Five Signs that Your Local Marketing Needs a Tune-up

Local marketing is a powerful tool that can help any business generate leads and close new business at a local level. It is an unreasonable expectation to think that most business people will be highly skilled in the fine art of local marketing so here’s a quick snapshot of some pointers that may indicate that your local marketing could do with a tune up.

1.Your business is mono-tactical in its approach to generating leads and winning new business. This is quite common – especially amongst small businesses. For example a local plumber may advertise in the local classifieds to generate 100% of his leads and sales. Some companies may use a handful of local marketing tactics. The point here is that your business will go from strength to strength if it increases the actual number of local marketing tactics used.

2.Your company doesn’t have a local marketing budget allocated, but instead will look at opportunities as they arise. This is another popular approach amongst franchisees and small businesses. The key here is that there is no pro-activeness in funding and executing local marketing strategies on a regular basis. Imagine the possibilities that arise when you regularly allocate funds to local marketing programs.

3. Your firm is oblivious to peaks and troughs in your revenue cycle and schedules local marketing activities without thinking about the impact they may have at various times of the year. Just as you wouldn’t dare plant carrots in June because they won’t grow, there my be times during the year when local marketing will have a minimal impact on your target market whilst at other times clients will be falling all over themselves to do business with you. Identifying these cycles and making the most out of them is the key to being successful.

4.Your company doesn’t track the return on investment it gets from any local marketing activity that it implements. This is possibly the biggest local marketing sin a business can commit. Without a formal review of the success of local marketing activities undertaken a company can’t realistically make a well considered decision to replicate or reject a tactic that it has used.

5.Your business doesn’t have a formal, conscious plan that incorporates the use of other people’s people and other people’s money. Your suppliers, local business associations, sponsorship properties and even charitable organisations have much power in being able to assist you in successfully marketing your business throughout your local territory. By identifying ways to use other people’s people, money, resources, advertising, business relationships, time and capital a company can expand its local marketing capability and reach.

So there you have it – some common local marketing mistakes that franchisees and small businesses tend to make and some of the ways to overcome them. By addressing one or more of these five areas a company can positively impact the number of leads and new sales it can attract through local marketing activities.

For more information about local marketing and local area marketing planning, contact Greg Mullane, Marketing Manager, LAM Plan

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Hawaii History

The Pacific had been crossed many times and most of the lands around it had been explored before the world knew there was an inhabited archipelago in its very center.

The first white man to discover the islands was Captain James Cook in 1778. He called them the Sandwich Islands, after the Earl of Sandwich. Captain Cook, making his first landing on the verdant island of Kauai, found the islands populated by about 300,000 natives. They were Polynesian in origin, and among the most advanced of all the Polynesians. The islands were ruled by four warring native kings.

About 30 years later, the local wars ended with all the islands united under King Kamehameha I, the wisest and most enlightened of the native rulers of Hawaii. He welcomed other lands, promoted trade and commerce. Traders from abroad brought goods for the from far lands and bought the exotic products of Hawaii in return. Unfortunately they also brought diseases for which the isolated Polynesian People had no natural immunity.

Within 100 years the native population had dropped to 50,000. In the meantime the trends which were to most the Hawaiian Islands one of the Polyglot regions in the world in ethnic origin, had started. First came the missionaries, from New England. They found native people ready to embrace a new religion, and set about converting Hawaii to Christianity.

They also saw in Hawaii opportunities for business. They established small firms to trade with the rest of the world. They succeeded so well that the children of the missionaries are now the chief directors and owners of Hawaii’s great companies, operating huge plantations and far-flung trading companies.

With the dwindling of the native population through the ravages of disease and the development of Hawaii’s plantation fields, field labor was recruited from other lands. The first groups were Chinese. Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos followed. Puerto Ricans, Germans, and Portuguese came later.

During this period Hawaii was a monarchy. Toward the end of the nineteenth century agitation for annexation to the United States began. For a brief period the islands were a republic. Annexation was accomplished in 1898, and in 1900 Hawaii became a Territory of the United States, under a governor named Sanford P. Dole. At that time two-thirds of the population were foreign-born aliens, most of them uneducated Orientals.

Impetus to the transition between an Oriental crossroads community and an integrated American society was given by the sudden impact of World War II, the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, the establishment of the islands as one of the great military bases for the war and a staging ground for the whole Pacific Campaign.

It brought to the islands many thousands of fighting men to man the installations, and hundreds of thousands more who stopped briefly in the islands in transit between the distant fighting fronts and home areas. With the war’s end many stationed in the islands stayed to work and live; others who had sampled the benign climate and glimpsed the exotic charm of the islands, returned. With the war’s end the fighting bases became great permanent military installations with a military personnel of about 50,000.

Hawaii has a very heterogeneous population with Americans of Polynesian, Asian, European, and African extraction, immigration to Hawaii still continues. Most of the newcomers are young people. Hawaii’s varied population is reflected in the food specialties which are served. These include poi, a paste made from taro root; roast pig and coconut. The islands have superb fruits; some of them, like the passion fruit, are quite rare. Others are guava, papaya, pineapple. There are also native nuts that are unusual. All are served at the popular luau feast.

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Holistic Tips to Soothe Dry Winter Skin

The skin all over your face and body needs some tender loving care to survive Winter. Sensitivities, eczema, psoriasis and itchy skin are often made worse in the cold, dry weather. A holistic approach works best—that means thinking about what you put on your skin, what you put inside your body and factors in your environment.

Natural skin and mineral makeup excel because they don’t contain detergents or synthetic substances that dry and irritate skin. Plant oils closely resemble the oils in your skin and work to nourish the deep layers. Swapping from a chemical or petroleum-based skin or makeup product will make a difference and keep your natural beauty glowing.

1. Drink plenty of water: Hydrate your skin from the inside out and help carry nutrients to your skin cells. Eating lots of juicy fruit and vegetables helps too.

2. Pull on an extra jumper and turn down the heaters: A cooler environment helps reduce moisture loss from your skin. If you do put on the heater, place bowls of water around the room.

3. Keep showers short and warm: As glorious as a long hot shower can be in Winter, hot water will strip moisture from your skin. And, we all know that shorter showers save precious water.

4. Luscious lips: No-one’s lips are safe in Winter. When dry lips crack or become stressed, you increase the chance of a coldsore. Keep lips protected with a plant-oil lip balm. Petrochemical lip balms sit on the skin rather than soaking in and working to heal the skin as well.

5. Use gentle, creamy, plant cleansers: Ingredients such as sulphates, propylene glycol and alcohol can irritate and dry skin. Choose soaps hand made from 100 per cent olive oil. Shampoos that contain sulphates and chemicals can also cause itchy scalp and dry skin problems.

6. Use a natural moisturiser that nourishes your skin.
Petrochemical or mineral oil moisturisers form a layer on top of your skin rather than being absorbed in to lubricate and support the skin. Apply the moisturiser while your skin is damp to lock in extra moisture. Intensive skin boosters like rose hip, sweet almond and jojoba oils do wonders for your natural beauty.

7. Exfoliate and hydrate. Gentle exfoliation removes the dead cell layer making it easier for your skin to absorb moisturisers. Hydrating flower mists or masks help refresh dry skin.

8. Use plant oil-based makeup or mineral makeup. Synthetic-free makeup and makeup without petrochemicals is gentler and less drying for your skin. However, not all mineral makeup is pure. Some mineral makeup contains irritating and drying ingredients, so avoid those that list Bismuth Oxychloride and Talc.

Another benefit is that mineral makeup containing the minerals Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are non-chemical sun blocks that also help to protect skin from damage in Winter.

Holistic skin tips provided by Biome Eco Stores.

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Thailand History and Regional Profile

thailand-holiday-elephant

Thailand can be divided into four geographical regions. In the north are mountain ranges and deep valleys in which are the sources of Thailand’s principal river, the Chao Phraya. The mountains are covered with forests of teak and evergreens. In central Thailand is the plain of the Chao Phraya. This is the most densely populated region, and it has the most fertile farm land. In the east is the Khorat Plateau, a high, stony plain, where cattle, pigs, buffaloes and horses are run. The fourth region of Thailand is the part that lies on the Malay Peninsula, which is mountainous and contains the primary tin and other mineral deposits.

The climate of Thailand is tropical. It is governed largely by the monsoon, a wind that blows from the southwest from May to November, bringing a warm, rainy season, and from the northeast from November to March, bringing a dry and cooler season. The months of April and May, between the monsoon seasons, are the hottest of the year.

Thailand has many wild and strange animals, including more than a thousand varieties of brightly coloured birds. It is famous for the elephant, which is the national symbol of the country and is protected by law. The so called white elephant (which is really a lighter shade of grey) is considered holy. A favorite animal from Thailand is the Siamese cat. Thailand used to be name Siam.

The largest city of Thailand, and the capital, is Bangkok. It is a modern city located about 25 miles inland from the ocean at the delta of the Menam River. It is a harbor and center of trade, and has a population of more than 1,500,000. Several international airlines connecting Asia with the United States and Europe make regular stops at Don Muang airport, which is one of the largest and most modern in Asia. Other important cities are Khon Kaen, Buriram, and Thonburi.

How the People are Governed
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, which means that it has a king, a parliament that makes the laws, and a constitution that protects the rights of the people. There is a prime minister, who is the head of the government, and a Council of Ministers who assist him. The first constitution of 1932 was suspended in 1958 after repeated disorders, and a constitutional assembly was formed in 1959 to draft a new and better constitution. Thailand is divided into provinces called changwats, each of which is governed by a commissioner who is responsible to the Council of Ministers.

Everyone must go to school between the ages of 7 and 14. There are many elementary and high schools, and there are five universities, including a medical school. Three of these are located in the capital, Bangkok. There are also military, naval, and police academies. More than half of the people of Thailand can read and write.

Thailand in the Past
In ancient times Thailand was a land of independent city-states. These were usually at war with the Mongols and the Burmese. The greatest of the city-states was Ayutthaya, which became strong in the 1300s and won much territory from neighboring states. Marco Polo visited Ayutthaya, and many other Europeans came to trade with the Siamese, including Dutch, English, and French. After four hundred years of prosperity, Ayutthaya was invaded and conquered by the Burmese, in 1767.

Another city-state arose at Thonburi, and in 1782 a Thai king arose who was the founder of the present Thailand dynasty, or family of kings. He was Rama I, and he established Bangkok as his capital. During the 1800s European nations were establishing claims to territories all around Thailand. The king was forced to give up Laos and Cambodia to France, and parts of the Malay Peninsula to Great Britain, but Thailand never gave up its independence.
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North Stradbroke Island – Straddie at Its Best

Affectionately known as Straddie by people from Brisbane, North Stradbroke Island is the postcard beach holiday. Just 30 km (19 miles) southeast of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, it is positioned at the southern end of Moreton Bay. At 30 km (19 mile) long, it is one of the world’s grandest, offering beautiful beaches, a rugged coastline and inland freshwater streams.

It lost its aboriginal name of Minijerribah in 1827, when Captain H. J. Rous, or Viscount Dunwich, Commander of the HMS Rainbow, named the sanctuary after his father the Earl of Stradbroke, the main town after his own title, and Rainbow Beach after his ship.

A cluster of three picturesque villages — Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout — act as convivial bases for many of the island’s local and international visitors.

Dunwich was once a penal colony and quarantine station, and, as is often the case, its cemetery is a telling record of the island’s interesting past. At Point Lookout, the aptly named Whale Rock is the best spot from which to scan the vast oceans in search of migrating humpback whales, dolphins and turtles.

In the 1960s, sand mining operations began to ruin on the fragile island eco-system, but by the 1990s environmental issues came dominant and half of the island became a national park. Mining is still very active on the island, but mainly away in the restricted southern end.

Point Lookout on the eastern surf side of the island is a natural attraction. Spreading across Straddie’s single rocky headland it overlooks a string of white beaches. The western side enjoys the calmer waters of the bay and is safer for families. The island is famous for its fishing — with the annual Straddie Classic’ every August being one of Australia’s richest and best-known fishing contests.

Looking for holiday deals, Australian holidays or even cheap family holidays? Flight Centre is the holiday expert and can match your budget and holiday requirements to a great holiday package.

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Why Does Brisbane Water Now Taste and Smell So Bad?

no-flouride-in-brisbaneThe anti-flouride brigade are correct, Brisbane’s water does now taste and smell awful. I only noticed today. It sort of smells like wet gravel and tastes like it has rocks in it. The colour is OK, but the smell and taste are disgusting.

I hope the south-east corner’s water quality becomes a huge election issue. I really don’t care too much about the flouride, but the new smell and taste of Brisbane water is enough to swing my vote. Anna, it’s time for another backflip.

Do a Kevin, turn off the flouride and commission a 20 year long working committee.

Here’s some comments from the Courier Mail.

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Fundraising

Fundraising is exactly what the word implies – it’s the process by which non-profit organisations raise money, by requesting donations or selling products or services. Fundraising is a significant way that these community groups obtain the money that’s required for them to perform their operations, and pay for the facilities and programs that the group wishes to manage. Apart from needing money to merely survive, often these fundraising groups also fundraise for a particular purpose, for example a major fundraising campaign may be undertaken to raise money for a new building project, or a school may want to update its extra curricular sports equipment.

While donations often underpin the fundraising of many of these community groups, money is also often generated by the selling of fundraising products. Most fundraising groups continually search for new and interesting ways to fundraise, in order to keep their core support group (made up of parents, relatives and friends) interested and dedicated. The internet is used almost exclusively these days by fundraising groups in order to find interesting and profitable methods by which to raise much needed funds. There are literally hundreds of fundraising companies available these days offering an abundance of ideas and products that can be used for fundraising purposes.

The majority of people assume that fundraising is as simple as holding bake sales, cent auctions or some other organizational activity until enough money is raised. If you only want to raise a small amount of money these ideas may be fine, but for many groups this approach is too uncertain and too limited to be very effective. Most fundraising groups that have been around for a while need to raise money consistently in order to keep their group financially viable.

Deciding which fundraising program to run is a difficult decision, because it all depends on the particular fundraising group as to how much funds are required, and how much time has been allocated. Brainstorming at your monthly meetings is usually a good way to go about the process of deciding on new fundraising options, and the simple ideas are usually the best. It’s advisable to stick with fundraising ideas that are simple, easy to run, take up minimal time, and will gain you the most profit.

Of course planning ahead is the key to running a successful fundraiser. No matter what fundraising company or type of fundraiser the group chooses to run, the planning is paramount. Tasks should be allocated to each member, and plenty of time should be allowed for each task, so that they can be completed in a timely and efficient manner, and even if there are hold ups or other problems, the fundraiser can finish on the designated date. What time of the year to run the fundraiser is another important decision in the planning process. The fundraising group should carefully do its homework, and organise for the fundraiser to run at a time of the year when there are no other major events taking place, so that the whole focus will be on the fundraiser.

Gold Star Gifts and Stationery are fundraising specialists. They supply their novelty gifts and stationery items to schools, clubs and other community groups for fundraising purposes. They offer large discounts to fundraising groups, and free delivery. So if you’re looking for school fundraising ideas, ideas for fundraising or new fundraiser ideas, contact them via their website for more information on their fantastic fundraisers.

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Unforgetable Vienna: in the Heat of Europe

Located in the very heart of Europe, Vienna is both a lively modern city and a city famous for its cafes, historic districts, beautiful parks, elegant squares and romantic courtyards.

Vienna means cafe culture, music and wine. Where else can one so happily spend all day sitting in a cafe, reading a magazine, sipping a Viennese coffee or quaffing a glass or two of vino?

Roman Vindobona, founded in the year 15 CE, was completely levelled by the Germanic migrations of the fourth and fifth centuries. With the Roman legions long gone, only a small settlement remained. The name Vindobona is likely a version of the Celtic “Vedunia”, which means “torrent”, a reference to the settlement’s location on the banks of the snow fed Danube River.

Vienna was a city of doubtful reputation at the end of the twelfth century. Its ruler, Duke Leopold V, was complicit in the abduction of the English king, Richard Lionheart, on his way back from the Crusades. The two noblemen had clashed during the Third Crusade.

Forced to stop in Vienna, Richard was recognised and jailed. An enormous ransom was paid for his release, roughly twenty five tons of silver, an enormous sum for those days. The duke used the silver to start a mint, the vast profits from which enabled him to expand the city and build new fortifications. Although Emperor Henry VI had given his blessing to the duke’s illicit activities, the pope had not, and in 1194 Leopold V was excommunicated.

The first version of Vienna’s cathedral was completed in 1147 as a small parish church, and was far too large for the tiny population of Vienna at that time. The city would not become important for another ten years, after it was named capital of the Duchy of Austria. A hundred years later, the original church was replaced by one built in the Romanesque style. Its facade, known as the Roman Towers, was preserved when construction of a Gothic church began in 1340.

In 1359, Duke Rudolf IV laid the cornerstone for the soaring Gothic nave, which was completed in 1474. Vienna’s early dukes had not been successful in elevating the town to a bishop’s see, which was necessary for St. Stephen’s to be declared a cathedral; it had always been simply a church within the diocese of Passau. It did not become the seat of a bishop, and thus formally a cathedral, until 1469. St. Stephen’s has undergone many changes since then. As tastes changed, the interior and exterior were altered to reflect the times. Recent restoration has uncovered traces of older versions of Vienna’s beloved “Steffl”, as the church is known locally.

The sixteenth century was very much focused on rebuilding Vienna’s fortifications, which had been damaged during the Turkish siege of 1529. Work was not quite finished when the Turks returned in 1684. They were stopped just outside Vienna, the gateway to Europe, and never got that far again. Bombardment from Turkish positions in what is today the Wienerwald (”Vienna Woods”) left the city badly damaged in the wake of the Turkish retreat.

Rebuilding Vienna brought a large number of baroque architects to the city. The most outstanding constructions from that era are noble and royal residences, including the Schonbrunn, Liechtenstein, Schwarzenberg and Belvedere Palaces.
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Living Pool Fencing Screen

Talk about good timing. Our new swimming pool is full just in time for the summer heat that comes in March. We had to get a new timber front fence built to enclose the pool. It’s 2 metres high and nice and solid. Cost a bloody fortune.

To soften the look from the inside we decided on Timor clumping bamboo in planters rather than in the soil.  Not cheap I can tell you at about $50 per plant. The good news is once they age we can split them and use them elsewhere.

We went to a hardware store to find a nice looking outdoor planter and garden planters. There wasn’t much there so we will try elsewhere. You’d think in a city like Brisbane it wouldn’t be too hard to find decorative planters?

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The Caribbean

Sun-drenched beaches, warm air, and swaying palm trees typify the West Indian islands of the Caribbean. On these islands, as varied as the countries—Spain, France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Portugal—responsible for their early development, relaxation is the byword. Industrialization and urbanization have taken place on many of them, but with little sacrifice to the leisurely atmosphere and carefree life for which the West Indies are famous.

The West Indies are peaks of a partially submerged mountain chain—the Caribbean Andes—that once connected North and South America. They now form a 2,500-mile arc from Cuba, 50 miles off the tip of Florida, to Trinidad within sight of Venezuela. This arc forms a dividing line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Prior to the arrival in the New World of Christopher Columbus, the unexplored land between the Canary Islands and India was called Antilia. Columbus found not one mainland, but a series of islands, so Antilia was changed to the plural Antilles. The term “West Indies,” which is synonymous with Antilles, resulted from Columbus’ belief that he had reached India; he called the people he found on the island “Indians” for the same reason.

Two major island groupings—the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles—are found in the Caribbean below the Bahamas. Within these two groupings are the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the British West Indies, the Netherlands Antilles, the French West Indies, Trinidad, and Tobago.

There is much contrast in climate between the islands, often on the same island. Caribbean climates are always comfortable—warm but not oppressive. A few days or weeks in late summer or early autumn can be hot and humid, but the heat is tempered by northeast trade winds. The nights are always cool.

Rains are usually heavy, but brief, and vary from an average of around 50 inches in the low islands, such as Antigua, eastern Guadeloupe, Barbados, and Marie-Galante, to 100 inches and more, annually, on the mountainous islands such as Dominica. There is, in some areas, a brief wet season around April, but as a general rule the heavier rains fall between July and October.

Hurricanes, named for the Indian god, Huracan, meaning the “Despoiler, Lord of the Circular Tempest,” threaten the middle or northern Antilles from August to October, but less often now than in past years. They can be spotted days in advance and preparations made against them, with time to spare.

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Water Bottles Need to be Clean to be Safe: How to Clean Your Water Bottle

You are doing the right thing for the planet by filling up at home and carrying a reusable water bottle and you’ve chosen a safe, non-toxic bottle-but if it’s not kept clean then it may not be healthy.

Whether your drink bottle is a stainless steel bottle, SIGG bottle or a BPA free plastic water bottle, it is important to stop mould and other deposits forming in the bottle.

Wash your drink bottles with warm, soapy water at the end of every day and let the bottle air dry upside down with the top off every day where possible.

Should any mineral deposits or lime scale form inside, fill your clean water bottle with Distilled White Vinegar and let it soak for 24 hours. Then rinse with warm water mixed with one tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), rinse out and let dry. Spots inside the bottle that look like “corrosion” are most likely a mineral deposit.

Fill your bottle with filtered water wherever possible. It tastes so much better, but also because water contains different minerals in every area this may affect what happens inside your bottle.

Do not allow liquids such as fruit juice to ferment inside the bottle.

With all reusable water bottles you can also try SIGG cleaning tablets and a specially-designed SIGG bottle cleaning brush, or simply a baby bottle brush. Only ever use a soft brush on aluminium bottles with lining like SIGG so as not to damage the lining. Stainless steel water bottles like Klean Kanteen and Nathan can handle a hard brush.

While all bottles are technically dishwasher-safe, it is recommended to not put them in a dishwasher. Most dishwasher powders are caustic, so they will eat into the metal of your bottle and damage the exterior pattern. Bottle tops should also not be put in the dishwasher because extreme heat expands and deteriorates the plastic.

Never freeze metal bottles as metal can split even with only a little water inside. Water does not always expand in a predictable direction! Freezing plastic water bottles is also not advisable because it may cause the plastic to breakdown and toxins to leach. It is fine to place your bottle in the refrigerator.

Tips on cleaning your water bottle brought to you by Biome Eco Stores Australia.

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Web Hosting Tips

Over the years I’ve spent quite a lot of money on web site hosting, thousands in fact.

Cost can be an indicator of quality, but looking at web site hosting awards is also a good tip.

With good hosting also comes good advice in things like web site SEO.

When selecting a new web host it’s a good idea to read the reviews and forums for feedback as to performance.

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Sydney Toll Roads

Driving in Sydney can be an expensive exercise as the various toll roads are the quickest and easiest way to get from one side of the city to another by car. Some toll roads allow you to pay the toll by cash but others only accept E-Tags.

If you are visiting Sydney you may not have an E-Tag and will need to ring the toll road operator in order to pay the toll using your credit card. All E-Tags from Victoria and Queensland work on Sydney toll roads.

If you do not have an E-Tag you must pay by cash (where available) or pay by credit card by ringing the appropriate number displayed on the tollway within 48 hours of passing through the toll collection point. The toll road operator will charge a fee to accept your payment by credit card.

Note that cash booths are usually un-manned so it helps if you have some small change to pay the toll using the automatic collection booths.

Failure to pay tolls within 48 hours will result in an infringement notice being issued. This will be sent to the hire car company who will pass it on to you. Note that the car rental company will charge an Administration Fee for processing an infringement notice. For example, Thrifty car rental have a $35.00 fee for processing any infringement notices.

So, when driving a Sydney rental car be sure to take note of the many toll road signs and be prepared to pay to drive. To find more information about driving in Sydney visit car hire Sydney.

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Is every stainless steel bottle created equal? Protecting your health and the planet

K12-stainlessThere are two stainless steel mixing bowls in my kitchen cupboard. One feels more solid and has aged gracefully with use, the scratches are almost absorbed into the worn smooth metal surface, and it remains a grayish stainless steel colour. The second, bought at a discount store, has taken a distinct yellow tinge and is displaying tarnish, its surface seeming artificially glossy.

I understand now that there are different grades of stainless steel and the quality will affect how it wears and what toxins it may pass on to to food or liquids contained in it. How will this quality affect my choice of a stainless steel drink bottle? There are important features to think about when choosing a reusable stainless steel bottle

Stainless steel is always manufactured using chromium, because it is what makes steel “stainless”. Other elements are also added including nickel, nitrogen and molybdenum. These elements can leech into liquids, so it is very important that the bottle is made from high quality, 18/8 food-grade stainless steel – but also that you trust the manufacturer is telling the truth when they state what the bottle is made from. Some will claim to make the bottle from the thinnest and cheapest stainless steel they can in order to cut manufacturing costs and hence pump up profits.

Other features are also important:

  • Are the lids made from a BPA free plastic?
  • Can you see sharp corners or joins inside where dirt and bacteria can build up?
  • Is the thread around the screw top easily cleaned?
  • Will the lid leak and can you buy a replacement lid without buying a whole new bottle?
  • Does the manufacturer provide a guarantee?

Consider who the manufacturer is. Do they have a long history of quality, who are the real people behind the company and what is their story? In 2004, Klean Kanteen was the first company to make a water bottle from stainless steel. They have continued to lead the way with innovative stainless steel products. Another leading sports hydration company making high quality stainless steel bottles is Nathan, using a clever straw drinking mechanism. Perhaps the grandparent of all stainless steel is Thermos, whose name has become synonymous with insulated bottles for hot water. Many of us grew up taking “the thermos” on a picnic.

From an environmental point of view, is a stainless steel bottle more eco friendly than a plastic bottle? A Life Cycle assessment study published in the New York Times in 2009, considered the environmental and health impact of stainless steel bottle from the extraction and processing of its ingredients, to its manufacture, distribution, use and final disposal. It found that if your stainless steel bottle takes the place of 50 plastic bottles, the climate is better off.

From a human point of view, who made the bottle and was that person treated fairly and compensated for their time. This is the hardest criteria to judge because few of us can actually visit the factories in China where most of the bottles are made. We can at least always go to the manufacturer’s website and ensure they have published a statement about their factory and worker conditions. Again, as with most things in life, we have to make a judgement call on whether we trust the company and what they are saying.

Written by Tracey Bailey, Founder of Biome eco friendly retail stores.

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Cavoodle – You bet !

Last year we bought a Labradoodle. He’s a fabulous beast. He’s even got his photo on Wikipedia, just search for Labradoodle.

My wife and I are considering buying another dog, something smaller. Maybe a Cavoodle?

I’ve done a search on cavoodle puppies for sale. There’s a few sites. They are so cute. Not cheap though.

I guess the next search I will be doing is dog grooming sydney. I expect they will need a clip ever few months. I can’t wait.

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  • An Hacker there was, one of the finest sort
    Who controlled the system; graphics was his sport.
    A manly man, to be a wizard able;
    Many a protected file he had sitting on his table.
    His console, when he typed, a man might hear
    Clicking and feeping wind as clear,
    Aye, and as loud as does the machine room bell
    Where my lord Hacker was Prior of the cell.
    The Rule of good St Savage or St Doeppnor
    As old and strict he tended to ignore;
    He let go by the things of yesterday
    And took the modern world's more spacious way.
    He did not rate that text as a plucked hen
    Which says that Hackers are not holy men.
    And that a hacker underworked is a mere
    Fish out of water, flapping on the pier.
    That is to say, a hacker out of his cloister.
    That was a text he held not worth an oyster.
    And I agreed and said his views were sound;
    Was he to study till his head wend round
    Poring over books in the cloisters? Must he toil
    As Andy bade and till the very soil?
    Was he to leave the world upon the shelf?
    Let Andy have his labor to himself!
                    -- Chaucer
                    [well, almost. Ed.]
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