One in Three People Will Become Disabled Before They Retire

Injury and Illness can cause devastating financial problems. Information in recent years indicates that over half of personal bankruptcies and housing foreclosures are brought on by the financial hardship of a disability. While many people assume that if they have health insurance they are covered and that everything will be okay, what they don't take into consideration is the fact that they may not be able to work if they are injured or disabled. This leaves them with no money for the house and car payments, medications, bills, insurance deductibles, and many times, simple day to day living expenses.

Statistics say that over 65 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck; if a disability were to strike, they would fall behind within a matter of weeks. While car insurance, home insurance, and health insurance are standard fare in America, disability insurance is becoming increasing popular. This insurance can help soften the financial impact of a disability, help protect your assets, and help protect your family and lifestyle.

Disability insurance plans can help you keep up your house and car payments, pay for medications, and keep your life on track while you wait for the Social Security Administration to make a decision on your claim, which can be from a few months to a couple of years. While the Social Security administration is addressing the backlog on claims, it is still way behind and the wait can put undue stress on your life. Many have lost their houses, cars, filed bankruptcy, been unable to afford medications, and even died while waiting on the disability process.

Statistics also report that 3 people in 10 will become disabled before they retire. With those statistics, it makes sense to protect yourself with disability insurance.

While you may not think you have the extra budget to afford another insurance plan, in many instances you can keep your current health care budget through receiving savings on health insurance or choosing a higher deductible, allowing you the extra funds to purchase disability insurance and peace of mind.

The author of this article is Timothy Moore, who, in addition to being a former food stamp caseworker, medicaid caseworker and AFDC caseworker, is a former disability claims examiner for the social security administration. He answers questions about the federal disability system at Social Security Disability Secrets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Timothy_Moore

By Timothy Moore

Japanese Kanji Learning - Short-Cuts to Rapid Mastery (Part 1)

What? Kanji can be learned quickly? This seems an impossible dream to many students of Japanese who come from a non-kanji language culture. Even hiragana and katakana seem impossibly hard to the average beginner, so remembering kanji, with all their intricate strokes and multiple readings, can appear to be beyond the abilities of the human mind.

But don't give up hope just yet! There are tools that can transform you from a kanji klutz to a veritable genius. That does not mean that it will take no work, sweat or tears. (I would be lying if I told you it would completely pain-free.) But you can gain a good grasp of kanji with a lot less these than you would think.

So let's look at two approaches that can have you gobbling up kanji like there is no tomorrow. In Part 1, I will talk you through mnemonic methods, and then in Part 2 I will focus on methods that can benefit visual learners.

Mnemonic Methods

"Mnemonic" simply means a device, formula or rhyme used to assist memorization. An example of a mnemonic embedded in my mind from childhood is "Never Eat Shredded Wheat". As a rhyme it has nothing to do with navigation or geography, but it helped me learn the points of the compass.

So let's have a look at the mnemonic approaches that can speed-up kanji learning.

James Heisig's Remembering the Kanji Series

Heisig's mnemonic-based approach is not only famous for the claims its practitioners have made of rapid kanji assimilation (1,000 kanji in 29 days, for example), but also for the critical flack it has attracted from traditionalists.

Undoubtedly, the method has flaws: The student being encouraged to associate a single, very narrow and sometimes non-standard meaning with a particular kanji being a major one. However, the fact that Heisig's approach is geared to Westerners also has advantages: Focusing on the meaning before the pronunciation is of more practical value to the adult Western student, since while meaning is the key to understanding, the pronunciation of the kanji is of little value unless reading aloud.

I came to this approach late, having used the good ol' rote memorization and drilling method of most traditional textbooks, so it has not been such a boon to me as it would be to someone starting from scratch. However, while using a computer to write Japanese at work has made my mind lazy when it comes to writing, Heisig's method keeps the shape of the kanji right in front of me when I do pick up pen and paper. And I am hoping to use book 3 to go well beyond the standard 1,945 character kanji set in the future - something I would not even consider attempting without using this technique.

You can download pdf files of substantial sections of each of the books in this series for review here:

James Heisig - Remembering the Kanji Book 1

http://www.ic.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/miscPublications/Remembering_the_Kanji_1.htm

James Heisig - Remembering the Kanji Book 2

http://www.ic.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/miscPublications/Remembering_the_Kanji_2.htm

James Heisig - Remembering the Kanji Book 3

http://www.ic.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/miscPublications/Remembering_the_Kanji_3.htm

Kenneth Henshall's A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters

Now, I should first state that, personally, I have not used this method in my own kanji study. However, while looking at ways to accelerate my kanji assimilation ability to joyou level (the 1,945 kanji set taught up to the end of high school in Japan) and beyond, I came across Henshall's method as the other major alternative to traditional repeat-until-you-go-mad methods.

Henshall also employs mnemonics, creating a sentence to plant the image of the kanji deep in the learner's brain. The difference is that where Heisig takes a fast-and-loose approach with the meanings assigned to individual elements of each kanji in reaching his goal of creating a memorable mind-picture, Henshall traces the history of these elements in great scholastic detail.

In my opinion (and the reason I personally chose Heisig over Henshall for my own study), the academic strength of Henshall's analysis is its biggest weakness as a memorization tool: If you have an excellent memory, or if you already know the kanji anyway and are interested in their etymological roots, then Henshall will give you a depth of knowledge that will impress even your native speaker Japanese friends. However, if you do not have an almost-photographic memory, and mastering kanji in a sensible time period is your priority, you will probably find that this detailed and obscure analysis does not provide the compelling memory "hook" that Heisig's method does.

Other Mnemonic Kanji Study Methods

In addition to these two main players you may also want to consider 2001 Kanji by Father Joseph R. De Roo (although its availability is questionable) or Kanji ABC by Forester and Tamura as alternative approaches.

If you are a visual learner, skip on to Part 2 and discover the methods that can work best with your learning style.

About the Author

Stephen Munday lives in Japan where he works for a company called Provide Cars which buys vehicles from Japanese car auctions for used car dealers around the world.

This article is (c) Stephen Munday 2005. Permission is given to reproduce this article in whole with the URLs correctly hyperlinked.

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By Stephen Munday

The Hidden Power Of The Spark Plug's Heat Range - Learn How Much Benefits You May Obtain From Them!

By Elena Maria Db Orsos

The Heat Range is the function of the spark plug to regulate the temperature of the combustion chamber by its ability to maintain or to remove the heat produced by the combustion process and to take the excess of heat toward the cylinder head that will then transfer it to the cooling system. There is no direct relationship between the spark plug heat range and the spark voltage.

Each spark plug is manufactured with its own predetermined and specific heat range. They exists different spark plugs brands and each one of them manufactures its different series or models with a large variety of heat ranges.

Due to that all the engines are different; they require spark plugs with different Heat Range. A family car and/or a racecar, should operate at an optimal temperature in the combustion chamber, which must be between 840ºF. to 1560ºF. (450ºC. and 850ºC), what means that the heat range of the spark plug to be installed shall must be cool enough to avoid pre-ignition, but hot enough to prevent fouling.

This is why the vehicle manufacturers define a spark plug with a specific heat range for the power level and condition operations that supposedly is going to demand the end user of each model of vehicle. This selection must be precise:

Today, Professional Mechanics, Do-It-Yourselfers, and Spark Plug Vendors have Application Charts available in Spark Plug or Auto Part Catalogues as a guideline to identify the adequate spark plugs for a vehicle, whether as printed material or modern computerized version. Such application charts only indicate the adequate spark plugs for vehicles under standard operating conditions.

Users are therefore quite familiarized to the idea that is enough to follow the catalogues suggestions, however, during the useful life of a vehicle many different conditions that affect engine performance may occur, as for example:

o Different driving habits,

o Different traffic conditions,

o Different load conditions,

o Different engine's maintenance,

o Different fuel quality,

o Different weather conditions,

o Use of LPG or of Propane gas as fuel.

Moreover, these conditions may combine in endless ways.

And when such different conditions do occur, vehicles no longer operate under standard conditions, and the heat range of the stock spark plugs stop being the adequate for this particular conditions, being done necessary to install spark plugs with a Heat Range different from the original stock suggested in the catalogues by the manufacturers, and therefore catalogue Application Charts can not continue indicating which one is the spark plug that must be installed in a vehicle to best match each one of these conditions or the different combinations thereof.

If the stock spark plug heat range results colder than necessary due to the real operating conditions, the air/fuel mixture will not burn completely creating carbon deposits that will not burn and will stick to the spark plug, fouling it; and since carbon is an conductor of electricity, it would deflect the electricity to the ground instead of creating the spark, resulting in engine misfiring and malfunctioning. When this problem exists, the installed spark plug shows unburned fuel. Then the spark plug appearance looks similarly to a reach mixture. But it is not the real problem.

And if the stock spark plug heat range results hotter than necessary due to the real operating conditions, the engine would overheat and the installed spark plugs looks with overheating, similarly to a lean mixture.

When an engine is modified for high performance and its power is increased, the stock spark plugs very often result hottest than necessary due to the new power reached at higher RPM and the gasoline would end up pre-igniting or detonating without the need of an electric spark, creating an uncontrolled explosion that would severely damage the engine.

Be aware that never! Never a high performance modified engine, can continue using the stock spark plug, because more power is more energy, and more energy always is more heat.

Unfortunately, even very experienced mechanics have difficulty in detecting the differences in these situations that are very often misunderstood, misleading them to search the origin of the troubles that the spark plugs are showing, in the supposedly wrong air/fuel mixture, cooling systems troubles or other mechanical failures.

It is absolutely clear that is doing lack more information about the true one and transcendental importance of the heat range of the sparkplugs. This exact selection is critical!

Only with the proper Heat Range will spark plugs sustain the perfect combustion process that keeps your engine's top efficiency and functional reliability. Which benefits?

o On High Performance modified or racing engines the higgest power you never reach before.

o On standard or family cars, more performance, more mileage, more reliability, extending engine's life and, decreasing emissions.

But only a few of the most selected and experienced engine tuners know how to select the spark plug with the proper heat range best suited to match these different conditions, or the specific engine's level of modification, but them reach it only after long hours of expensive and difficult testing by trial and error with different spark plugs sets of different heat ranges.

What you need to find is the spark plug with the heat range, best suited to the combination of your own specific, individual and particular driving habits, traffic, weather, and engine operating conditions, fuel quality, that can be affecting your engine performance; tailoring this selection exactly for you driving habits or life style.

This is the only way that guarantees to achieve the peak power, performance, endurance, better mileage and the lowest emissions.

You don't have to take my words. Spark plug manufacturers have never failed to explicitly acknowledge that:

"Owing to different driving conditions and/or engine conditions a hotter or colder spark plug may be required" - NGK

"Bad plugs cause overheating, rough running, power loss and even engine failure" - AUTOLITE

"Wrong choice of spark plugs can cause an engine to go on strike" - BERU

"This is reflected in the increased importance assigned to precisely adapting the spark plug to engine. Customized solutions are the order of the day" - BOSCH

"This application list is to be used only as a guide, owing to different driving conditions and/or engine conditions a hotter or colder spark plug may be required". - NGK

"The spark plug application for racing engines is very individual and requires good experience in identifying appropriate heat value. Failure to meet these requirements may cause extensive engine damages". - BRISK

"For racing, the spark plug recommendations listed should be considered only as the initial guide. Final heat range selection must rest with the racing participant.". - AC DELCO

So, if the manufacturers are advising you how much is it necessary to customize the selection of your sparkplugs when is replacement time, take care on it.

You have the decision power of choosing the right parkplug to reach the best results on performance, mileage, reliability and lowering the emissions.

And, to do that is easiest and cheap than you may imagine. Now you know all what you need is precisely selecting the heat range of your replacement sparkplugs.

Elena Maria DB Orsos

http://www.determinator.net

Elena Maria DB Orsos, is President & CEO of Smart Racing Tools USA and Racing Technologies. Her invention patents in the automotive field, with demonstrated value to increase power to high performance modified engines, and to improve performance and mileage to standard and daily use cars, and to decrease emissions, makes her a very well respected name in these aspects.

She was nominated to international prizes due to her innovations and is frequently invited as speaker to international automotive and environmental events.

For more information visit the above web site.

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Wheelchair Mobility Examined

By Jake McFadden

There are a lot of questions surrounding wheelchair mobility. What sort of terrain can a wheelchair handle? How is the ride quality in today's wheelchairs? Once I've got my wheelchair, how much will it cost to keep it in tip top shape? The chair you end up with will be a major part of your life, and you should seek the advice of a professional. Before you do, you can still educate yourself.

In regards to the terrain your wheelchair can handle, think of your chair as a car. If the road isn't passable, it doesn't matter how nice your car is or how good you are at driving. In a wheelchair, as in a car or even someone walking on foot, the terrain you tackle will dictate your success. Wheelchair mobility is as much a question of decision making as it is the strength of your chair. Making good decisions about where you are going will make successful traversing much more likely.

The quality of your ride is much more dependent on what type of chair you own. There is always a balance between speed, control, weight and durability. A faster wheelchair may have less control in a tight spot. A lighter chair may be less durable, and the reverse is of course true. Take the time to decide where your needs fall along this balance and then find the chair for you.

Keeping your wheelchair in good shape is also a responsibility that can be easily met. Most maintenance and repairs will focus on the tires. If you have a battery powered motorized chair, you will need to familiarize yourself with the type of battery and it's charging cycle. Again, these are fairly simple, requiring only basic know-how and tools.

Jake McFadden is an expert on wheelchairs. He writes for popular website Electric-Wheelchair-On.Com. He provides honest information and up-to-date content on topics like heavy duty wheelchair and much more. Check out his blog for more info!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_McFadden

Things to Consider When Shopping For Used Portable Generators

By Chuck Cox

Buying used portable generators is not much different from buying a used car, without the casing. Generators are basically engines that run on gas that you start with a key or a pull cord. You should not leave a generator running in your enclosed garage, and you need to give it a careful inspection before you buy it, just as if you were buying a car.

The difference between buying used generators and cars is that you can not drive a generator, but again, you can not drive some used cars, either. You would not spend nearly as much on a used generator as you will on a used car in most cases.

Like a used car, you can buy used portable generators online. The problem is with both of these purchases; you are buying them based solely on trust. You have to trust that the portable generator will be in safe, working order when you receive it. You have to trust that the generator has not blown up previously and been rebuilt just to make it run enough to sell it. You have to trust that upon inspection you got a good deal, because you do not get to inspect it until after you own it.

You can certainly research these generators online though. Doing your research before any large purchase is always a very good idea. Decide what kind of power you will need for your generator. Will you need it to power the house during an electrical outage, and how often does your electricity go out? Do you want a portable generator for camping or boating? Do you need to power a camper or just some appliances while you camp in tents?

Make a list of the things you will need to power and how much wattage they use before shopping for any generator. This will save you a substantial amount of time and could save you some money, too. If you don't need the generator with the most power, why pay more for it?

You should consider if you will want to upgrade your generator in the future. If you are beginner campers and using tents, but know that someday you may buy an RV, then you may want to consider looking at used portable generators with a little more power so that you won't have to buy another one when you get your RV.

Look at the time frame, too. If you think you will not be purchasing your RV for five years or more, than it may be best to choose from among the smaller units for now. Keep in mind that it will be used and probably will not last as long as a new one.

There are a lot of uses for generators. Perhaps you want one for multiple uses that will require varied degrees of power. If so, then consider used portable generators with more power to cover all of your generator needs.

Author has published many sites including the resource about Portable Generators. Learn about Small Portable Generators by visiting the site, Portable RV Generators.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Cox

Your Guide to Mobility Conversions

By SP Turner

As we're all unique, one specific product rarely suits the needs of everyone. This is true when it comes to mobility vehicles as every person with a mobility issue has individual requirements and will need specific features to make them feel confident and comfortable when they drive. If you or a loved one has individual requirements to be able to use a vehicle then you could consider investing in mobility conversions to make the car exactly suitable for your needs. With so many different terms, adaptations and modifications available it can sometimes be overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right products for you. Before you begin your search, check out the guide below for some of the most common conversions which could make your driving experience easier.

• Storage space and access
If you use a wheelchair then it's likely that you'll need to store the chair while you're driving so you can use it at your destination. Wheelchairs can be heavy and very bulky so they're not always easy to transfer into the back of a car. Some modifications which could make the process easier including installing a ramp to the rear of the car to make loading the wheelchair into the rear space much easier. Other alternatives include rear hoists which can lift wheelchairs into the back of most cars and will give you more independence as you may not need others to help lift the chair with you. If space in the rear of your car is limited you could decide to have a rooftop hoist and storage solution installed. These gadgets mechanically lift a manual wheelchair up from ground level and securely store it in a storage unit on top of your car. When you get to your destination your wheelchair can be lowered again at the touch of a button.

• Hand controls
Vehicles can be modified to include hand controls for functions which would usually be operated by foot such as simple push and pull buttons for the brake and accelerator. Other features such as steering balls which are similar to a joystick can be fitted if managing a steering wheel is not comfortable for driving. There are so many hand controls available that they even include simple modifications such as an easy use handbrake which is ideal if you find squeezing and pulling the handbrake difficult.

• Swivel seats
Swivel car seats are a great solution if you find it difficult squeezing out of the space between the seat and steering wheel or dashboard. These seats can be fitted into both the driver and passenger seats so if you regularly transport someone who finds exiting a car difficult, you could consider installing this conversion. Many of these seats swing out beyond the reach of the car doorway so you can transfer yourself directly into a wheelchair. These seats can also help elderly people who may have trouble exiting the low levels of the car as they will have more space to stand up once the seat has swivelled.

Simple mobility conversions like the ones above can be an affordable way to transform your driving experience and give you more freedom and confidence on the road.

Mobility Conversions Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=SP_Turner

The New Toyota Prius - A Popular Hybrid Car

By Malc Moore

The best selling and most popular hybrid car in the world right now is once again the Toyota Prius. The release of the Prius in 1997 launched the movement towards hybrids. Initially, the Prius didn't sell very well at all, however, sales start to increase as more models were introduced. In 2003 Toyota came out with their second generation hybrid vehicle making it car of the year according to Motor Trend.

People are buying hybrids not just for environmental and health issues, but also due to soaring gas prices. Out of all the available hybrid cars to select from on the market, the Prius is top of the list because of the price and simplicity.

The second generation of this car has improved upon the first one in many important ways. While the first version of the Toyota Prius had excellent fuel efficiency, air conditioning was the sole option available. Compared to the original, the enhanced version is roomier, faster and flashier. It is the first sedan of its class and size and has won numerous awards.

It employs the Synergy hybrid system used by all of Toyota's hybrid vehicles. It has a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine with smart valve timing along with an eternal magnet Ac synchronous motor. It has 110 horsepower (combining electric power with gas power) and 46 mpg fuel economy (city and highway mileage combined, as rated by EPA).

It also has an electronically controlled continuous variable transmission, anti-lock system and regenerative breaking. Benefits include 89% less emissions and tax credits.

Power windows, cloth seats, micron filter air-conditioners, cruise control, door locks, and keyless remote entry are included as standard features in the second generation Toyota Prius.

Climate, audio, and cruise control can be controlled remotely though switches on the steering wheel. A navigational system with bluetooth is one of the options customers have when buying the vehicle. The ignition is tuned on by a power button instead of the key which make it different to any other hybrid on the market. The dashboard contains an energy motor that tracks the power flow between the batteries, engine, and electric motor.

Although there appear to be more stylish hybrids on the road, the Toyota Prius stands out due to fuel efficiency, affordable prices and eco friendly features. If you're looking for practicality why not choose the pioneer?

For more informative articles about the Toyota Prius and other hybrid cars, please go to our web site http://www.ecoholistic.com

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