Archive for November, 2011

Consumer Reports: Car Seats

A child car seat should be high on your to-buy list. You’ll need one to bring your baby home from the hospital and for every car trip thereafter. In fact, hospitals and birthing centers generally won’t let you leave by car with your newborn if you don’t have one. Every state requires that kids up to 4 years of age ride in a car seat; many require booster seats for older children.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

The major brands of car seats you’re likely to encounter are, in alphabetical order: Baby Trend, Britax, Chicco, Combi, Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Evenflo, Graco, Peg Perego, and Safety 1st.

There are also car beds for preemies and other very small newborns if there’s a concern that a car seat may not provide a secure fit or that it may exacerbate breathing problems. In addition, there are specially designed car seats for children with physical disabilities. Every model of car seat sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety standards. These are your basic choices:

Infant seats. These rear-facing seats are for babies up to 22 pounds. They allow infants to recline at an angle that doesn’t interfere with breathing and protects them best in a crash. Many strollers are now designed to accommodate infant car seats. All infant car-seat models come with a handle, and nearly all have a base that secures to your vehicle with LATCH connections or a vehicle safety belt, a convenience that lets you remove the seat and use it as a carrier. You can strap most infant seats into a car without a base, using the vehicle safety belts, but most people don’t use them that way.

Infant seats have either a three-point harness–two adjustable shoulder straps and a lock between the child’s legs or–even better–an adjustable five-point system–two straps over the shoulders, two for the thighs, and a crotch strap. The handle usually swings from a position behind the seat’s shell when in the car to an upright position for carrying. Remember to swing the handle to the vehicle position before each trip. Slots underneath most seats help them attach to the frame of a shopping cart.

With an infant car seat, you also can move your baby from car to house or vice versa without waking him or her up–a plus for both of you. Note also that extra bases are available so you can keep a secured base in each of your vehicles. Your baby may outgrow an infant car seat quickly and become too heavy for you to use it as a carrier. As a result, you may find yourself having to buy a convertible car seat after your baby is 6 to 9 months old. However, our advice is still to start with an infant seat before moving up to a convertible seat.

Price range: $30 to $180.

Travel systems. Travel systems offer one-stop shopping: You get an infant car seat and a stroller all in one. Most car-seat manufacturers offer these combination strollers/infant car seats. And many stand-alone strollers are now designed to accommodate infant car seats. With these strollers, you create a carriage by snapping an infant car seat into a stroller. The car seats of travel systems also come with a base, which stays in the car. The snap-on car seat is generally positioned atop the strollers so the infant rides facing the person pushing. Your baby can also ride in the stroller seat alone when he or she is big enough.

Most travel-system strollers can be used only with a car seat from the same company. They can also be bulky, so if you’re a city dweller who negotiates more subway stairs than highways or if the trunk of your car isn’t too roomy, you may be better off with a separate car seat and a compact stroller that is appropriate for a newborn.

Price range: $40 (stroller frame only) to $400.

Convertible seats. With a convertible seat, the child faces rearward as an infant, then toward the front of the vehicle as a toddler. The seat can function as a rear-facing seat for infants up to 30 or 35 pounds, depending on the model, and as a front-facing seat for toddlers generally up to 40 pounds (a few have a 65-pound limit). Models typically have an adjustable five-point harness system–two straps over the shoulders, two for the thighs, and a crotch strap between the legs. Some models have a tray shield that lowers over the baby’s head and fastens with a buckle between the legs. However, our tests show that children, especially small ones, are better restrained with a five-point harness.

A convertible car seat can be a money saver, taking your child from infancy to kindergarten and beyond. We advise starting with an infant seat first, though, as mentioned earlier. Keep in mind that convertible seats are not compatible with strollers, so you will have to transfer your baby from the convertible car seat to a carriage or stroller when you’re ready to set out on foot. Such jostling can wake a sleeping baby, a problem if you need to take your child on frequent shopping expeditions or other errands.

Price range: $50 to $290.

Toddler/booster seats. Looking like large versions of convertible seats, these front-facing seats are used with an internal harness for toddlers 20 to 40 pounds. They’re either LATCH-attached or can be secured using the vehicle belts and tethers. When kids reach 40 pounds, the seat becomes a belt-positioned booster seat, which children can use until they’re 80 or 100 pounds. With a belt-positioned booster seat, the child is restrained using the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt system.

Booster seats. These are generally for children weighing 40 to 80 pounds. (A very tall child may begin using a booster seat at 30 pounds.) Booster seats use the vehicle’s own safety belts to restrain the child.

Built-in seats. Some U.S. and foreign automakers offer on select cars and minivans an integrated, forward-facing child seat that has a harness and accommodates toddlers weighing more than 20 pounds. There are also some booster-seat versions. Built-in seats must meet the same performance standards as add-on child seats. However, they offer little or no side protection and they’re usually located next to a door, instead of in the center–the safer position. You may also need a regular car seat for when your child travels in other vehicles.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

Since Sept.1, 2002, all child car seats with an internal harness and nearly all passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. have been required to include equipment designed for simpler buckling. This system, called LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), consists of child car-seat connections that attach to anchor points in the vehicle, eliminating the need to use a vehicle’s safety belts to install the seat. You can still use safety belts to install a LATCH-equipped child car seat–for example, in an older car that lacks LATCH anchors. You can also retrofit some non-LATCH car seats with LATCH features.

Today’s car seats cater to every possible taste–plain colors, plaids, animal and paw-print motifs, and patriotic red, white, and blue. Remember that, style aside, babies tend to be messy, so washable fabric is a plus, especially if your car seat will be with you beyond the first year, when training cups and eating on the go can kick into high gear. Car seats from some leading brands, however, require hand washing and line drying. Make sure you’re up for that; most coverings are rigged through the harness-strap system and are held in place with elastic so they can be removed for laundering. But in some cases extracting the fabric from the seat can require extensive dismantling. Check the seat’s manual for how-to’s.

Extras such as add-on seat covers (“boots”), thicker padding, additional reclining options, or adjustable head-support cushions may offer greater comfort. But buy them only if they are sold by the same maker as the seat and for that specific seat, since they were tested that way; mixing brands is very risky. Some models have elastic side pockets for toys, bottles, or snacks. As your baby grows, they can come in handy, but they’re not absolutely necessary.

Some infant and convertible seats have a level indicator on the side to help you install them facing the rear at a safe angle. A top tether is a webbed strap that can be used with all front-facing seats for children up to 40 pounds and with some up to 65 pounds. It’s located on the back of a convertible or toddler seat and hooks into an eye bolt in a vehicle’s rear deck, floor, roof, or seatback. Passenger vehicles manufactured on or after Sept.1,1999 have the anchors in place in their rear seats, but older models may need to have the hardware added. Obviously, you can’t use a tether with cars that lack a top-tether anchor or that have no provision for a retrofit.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Start with an infant seat for a newborn and pay close attention to the height and weight limits as your child grows. When your baby reaches the infant seat’s limits for height and weight, or becomes too heavy for you to tote, use a convertible seat in the rear-facing orientation up to the seat’s limits in that mode. Then use the convertible seat front-facing until your toddler reaches the next height and weight limits. After that, use a booster seat until your child is tall enough to use the car’s safety belts, typically at least 57 inches. Buying three seats instead of two may cost more, but it can pay off in protection and peace of mind

Make sure the seat is compatible with your car. One of the first things you should do in choosing a seat for your child is to check the fit of any models you’re considering in your own car. Even before that, though, we suggest placing similar-looking models side by side in the store to compare features. (If you’ve already had your baby, place your child in the seat, to get a sense of the ease of buckling and unbuckling.) Then, if possible, bring the floor model to your car for a mock installation. Be aware that some vehicle seats are too short, indented, or excessively sloped to allow a good fit of a child car seats.

If you’re considering a convertible car seat, try the floor model in both the rear- and front-facing positions. Check out the harness release button in the rear-facing position; in some models it may be too low to reach comfortably. If you’re thinking about an infant car-seat/stroller combination, also known as a travel system, check to be sure that it fits in your trunk or vehicle cargo area. If the store won’t let you take the seat out to your car to try it, make sure you can return any car seat you buy–or go to another store.

Insist on new. Although there are many baby items you can borrow or buy secondhand, don’t make a car seat one of them if you can avoid it. A used seat may have been in a crash or recalled. The manufacturer’s instructions may be missing. If, for some reason, you must use a secondhand seat, avoid those with an unknown history or that are older than six years. In the world of car seats, a six-year-old model is a relic–and risky. You’ll also want to avoid recalled models.

Send in the registration card. You should be notified by the manufacturer if the car seat is recalled. To play it extra safe, you can also sign up for the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s e-mail subscription list at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Updated recall information will be sent directly to your e-mail in-box. Or check monthly issues of Consumer Reports or visit http://www.ConsumerReports.org. Other sources of information on car-seat recalls include NHTSA’s Web site (www.nhtsa.gov) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission site, http://www.recalls.gov.

Check the store’s return policy. If you’re not happy with a particular car seat for whatever reason, it’s important to know that you can return it and try again with another model. Be aware that a badly soiled or damaged seat may not be exchanged.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit http://www.ConsumerReports.org

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Used John Deere Tractors – Where to Find Them & How to Buy One

A used farm tractor is the perfect solution for a growing farm wanting to grow and cut costs at the same time. Used farm machines generally come with a much lower price tag then a brand new tractor for sale, but you still need to do your research and set your budget before you head out to look for used tractors around your area. A cost-effective solution for farms with less capital to purchase new tractors is to buy a compact tractor, which has the capabilities of completing many different farm jobs. Compact tractors also come in a variety of different engines, so you can pick the best size that is appropriate for the work you will be doing in your farm.

If you are worried about buying a lemon tractor, then you should purchase certified used tractors from reputable agricultural equipment companies like John Deere (my personal favorite), Kubota, Caterpillar, Farmall, and Case for example.

If you find that your farm work is much lighter, then purchasing a compact tractor might be the best option. Compact tractors come with many parts that let you do a variety of light farm work.

Where To Find Used Tractors For Sale

An experienced farmer or buyer of agricultural equipment like tractors can tell you that there is no real benefit of buying a new tractor over getting a used tractor for sale. While there are some clear benefits of getting a new tractor over a used tractor, both can equally get a good amount of work done.

The first places you should look to find used tractors for sale are Sears, local auctions, and local distributors of franchised agricultural tractor producers. You might be surprised that many farms in your area might be selling their used farm tractors to upgrade to a more heavy duty and technological advanced tractor.

Checklist For Buying A Used Farm Tractor

1. Spare Parts – Whatever you may choose, be sure to know about any replacement parts that need to be purchased frequently, so you know your average yearly investment in the used tractor.

2. Age – The age can give you a better estimate of what you can expect the price to be on the tractor, and you can keep this average with you so you know if your really getting a deal when its time to purchase the used tractor.

3. Engine Hours – This correlates with “age”, because you want to know how much life the tractor has left. Some used tractor sellers will sell you a machine that’s ready to work for a few months and then die. So do not just look at how the used tractor looks like in general, look under the hood!

4. History – Its best you know from the current owner what the used tractors jobs were around the farm and about many repairs it has undergone. Beware of lemon used tractors, always ask about the repair history and/or major damages done to the used tractor.

5. Make & Model – This is not as important, but some farmers have created a loyalty to some used tractor brands, such as John Deere. Ask friends and family about their personal experiences with used tractors, and you can even go to online forums for opinions on a specific used tractor model.

6. Cabin – If your used tractor is going to do a lot of jobs around the farm, you want to be sure that you are controlling the tractor with comfort!

7. 4WD vs. 2WD – Do you need more power or less power? This has to do with my talk about if your used tractor will be for light farm work or for heavy duty jobs. The price difference between the 2 can be quite significant, so be sure to sit down and think about this one.

To find out more about used john deere tractors [http://used-john-deere-tractors.com/] visit my website. Purchasing a tractor for a farm can become a big investment. Getting a brand new tractor can become a bigger investment than you planned. I will explain why buying a used tractor can be just as good as buying new. Read my article to learn where to look for used tractors and what things you need to look at during your intent to buy.

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One Difference between Law and Politics

To me, education is not just the matter of financial livelihood and social status, but why education is needed? Whether the provided education is authentic, what the lacks or loopholes of education are and to the final stage: would education make the absorbers immortal? These are some of the questions and rhetoric that make me view education very differently from those of my peers and even my parents and lecturers.

Law and Politics are usually confused with one another and cannot be meticulously separated from each other; as we usually hear the Faculty of Law and Politics, Center for Political and Legal Tuition, Professor of Law and Politics, etc. These are the facts that initiate me an idea to bring the core difference between Law and Politics and put it on a public display. The core difference would help the student to deeper understand the subject matters.

Do you have such the wonder? If no, start to make yourself curious about the core difference between Law and Politics to initiate your mental vocation and if yes, this is an article to unveil you a unique difference between Law and Politics to make you deeply understand.

As a student of Law, newspaper columnist, expert author, media liaison officer, legal and political assistant, I have found one complete differences between Law and Politics. This difference is “the interpretation.”

Most students of Law and Politics do not know that the most important theme of their education is “the interpretation.” Why I dare to say this? Up to the present, we have billions of sources ranking from books and international media publication to the abstract sources, but these so-called information will not make us a true political analyst or lawyer.

What we are seeing on these sources is just “plain information”, so what are these information are. If information is just all about information, University is not needed, because most of these sources are available everywhere and even free. The things that we have not found on these sources are “the interpretation” or the path to interpretational secretes. Let’s now jump up to the very core of our article.

Legal interpretation must be “within”: in interpreting the law, the lawyer of any party or the conflicting parties themselves cannot interpret the law out of the law being enforced in the country where the trial is being heard. This may seem very vague and let us bring an example to clarify. If you commit or are accused of committing a crime in the country in which you are residing in, you or your lawyer are not entitled to interpret the law out of the laws being enforced in your residing country. To a stricter extent, the laws being used for interpretation must circumnavigate the crime that you did or are accused of committing. This case is different from “political interpretation.”

Law and Politics may be equally broad, but interpretation in politics is much broader than in legal one. Have you ever noticed that a political analyst for a university in America would use approach in political interpretation by drawing examples from any country, any sources and any celebrities in the world. Political interpretation (analysis) is not as “within” as in law.

Politics is much more flexible and so much softer than law. Other merits why politics allow much broader interpretation, because we even see a huge similarities between socialist and capitalist states (similar political application), but the laws in these two separate kinds of state are totally different. I know the last one sentence is too vague for you, but let’s start the legal and political interpretation.

Lay Vicheka is a translator for the most celebrated translation agency in the Kingdom of Cambodia, Pyramid Translation Co.Ltd.. He is now hoding other two professions: freelance writer for Search Newspaper; focusing on social issues and students’ issues and Media Liaison Officer for Asia’s first free on-line IELTS consultation website. Lay Vicheka is the expert author for ezine and prolific article contributor to other websites around the world such as articlecity, 365articles, spiderden, talesofasia, etc (Just google him). He is also a volunteer Cambodian-newspapers columnist (Rasmey Kampuchea and Kampuchea Thmey). Lay Vicheka has great experience in law and politics, as he used to be legal and English-language assistant to a Cambodian member of parliament, migration experience (home-based business) and in writing. He is also member of a New York-based research company. Posting address: 221H Street 93, Tuol Sangke quarter, Russey Keo district, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Tel: 855 11 268 445, vichekalay@yahoo.com

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Snow Skiing Checklist – 7 Things You Should Carry On the Ski Slopes

If you are planning a skiing vacation or maybe you are already at the resort and are preparing for a day of skiing then there is a lot to think about. This is especially so if you are new to winter sports. You need to get your skis, boots and poles. You need to organize your lift pass and then you need to hook up with your ski class. Without these things your day would be unsuccessful, however there are a few other things that people often overlook that can also impact on your day. Here is a checklist of 7 things you may need on the ski slopes.

First thing to take is a trail map. No doubt you have looked at the trail maps that are dotted throughout the resort or even at your pocket version but it is essential that you take it with you when you are skiing. Despite your studies you will need to refer to it at least a few times on the first day. Maybe less as the week goes by but it is always handy to have especially if you take a turn that you are not used to.

Lip balm and sunscreen. The lips are very sensitive to the sun and wind. They are one of the few parts of your body that will be exposed to the elements. Make sure they are protected as chapped lips can spoil your vacation. Take a small tube of sunscreen and top up every few hours or so. This is mainly around the face and ears but this depends on the weather and what you are wearing. If it a pleasant day you may decide to ski in a shirt and will need to protect the shoulders and arms.

Something to clean your goggles or sunglasses. Sunglasses often come with a bag that doubles as a cleaner so this is fairly easy to cater for unless you have lost the bag a long time ago like me. If you don’t have the bag then any cloth, like a chamois, will do the trick. Obviously you need to be able to see where you are skiing so clear vision is essential. I’d suggest goggles or glasses are essential too as the glare from the snow is too much even on an overcast day. Goggles are best but sunglasses are more comfortable in my opinion (depending on the type of skiing you are doing).

Carry some water and a snack. There are many cafes and rest stops dotted around the slopes and you won’t have to look far to get a drink at the bottom of the slope but a bottle of water is handy if you need a break during a run. It also means you don’t have to stop skiing for too long. As for a snack, I like a chocolate bar and skiing is my excuse to indulge my chocoholic tendencies. Other people may take an energy bar or even a sandwich.

A cell phone is a good device to have on you if you have an accident or need to keep in touch with friends. You need to find out where to meet up for lunch at the very least ! Take your wallet with some form of id and a credit card or small amount of money. You don’t want a heavy wallet weighing you down.

For more skiing and snowboarding tips and reviews of equipment then visit [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com] The site gives advice on things to carry when skiing [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com/skiing/things-to-carry-when-skiing-21/] and types of snow skiing [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com/skiing/types-of-snow-skiing-10/] Adrian Whittle writes on skiing and snowboarding.

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Bowling Balls

Bowling balls are available with a wide range of options. Such options as coverstock, weight block, top weight, and pin location to name a few. With so many variables, how do you choose the right one for you? Many factors, should be considered when making a decision on your next bowling ball purchase.

Let’s briefly breakdown what each of the above mentioned terms mean in reference to bowling balls.

-Coverstock is essentially to outer surface of the bowling ball that creates the shell. Typically, the coverstock can either be dull or shiny on a bowling ball.

-A weight block is the core of the bowling ball. Depending on the shape and density of the weight block, it can influence the reaction of the bowling ball.

-Top weight is the core variation within the bowling ball. If the core is higher in the ball, it produces a higher top weight. If the core is lower, then the bowling ball will have a lower top weight.

-Pin location simply designates the location of the top of the weight block in a bowling ball.

These definitions simply apply to the bowling ball itself. What factors not related to the make/model of the bowling ball? For this we are referring to factors such as your bowling game itself. Things such as ball speed, track flare, axis tilt, etc all play an important role in bowling. Each person has their own unique way of bowling. Knowing your game and style will make it easier for you to make the proper selection when buying a new bowling ball.

Below is a brief breakdown of a few key definitions.

-Ball Speed is simply the speed at which you roll your bowling ball. Many of the newer scoring systems measure the speed of your bowling ball. However, not all are 100% accurate, but it can give you a general idea of what the speed is.

-Track flare is the “oil rings” that appear on your bowling ball after you throw it. These rings show the progression of the rotation of your ball as it is rolling down the lane and the ball changing its axis of rotation while seeking its preferred spin axis.

-Axis tilt is the angle of rotation of the bowling ball.

Depending on your style and lane conditions, making the right decision can be tricky at times. The easiest and best way to decide which bowling ball is right for you is to visit your local bowling pro shop. Many pro shop owners have been around the game of bowling for quite some time. With their knowledge and experience, as well as watching you bowl, they can give you strong recommendations on which bowling ball will suit your game.

However, not every bowling center has an on-site pro shop. Luckily the internet provides a plethora of information regarding bowling balls. Many of the manufacturer sites provide in depth analysis of reactions and characteristics and even a few videos with the bowling balls in action. Customer reviews found on various bowling ball message forums can also provide real life insight as to what a particular bowling ball can do on certain lane conditions. There are even a few retail sites that provide bowling ball reviews, which are customer reviews for various products.

As you can see the internet can be an excellent resource in helping you determine which bowling balls will take your game to the next level.

As an author at [http://www.eZ-search.us], Chris Miller contributes to the growing content found within the site. Chris suggests purchasing the newest bowling balls at http://www.birddogbowling.com

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