General

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28
May 09

Running the Lemon Car Gauntlet

Believe it or not, this is a quote from a Service Manager at a large Automobile Dealership. “If you can’t fix their cars, fix their head!” What does it mean? Colloquially it means, grab your wallet and hide the family silver. It means your automobile, motor home, boat or motorcycle has a defect or defects that the dealer or manufacturer cannot or does not want to fix. From this point forward both the manufacturer and dealer are going to do everything possible to make the owner give up and go away.

The Manufacturer Knows About the Problem

Believe this if you believe nothing else: the manufacturer and its dealerships’ know about the problem. Fix this firmly in your mind. In all likelihood the defect or defects were manufactured into the vehicle through engineering error, poor parts supplied to the manufacturer, inadequate quality control or simply the statistics of manufacturing so many products catching up. The manufacturer has probably sent out service memos (TSBs) about the problem. The owner of a lemon seldom sees these memos.

It’s a Statistical Thing

For instance, even if the auto manufacturer had achieved the elusive six sigma of quality fame-three cars in a million with defects-someone’s going to end up with those three cars. And just so you get a feel for the possibility of this occurring, it means that all 15000 parts in the average automobile would have to be manufactured to the six-sigma standard. They aren’t-manufactured to six- sigma-that is: Not even close.

Fix Their Head

What’s this business about fixing their head? The service manager or manufacturer’s representative is talking about deceiving the vehicle owner. This is what we call, running the gauntlet. As noted, it isn’t just the dealership; the manufacturer is part of this gauntlet, very much a part. In criminal circles con men call this flim flam. Here’s the definition of flim flam: A lie or hoax; a deception: Nonsense; drivel. In the words of the street, messing with someone’s head is commonly used. Regardless of where the definition comes from it involves deception. A series of actions are going to be taken by the dealership and the manufacturer whose sole purpose is to make you give up and go away. That is correct; go away.

The Gauntlet – The Never Ending Run Around

The manufacturers do not think this is criminal, they think it is business, and good business at that. If you are the owner of a Lemon vehicle you have probably been put through a run around that makes your average trip to the local bureaucracy seem like a vacation to Disneyland. This run around can take many months, even years; incredible amounts of wasted time; costs that you did not anticipate and probably can ill afford; and less visibly but certainly as important, ruin your peace of mind, cause family upsets and arguments, even endanger your life. Sound familiar?

A word gauntlet is defined as, a form of punishment or torture in which people armed with sticks or other weapons arrange themselves in two lines facing each other and beat the person forced to run between them. It is more than a little sad that owning a lemon vehicle can be quite similar.

The Big Picture

Let’s look at how this works. It starts at the top, not at the dealership. It involves the dealership but it does not start there, no more than the troubles at Enron began with a rate specialist on the trading floor selling a power contract. Here’s a possibility. At a corporate shareholder meeting it is stated that things aren’t looking good for the stock. The CEO is told to do something about it. He or she is told to cut costs. One of the first things that is always cut is training. Also that budget that allows dealerships to get reimbursed for repeat warranty repairs is going to get cut. This creates a tremendous lack of incentive on the part of the dealership to do the job right. This descends the corporate ladder to District Service Managers issuing orders about the budget to buyback Lemons. The 800 lines at the manufacturer are trained to smoothly defer complaining customers back to dealerships instead of actually evaluating the reported defects. Remember, “If you can’t fix their car, fix their head.” It isn’t Corporations; It’s the People Running Them

Ford, Chrysler, Mercedes, VW are the names of manufacturing companies, not people. Yes, there were people named Ford, Chrysler and such but they are not running these companies any longer. People cause problems and misery. It is the people at the top of these and other automobile manufacturing companies who make decisions and set policy. These people decide; will it be flim flam or will it be ethical behavior; will we take responsibility for our mistakes, or not. You know the answer.

The Nature of the Beast

Corporations think in terms of quarterly reports of earnings. Everything, and I mean everything is subordinate to this. Careers are based on this concept. Huge salaries and perks are based on this concept. The value of the company’s stock is based on this. We don’t have to look far to see the result of these pressures. Newspapers are filled almost daily with examples of what happens to those who succumb to the Dark Side of the business force. You are experiencing multiple effects designed to accomplish one thing for the corporation-save money and make a good report to their shareholders. It is actuarial; it is statistics, numbers.

Bonus Plans

Somewhere up the corporate ladder someone’s bonus plan is based on the amount of money spent on warranty repairs. If the dealership stays within this budget, it’s a happy Christmas. If not, if you come in after this budget has been consumed, you will start getting the treatment. We think of it as the gauntlet.

Entering the Gauntlet

The Gauntlet begins when you arrive the second time for a repair of the same defect. The threat of this being a potential Lemon sets off alarms with those trained at the dealership level. “Oh, oh,” they say, “If we can’t actually repair it, we better employ every trick we know to make this person give up and go away.” It is incredibly cynical, even cruel because it undermines the owner’s safety, and peace of mind. To make someone give up you have to remove hope. Think about that! Remove hope. You have to drive the owner from being happy and proud of having a new car into apathy and despair that anything can ever be done about it. It is hard to imagine this but it most certainly a fact.

What You are Told

If you are a woman this might sound familiar: “That’s just the way they run honey.” It is patronizing, chauvinistic crap. These days fewer and fewer people, men and women, really understand how their car runs or is made. The cars are just too complex. Here’s another; “We couldn’t duplicate the problem.” You drive out of the shop and it happens before you get to the first stop sign. Self doubt creeps in. You aren’t sure you know what you know. How about this? “It’s running according to manufacturer’s specifications, it meets industry standards.” Flim flam, absolutely! When your car stalls periodically and won’t start this is not according to some unknown industry standard. And there’s this old stand by. “Just bring it back, we’ll fix it.” Do they fix it? No. They may find something that seems related to the problem, but it does not cure the problem. This one is particularly nasty. “Are you sure you properly know how to drive the vehicle?” Your first thought might be to punch the guy in the mouth, but you are still civilized and don’t do that. The issue wasn’t raised accidentally. It could become a legal issue when a claim is being denied. As you will see in the lemon stories, there is a situation where a Manufacturer’s Engineering Technical Specialist suggests that test show that the owner didn’t tighten the gas cap properly and that this is the cause of the problem. It is flim-flam of course. But the effect is to continually throw doubt on the issue. It is even possible that you will be met with antagonism. “Oh, you again!” As if somehow all this trouble is your fault. E
nough of this for the moment: It’s pretty darn depressing.

Other Diversions

This one is very common. The Service Writer at the dealership writes down the problem not as you described it, but in a way that is ambiguous or in such away that it seems to be a different line of repairs. The purpose of this is to allow the dealership to state that they weren’t given a reasonable opportunity to repair the vehicle. This is one of the ways they avoid a Lemon Law suit. The dealership is going to try every way to discourage the customer from coming back so as to avoid 4 or more repairs for the same defect.

Here’s another trick. You are offered this really excellent deal on a trade-in, as though these fine fellows at the dealership have nothing but your best interests at heart. It won’t be a good deal! A good deal would be if you bought the vehicle and it ran as advertised.

Summary

It wasn’t an accident of fate. It started with the top management at the manufacturer. It worked its way down though the chain through the dealerships to you. It wasn’t personal on their part except for greed, irresponsibility and an incredible lack of feeling for their customers. Factually, they do not know who you are or care. All policy is driven by the bottom line. This in itself is not evil. It is how a company succeeds. However, one can look around and find companies that are responsible to their customers and those that are not. A policy of delay, trickery, flim flam and intentional misery given to the customer is followed in the hopes that you will descend into apathy and give up.

You are Not Alone

This has happened to countless numbers of consumers. Does this feel familiar? You are in the middle of a dispute with the dealership over the defect(s) with your vehicle and you feel like an insect about to be rolled over by a semi. There is a sense of being powerless. They are, after all, one of the biggest corporations in the world. They can hire squadrons of legal help.

I urge you not to give up. Understand what we tell you here. Call your attorney regardless of whether you are told it won’t do any good. That’s just another part of the gauntlet.

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18
May 09

What is Computer Games and PSP Games Reviewed

Without a doubt one of the most growing fields of the entertainment industry continues to be the computer games industry. The PC (Personal Computer) has developed into a total entertainment package with movies, music, games and more. Along with this growth has developed the personal games consoles. One of the most successful of these is the PSP – Playstation Portable – because of its small size yet capability to play games, music and movies.

One of the best things I ever did was buy my son a PSP for Christmas – he loves it. And like all parents – striving for quiet time – it is a great attention holder. On top of that I can use it for disciple – i.e. you can’t play on your PSP – is as greater a punishment as a smack or other punishments. Thankfully my son’s are on the whole very well behaved and after they finish their homework I like to reward them with time to do what they want to do. Often this is the PSP. The PSP games often variety and cost value. How often do I hear? Dad can I have a new PSP game. However as a parent how do you know what games are worth buying?

That is where it is nice to have a website – or in this case a blog that reviews computer and PSP games. I created the blog – computer games and PSP games reviewed to give a short review on the games we brought and how we found them. While many are games my son enjoys I have to be honest – I love playing with the PSP as well and their are some games – like the Godfather – which I play but would never let my son play until he is older. On top of that their are other PSP utilities like passport to London and other cities that I have brought and reviewed – because the computer and PSP have developed not just into a games machine – but a total entertainment package.

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8
May 09

Lose the Excuses to Lose That Weight

The opportunities to overeat are everywhere these days. Someone is always bringing cakes into work to celebrate their birthday, their promotion or their escape. Then there are all the family parties and other social occasions you enjoy (or have to attend). And these days even if you’re not in company there’s food to tempt you everywhere you go. Fast food places are sprouting up on every corner and supermarkets greet you with the smell of baking as you walk in the door. So it’s undeniable that it’s harder than ever to avoid tempting food.

Yet we find excuses to eat too much all too readily, saying “I really shouldn’t” all the while grabbing the piece of chocolate cake on offer.

If you’ve ever been on a diet and not reached your target weight, you probably had excuse-making down to a fine art. After all there’s a ready-made excuse for eating in any set of circumstances if you want to use it.

Everyone else was having some
It was there
It looked so inviting
It smelt so appetizing
I was fed up
I needed a break
I was bored
I had a really bad day
I need something with a cup of tea
I always have popcorn at the movies
It’s Thanksgiving
It’s Easter
I had candy left over from Halloween
I’m on vacation
It’s Christmas
It’s my birthday
It’s your birthday

There are as many reasons to eat too much as there are calories in a double cheeseburger. The question is do you put your energy into finding excuses why you ate too much? Or do you concentrate all your efforts on losing weight?

It’s really your decision.

There’s no rule that’s says you have to eat too much on ANY occasion. You can always choose to do something else: to eat just enough to satisfy and no more. You can decide to change your habits one day at a time until you no longer have the same psychological triggers to eat. And you can do this without being miserable and denying yourself everything.

It all comes down to how determined you are to reach your goal. If you’re not really focused on achieving your target weight, the excuses will win out time after time. But if you are ready this time to lose those pounds and keep them off, you’ll find ways to get round the excuses most of the time rather than using them every time.

The difference between those people who lose weight and those who don’t is simply how many excuses they make.

Are you ready to lose the excuses and lose the weight?

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28
Apr 09

Let's Not Forsake The Innocent

The dog is man’s best friend, right? So why are so many not treated as such? The reasons, or the more appropriately-labeled excuses, range from inability to house, to a lack of knowledge of what is required when taking on the responsibility, to a lack of understanding the physical and social needs of a particular chosen breed. Be it the hyper-activity of a puppy, or the consequent frustration when responsibility for our pets alters some of our social or activity plans. Now we can add to the list of despair for our pets the recent home foreclosure crisis causing shelters and rescues further stress and strain to cope with the added influx of abandoned and relinquished animals.

Each year, people choose to bring dogs, cats and other animals into their homes that are soon abandoned to the streets or worse on the eve of eviction departure. Many pet owners are making bad decisions and leaving the defenseless pet in the vacated house where if not found could be left to dehydrate and starve. If the pets are more fortunate, they are thrust upon the animal shelters. At least there, there is a chance for adoption.

Abandoning pets, for any reason, is not only irresponsible — it is illegal. Feeling financially unable to care for pets or feeling overwhelmed by a sudden move is not an excuse that makes abandonment acceptable. There are many alternatives to leaving pets behind such as contacting the humane society or animal care and control agency; they may be able to provide you with a list of apartment communities that allow pets, so enough time should be made to discover possible options and not wait until the last minute.

Shelters experience a spike in “drop-offs” after the Christmas Holidays from originally chosen pets that later become discards. The greatest spikes occur in March and April, as people decide to relinquish the responsibility they at first assumed. If an animal was adopted as a holiday gift, it is usually around the start of the New Year that the recipient decides he does not wish to manage the responsibilities any longer. The originally chosen now become the forsaken.

All too often, the cuteness factor of a puppy or kitten that was present for the first few months starts to wear off. The originally adored four-legged pet begins to go through the growing process with the natural tendency to chew on things, and the family soon realizes it is lacking in knowledge of the proper training process. At this time, the family’s frustration factor kicks into high gear and rationalizations develop that it is fine to close the chapter on a dependent life of innocence. This mental rationalization process is made even easier when the people involved did not have a vested interest in the original decision. Tragically, many of these innocent animals are euthanized.

The continued neglect of these pets at times creates a situation where the animals develop to be too aggressive or too unhealthy to place with new adoptive families, and rehabilitation becomes an almost impossibility to happen.

Dogs less than two years of age are not always easy to find homes for because they have not been trained nor properly socialized. They are naturally very active, necessitating a more active involvement in the socialization process.

If the dog in need of a new home happens to be one of the stronger breeds that often has a generalized negative reputation, such as the American Staffordshire Terrier (mostly referred to as the Pit Bull or the non-purebred Pit Bull mix), it will be at an extreme disadvantage for adoption. But, the actual fact is that a well- socialized, well-cared-for and well-trained Pit Bull makes a wonderful, devoted companion.

Families should do the due diligence of research before bringing any pet into the home. This assures that the chosen dog is an appropriate match for the family or lifestyle. Families whose members are sedentary should not choose a Border Collie that requires a great deal of exercise and activity. Some small breeds are great for children, others are excitable. Large dogs are excellent family companions but their size warrants adequate training to prevent damage to persons and property.

The personality of a dog is fixed by genetic code from the parents. Training and environment accentuate or detract from traits, but basic personality remains. Families should be aware of the associated costs of guardianship, and of the possibility of any physical difficulties that could arise within the genetics of a particular breed. If a particular chosen breed is not a good fit, there are others that will be and families should be open-minded to different options.

No matter the choice, the essential ingredients for a healthy, rewarding relationship are commitment, love, care, appropriate exercise, training and socialization. Let’s make the choosing of our pets a life-long commitment, as it should be.

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18
Apr 09

You Know You Are a Craft-A-Holic – When?

1) If it doesn’t move, then you paint it!

2) Your kids bring flower covered scrapbooks instead of binders to school.

3) You wear a glue gun holster… you just never know when something will need hot glue.

4) You house is full of scrap fabrics, papers, threads, wool, beads, broken vases, old wooden boxes, glue gun sticks…. these are not scraps to you, these are potential craft projects.

5) Your side of the table, is piled high with craft ideas, pictures and articles, and half done crafts.

6) No one wants to get your name at Christmas, because they just know they are going to get one of your latest “crafts” for a present.

7) You have a craft supplier on speed dial.

You pick your kids up from school, with paint in your hair, on your face, and you wear your painting shirt like its a new fashion statement..

9) You have been called the stencil queen…

10) You will never be fingerprinted, because you have burned your finger tips too many times with the glue gun.

If this is you… then maybe it is time to get serious about your crafts and turning them into money. You probably have enough crafts around your house, that you can open a online store right away! Get some great pictures, I am sure your friends and family will be so excited that you are going to sell your crafts as a business, that they will help you get organized.

What better business to start, then one you are already passionate about?… Rather than unloading them all on your friends and family for every holiday there is on the calendar, try going worldwide, which is what will happen on the internet. You will empty your house and line your pockets!… then you can buy more craft supplies!

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8
Apr 09

Holiday Shopping On eBay

Whether we like it or not, the holiday season has become the shopping season. But there is a way to remove the traffic and hassles from your holiday gift buying — eBay. Shop in the comfort of your own home, and have fun in the process.

Perfect Gifts

If you know the kinds of things your friends and family like, then eBay’s categories are ideal places to get ideas. And then a few clicks later, you’re shopping — at bargain basement prices.

eBay offers a cool way to come up with gift ideas. Think of a recent item that your gift recipient bought for themselves. Type it into eBay’s search box and see which category it’s in, then click the link to look at everything in that category. You’ll immediately have a huge list of things that they would probably love to have. If you know the recipient well, you should have no trouble sorting through the suggestions to find a special and unique gift.

Let History Be Your Guide

You have an extra tool available when the people you’re buying for are eBay users. If you know their eBay usernames, you can look at what they’ve been buying to see the kinds of things they may want.

First, click Advanced Search on the main page, then Find A Member on the left-hand menu to see an eBay user’s history. Type in the username and you’ll get their user page, which lists the item numbers of everything they have bought. Choose an item number and paste it into the eBay search box to find out what the item was. Voila! You have a nearly foolproof list of ideal gifts for that person on your shopping list.

Avoid Last-Minute Shopping

Don’t be tempted to use eBay for your last-minute holiday shopping, though. The prices will be high, and items might not reach you in time.

Every year there’s a toy every child wants and all the stores sell out. Suddenly the toy appears on eBay — at a premium. Holiday shoppers have to pay many times the gift’s value, and still don’t receive it in time for the big day. Don’t get caught in this snare.

‘Tis The Season

The holiday season is peak time at eBay because millions of people are shopping there. A good percentage of them are inexperienced eBay shoppers, who drive up prices far above normal. Try not to end up paying too much for an item just because it’s the last one you could receive in time, or because everyone else is bidding high. Know when to cut your losses, stop bidding, and just go buy something from the local store.

Keep It Jolly

eBay works best when it’s not taken too seriously. Treat it like a game, and you won’t be too disappointed if you lose. It can feel somewhat like gambling, but when that really rare gift for that special someone arrives on your doorstep just in time for Christmas, it all becomes worth it.

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29
Mar 09

A Religious Tradition with Family Fun Combined!

Easter occurs in the spring symbolizes the end of Lent. It has been maintained as a very religious holiday in the Christian society. There are many important masses held in Christian churches all over the world starting on Good Friday (the Friday before Easter Day) and extending up until the following Sunday (the week after Easter Sunday).This follows the tradition of the seven-day Jewish festival of Passover.

It is a religious day that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion some 2,000 years ago. It signifies living each day in the power of the Resurrection. Easter also usually involves spending time with family, singing, dancing, and feasting on roast lamb and searching for red eggs.

Even though Easter is a religious Christian holiday, it usually consists of a mad morning chocolate hunt, as well. Items such as chocolate eggs, bunnies, marshmallow peeps, jellybeans, green Easter grass are seen almost everywhere. Keeping the dog and the baby out of the chocolate is just another activity tacked onto this fun-filled day!

Easter day, like Christmas day, is also associated with other special food. It is the most important Christian feast. Easter biscuits are some times called “cakes”, and are eaten on Easter Sunday. Easter personalized gifts have always been an integral part of the holiday. On Easter personalized chocolate eggs are given to children as presents. It is an appropriate time to offer wishes of prosperity to all you are loved with a personalized treasure, not just gift that they will cherish forever.

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19
Mar 09

How To Use Aromatherapy Candles To Create A Welcoming Atmosphere!

Burning aromatherapy candles scented with pure essential oils is a wonderful way to add fragrance to a room. Not only does an aromatherapy candle smell nice, it can have therapeutic effects on the body and mind. Essential oils are extracted from certain aromatic plants and are used by aromatherapists to promote emotional and physical well being. When a few drops of a particular plant essence is added to a candle, its powerful aroma molecules are diffused into the surrounding air as the wax melts. When inhaled, the fragrance can help soothe and revitalize.

Aromatherapy scented candles can be made with oils from various types of plants. Aromatherapy essential oils can be made from different parts of plants, including flowers, berries, leaves and bark. As well as having a unique natural perfume, they have many different healing qualities. For instance, lavender is well known for its relaxing properties. When added to a jar candle, it can be used to create a soothing and peaceful atmosphere. The rich aroma of sandalwood can help ease feelings of anxiety and stress. As well as being used individually, oils can be used in blends to create uniquely fragranced candles. For example, a seasonal Christmas blend could include mandarin, cinnamon, clove or nutmeg. Or a refreshing mix of oils could include peppermint, lemon, rosemary or bergamot to help stimulate the senses.

For maximum aromatherapy benefits, candles should be made from natural based ingredients that don’t release toxins as they burn. Aromatherapy soy candles made from soybean wax are a popular option, as these are considered better for the environment than petroleum based candles. It’s worth reading the labels when buying a candle to make sure it contains pure aromatherapy oil and no synthetic fragrances or dyes. Using scented candles in the home is a simple but effective way of influencing the mood of a room, to create a tranquil and harmonious environment. Products such as candles, oil burners or other types of aromatherapy diffusers can make inexpensive gifts and offer a natural alternative to chemical air fresheners.

Adding aromatherapy candles to the home is a quick and easy way to enhance the atmosphere in a room and create a peaceful space to unwind in at the end of a busy day.

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9
Mar 09

Exotic Holiday Destinations For A Life Time Memory

Planning ahead is the key to make your holiday trip a memorable one. First locate the destination on a world map and identify nearby cities and neighboring countries. Then check for the most convenient way to travel to the destination you prefer. Learn about the local currency and the current exchange rates. Get the list of moderately-priced hotels and good restaurants. Find out how to greet people in the local language. Discuss and decide with your family and friends what to do during each day of the tour. To help you locate your exciting holiday destination, a few exotic locations are given below.

Florida holidays

Florida holidays are popular for the extraordinary fantasy world found in the city of Orlando with the world-famous Disney and Universal theme parks.Cheap Florida holidays include the astonishing green region of lakes and rivers and the chance to visit both the Atlantic Space Coast and the magnificent white sandy beaches of the western Gulf Coast.

The Canary Islands

Though the canary islands are part of Spanish territory they are much closer to Africa than the Spanish mainland. These seven islands are the tips of a vast volcanic mountain range lying beneath the Atlantic Ocean. The Canary Islands are truly a paradise for lovers of nature and water sports. This archipelago of volcanic origins was rightly called as the Happy Islands by ancient Greeks and Romans.

Australian Holidays

To enjoy Australian holidays, you should travel the whole of Australia and witness nature’s awesome and breathtaking display of colors, heat, frenzy, and vibrancy. Australia is a land of extremes. In Australia, summer actually happens from December to February. That is, Aussies celebrate their Christmas at the height of summer. In the summer, the Victorian Alps are a great place for anyone looking forward to sightseeing Australia, as well as hike, rock climb, fish and bike. During the winter, the Victorian Alps offer the most popular ski holidays in Australia . Launch yourself into the winter wonderland and make the most of what these resorts have to offer. Find the marvelous place for your adventure; put yourself into the latest gear that gets you up and down the mountains.

Holidays in Mexico

For an exotic holiday with fine beaches, plenty of sunshine and every convenience, look no further than Mexico holidays. Some of the popular places and sports: Mayan Ruins, Copper Canyon, Sea Kayak in Baja, an exciting sight of the Monarch Butterflies, Hike a Volcano, Raft the Veracruz Rivers, Whale Watch in Puerto Vallarta and many more.

Caribbean holidays

The typical perception of Caribbean holidays is that of fine white sandy beaches, palm trees and cocktails. Caribbean islands consist of French islands, former British and Spanish islands and American islands, all contributing to a fascinating cultural blend. Be sure to explore the many beautiful beaches that boast about the wonderful clear blue water for which the Caribbean is famous. Exploit the opportunities of snorkeling and scuba diving, as the marine life thrives with activity in the shallow regions beneath the surface.

Make arrangements to capture the golden moments you will be enjoying, by taking professional family photos that lasts for life. Do not forget to shop presents for everyone on your gift list. Have the kids’ pictures taken, posing on exotic locations with awesome backgrounds. Have a snap taken while riding in a horse-drawn carriage. Spend considerable time with your extended families during holiday feasts.

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27
Feb 09

Things to Consider in Outdoor Patio Lighting

If you have a patio, then you would have definitely thought of getting outdoor patio lighting. You should know though that this kind of lighting is not something that you can just randomly pick from a store and install. There are a couple of things that you need to have in mind when shopping for such lighting.

Why You Need Patio Lighting

Having patio lighting is not just about trying to make your home patio look as classy as a hotel or resort patio. Installing lighting is all about creating the right atmosphere and promoting the safety of your property. This should therefore be correctly chosen and carefully installed to both get your desired ambiance effect that you want and to illuminate dark areas where people could meet accidents.

Ideas for Patio Lighting

There are a great many options for patio lighting to match your taste and preference. It’s just a matter of knowing what choices you have. Here are some good ideas:

- One of the newest and popular options these days is to get embedded lighting. You can choose to embed lighting in pots, furniture and other patio fixtures. Two other popular areas to embed lights in are the patio steps and floor. These embedded lights can help prevent injuries from tripping or falling. The good thing about these kinds of lights is that they are weather resistant and can be stepped on without getting damaged.

- Lanterns are great lights to put up especially if you have a themed home and patio. These lanterns can come in modern designs, paper type designs or in custom shapes and styles. You can even have luminary lanterns with figures of objects, animals and scenes. These lanterns can project the images on your patio when you turn them on.

- Festive or Christmas lights are also another option for you. You can string these lights on your patio railing or at the bottom of your patio roof during parties or special occasions. Festive lights can simply enhance the feeling of merry making.

- Center table lighting is also one good option if you want to save space on your patio. You can easily connect your electric table light to an outlet from the stem or body of your patio table.

- Aside from table lighting, you can also have outdoor patio lighting installed from under your table patio umbrella. This is a highly functional and focused kind of lighting that you would find useful for night dining and late night table conversations.

- Lamp post type of lighting has never run out of style. There are numerous designs ranging from European, Oriental to modern. Lamp posts are perfect if you want to complement a specific theme or break the monotony of a patio lay-out. Stand alone lamps though do take up some space and would therefore look best in wide patios.

- Torches are another great idea for lighting. You can choose from torches made of bamboo or metal with a wide range of designs. You can go medieval or tropical depending on your preferred style.

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