provide enhancement and heavy duty protection. In addition, they offer a number of handy Jeep accessories, like power windows, a rear window defroster, and more. Hardtops come in a one-piece model, or a two-piece configuration with a removable sunroof.

On the flipside, Jeep hardtops are not easily removed and stored for those who enjoy open-air summertime driving. Hardtop hoists and storage-based Jeep accessories are available, but require added purchases.

Jeep Soft Tops

For those who love customizability with their Jeep accessories, soft tops are the way to go. Available in a variety of designs, Jeep soft tops offer the kind of versatility, comfort, and style that justify a Jeep purchase in the first place. Plus soft tops are easy to install, remove, or store.

On the other hand, soft Jeep tops aren’t exactly ideal for colder weather. Their thinner material and fabric construction leaves them with poor insulation, and also gives them an average lifespan of only 3 to 5 years before requiring replacement.

Upon Further Review...

On the other hand, soft Jeep tops aren’t exactly ideal for colder weather. Their thinner material and fabric construction leaves them with poor insulation, and also gives them an average lifespan of only 3 to 5 years before requiring replacement.

Jeep Hardtops

When it comes to hardtops, making a choice and meeting the requirements for installation is relatively easy, and getting the right Jeep top is usually a simple matter of picking either a one or two-piece top.

Two-Piece Hardtops

The two-piece hardtop is the definitive Jeep top for year-round performance in any climate.

On one hand, you get the protection and insulation of a full-fledged hardtop during the winter. Then for warmer weather conditions, the cockpit features a removable roof piece for open-air driving.

In addition, hardtop Jeep tops come with a vast assortment of unique features and Jeep accessories like a fiberglass-reinforced plastic composition for durability, an in-mold gel coating for fade resistance, rear window vents, a rear window defroster, tinted tempered glass windows, an overhead dome light, and much more.

One-Piece Hardtops

In addition, hardtop Jeep tops come with a vast assortment of unique features and Jeep accessories like a fiberglass-reinforced plastic composition for durability, an in-mold gel coating for fade resistance, rear window vents, a rear window defroster, tinted tempered glass windows, an overhead dome light, and much more.

Jeep Soft Tops

Soft tops are where matters can get a little confusing.

To start, it is necessary to determine whether or not you have a pre-existing frame, and whether it’s in usable condition. Remember that the frame is the backbone of your soft top, and therefore a worn, rusted, or misshapen frame can cause your Jeep top to install improperly, or perhaps not perform as expected.

If you do have a frame already in place, you next need to find out if it’s a factory or aftermarket frame. This will ultimately help you narrow down which aftermarket Jeep top options are available to you, since certain Jeep tops are only compatible with particular frame styles.

For those without a Jeep top frame altogether, an aftermarket Jeep top kit that includes both the Jeep top and hardware system to set it up is suggested.

Pre-Existing Factory Frame Jeep Tops

These Jeep tops are designed exclusively for use with Jeep vehicles that have a pre-existing factory frame in usable condition.

Replace-A-Tops

For a fast, efficient, and inexpensive soft Jeep top solution, Replace-A-Tops make updating your old, worn factory top simpler than ever.

The Replace-A-Top is a basic Jeep top skin that easily slips on and off your factory frame. Each kit includes only the Jeep top fabric with optional clear or tinted windows, and the Jeep tops themselves are built to factory standards, or better.

Additionally, the Replace-A-Top includes a host of other fine features, such as premium fabric construction, mildew and UV resistant material, industrial strength thread, heat sealed seams, and much more.

Trusted Jeep tops manufacturers Bestop, Rugged Ridge, and Smittybilt each offer perfectly reliable and inexpensive Replace-A-Top models.

Bestop also offers a premium option in their Replace-A-Top Jeep top made out of revolutionary Sailcloth fabric to help improve insulation and drastically reduce road noise over factory Jeep tops.

Halftops

For a sporty two-seater look and feel there’s nothing quite like a Halftop Jeep top. Combining components of several other styles, the Halftop is the perfect hybrid of unique style and rugged function.

The Halftop includes all the usual soft top functions and Jeep accessories like mildew and UV resistant-fabric, a convenient fold back sunroof, zip-out windows, and much more, but then also incorporates all of this into an unconventional sporty look.

The Halftop Jeep Top from Bestop is actually something of an exception when it comes to having the right hardware for installation. It can accommodate those who have a pre-existing factory hard or soft top frame, or for those who have no frame at all.

Halftop Jeep tops are available exclusively from Bestop.

No Frame or Aftermarket Frame Jeep Tops

These Jeep tops are compatible with Jeeps that have either no soft top frame whatsoever, or a pre-existing aftermarket frame.

Supertop

You wouldn’t think from the sleek design and intuitive features that the Supertop Jeep top has followed mostly the same formula for decades.

Sold as a complete package with all necessary mounting hardware and Jeep accessories to get your started, a Supertop is a simple yet dependable solution for adding a soft top to an open-top Jeep. Its “Set-N-Stretch” fabric won’t fade or warp regardless of temperature, and the zip-out replaceable windows come in clear or tinted.

The Supertop also gives you a variety of other premium features like mildew and UV resistant fabric, industrial strength thread, heat sealed seams, heavy duty molded-tooth zippers for easy window installation and removal, and powder-coated rust-resistant frame hardware to ensure long frame life.

Best of all, using the Supertop framework, you can easily change out your top skin for a bikini top, or remove it altogether for open-air driving.

The Supertop Jeep top is available exclusively from Bestop, and is available in a complete kit with frame hardware or in replacement skins for those with an aftermarket frame already installed.

Rollback Sunroof Tops

These soft top Jeep tops follow the same basic formula of most other soft tops with the exception of a sleek and convenient rollback sunroof for a more open-air feel.

These Jeep tops also include all the necessary hardware you need to do a complete installation from scratch, and the versatile design also allows for compatibility with a number of soft door options.

Other features of Rollback Sunroof tops include mildew and UV resistant fabric, industrial strength thread, heat-sealed seams, heavy duty molded-tooth zippers for easy window installation and removal, and powder-coated rust-resistant frame hardware to ensure long frame life.

Current rollback sunroof-style Jeep tops include the Bestop Sunrider and Pavement Ends Flip Top.

Tiger Top

Vintage and classic Jeep owners need not feel left out thanks to the Tiger Top.

Designed and custom-crafted by Jeep tops leader Bestop, the Tiger Top Jeep top is built specifically for older model Jeeps, and even comes sporting that vintage Jeep look.

The Bestop Tiger Top includes all necessary hardware for a full installation onto an open top Jeep.

Your Jeep Top Purchase

Choosing a top isn’t as complicated of an affair as one might suspect. In the end, Jeep tops are all about getting the style you want at an agreeable price.

Hopefully this article has helped you in that decision-making process in order to minimize the hassle of buying and installing the right one so you can focus on the fun part.

Now go get your Jeep top.

About The Author

Billy Han is a Web Copywriter at 4 Wheel Drive Hardware, a leading Jeep accessories retailer. 4WD, carries a full line of Jeep tops, doors, winches, tires, rims, and a full selection of Jeep top accessories.

http://www.4wd.com/