Everybody likes the beaches in Miami , but not everybody likes the noise and party ambience in some areas like South Beach. One good alternative is 30 minutes north at Hollywood beach where real estate prices in this area are more interesting. This place has a very long boardwalk full of restaurants and little hotels. This area is not yet invaded by the high buildings like Sunny Isles so it is like a little town neighborhood. If you choose to stay in this wonderful place for your vacations, you can try the Caribbean Resort by the Ocean. Check this pictures:
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After so many years living in France, finding good bread in Miami can be traumatic and frustrating. Hopefully I survived and later we discovered places like Fresh Market, Whole Foods and even Costco where it is possible to find a good classic french bread. If you don't have those stores nearby you can solve this problem with your hands. I'll tell you how: Remember: If you can make toast, you can make French bread ! Four basic things: flour, salt, a packet of yeast and warm water. Add the warm water {about 110-115 degrees} into the bowl of your stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast over top and watch it bloom. While that’s all goin’ on above, add the salt to the flour. And give it a quick whisk. Now dump the flour into the yeasty water. Stir by spatula… Just to get the flour incorporated. Insert the dough hook and mix until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl… about 4-5 minutes. If you find it’s still a little too sticky… add a smidgen more of flour. Add a little olive oil to bowl. Drop in the dough and toss it around to coat and then use the dough to coat the entire bowl. Set the covered bowl in a warm place to rise for about an hour. By now it should have doubled in size. Press or “punch” it down to deflate it. Form it into a classic “French loaf-y” shape. You can make a few slits on the top with a knife for presentation purposes Place it in a COOL oven And then set the temp to preheat at 375 degrees. As the temp slowly climbs, the bread will slowly rise {and bake of course!}. Voilà !
Easy Homemade French Bread Yield: 1 loaf Ingredients: 2-1/2 cups All Purpose Flour 1 packet Rapid Rise Yeast 3/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt 1 cup Warm Water Olive Oil, for greasing Directions: In the bowl of your stand mixer pour warm water {110-115 degrees} and sprinkle in one packet of rapid rise yeast. Let the yeast bloom for 5 minutes. Grease a large bowl with olive oil. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl measure and mix the flour with the kosher salt. Stir the flour into the yeast-water until just combined. Using a dough hook, mix until the dough is smooth and tacky. Form the dough in to a ball and toss it in the oiled bowl. Roll the dough to coat with oil. Place a damp towel over top and place the bowl in a warm area to rise, double in size. Punch down, form into a long log and slide into an cool, un-preheated oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees {while the loaf is in the oven} and set the timer for 30-35 minutes CanadaFest will take place on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, named one of America's top ten nostalgic promenades by USA Today and one of America’s best beach boardwalks by Travel + Leisure. For the 150 000 visitors who attend this event every year, this is the occasion to applause many artists from Quebec (singers Richard Huet and Robert Doyon will again take care of the animation) and to visit the 100 merchants that will be in their kiosks providing the sites, sounds, gastronomy, and the general ambiance of this festival. CanadaFest is proud to be The Biggest French festival in the United States and aims to keep it that way.
CanadaFest is a non profit organization that aims to entertain the residents and tourists of Florida, in the hopes of providing cultural diversity to the residents of Florida by showing the French Canadian culture. It also aims to make known of the multitude of products offered to the French Canadians in this region. CanadaFest is graciously brought to you by the French newspaper ‘Le Soleil de la Floride’, Le Mouvement Desjardins, RBC Bank, The Canadian Consulate of Miami, SecuriGlobe and many other important sponsors that can be found at the festival. Almost all of us want to secure ourselves and loved ones when caught in a bad situation. Everyone is capable of securing himself, but in doubt to perform a Texas Criminal Records search. This record is ready to use. Everyone can swiftly conduct a study on someone who has a questionable behaviour in the neighbourhood. Some of the details that are included in this account are the personal facts of the person and other information regarding the criminal case that he’s associated with.
During the old times, people would need to go to the right authorities or to the police station to get a coy of this document. Nonetheless, these particular offices have millions of files saved in their libraries. So, if you would search through the government, you have to deal with those numerous files to find the specific data that you need. Typically, it requires long period of waiting before the final results are obtained. This time, this information is already broadcasted to specific sites that are being managed by the state government. Due to this, it has become more convenient for everyone to conduct their own search even when they are at home or at work. This is indeed a favourable way of searching since you will have all the privacy that you need. In the state of Texas, the Crime Records Service Bureau has come up with appropriate plan of action and services that guard their citizens. They conduct background check on firearm purchases, pre-employment investigation for anyone who will work for children, elderly and disabled. They also include homeland security searches and investigations. The Department of Public Safety holds the record of the criminal history in this particular state. Security is the main objective why the file is being obtained these days. When you go outside your house, it is expected that you meet people who aren’t familiar to you. Unfortunately, some of them may be harmful in any way. That’s why, in order for you not to be a victim of any dangerous acts, it would be best to conduct a personal background check to know if that person is safe or harmful. Numerous employers are doing their background check as well to make sure that they can hire applicants who do not have any negative files. There are many good reasons to search for Criminal Records. Nowadays, danger is just around the corner and for sure you want to put your loved ones’ life and yourself to a harmonious environment. Luckily, the process is no longer difficult with the help of the Internet. You can choose either the free-of-charge provider or the fee-based one to assist you with the process. However, paid providers are incomparable since they guarantee high-quality results with just an affordable fee. by: Ben Dave Have you recently been involved in an accident? Regrettably, there are some accidents that are unavoidable, that are simply bad luck or the consequence of inescapable circumstances - bad weather is a common factor in many of these inevitable accidents. What happens, however, if the accident could have been avoided?
Unfortunately, there are many such situations that could have easily unfolded differently had proper care and caution been exercised. Negligence, carelessness and sheer reckless behavior can sadly all contribute to the unwitting and the undeserving suffering catastrophic injury. For victims, and the families of victims, following such an accident, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the situation and become confused. Not only will you be suffering with the physical pain of an injury, but you will likely also be dealing with emotional trauma and the financial burden that can come from medical bills, lost wages, and in wrongful death cases, the expense of a funeral. It is therefore extremely important that every step is taken to look into filing a personal injury claim. By pursuing such a case, the liable parties can be held responsible for their fault in the accident. While an important process, this is not always an extremely simple one. Especially for someone who has never dealt with the process before, it can be easy to fall into common mistakes. Common mistakes regarding personal injury claims include a failure to document the accident scene, failing to seek medical attention, giving statements without legal assistance on your side, applying for damages that have not comprehensively been outlined in medical records or outright refusing to follow through with the treatment advised by a medical professional. While all of these are mistakes that should be avoided at all costs to give you the best chance of success in your injury claim, there is one that is even more dangerous. One of the largest mistakes commonly made, and the one can cause the most damage to your plight, is making the decision that you do not need professional legal representation. While it could be tempting to deal with a personal injury claim on your own, dealing with insurance companies without legal aid can be difficult and in many cases, outright impossible. Your claim could be denied, delayed or settled for a much lower numeric value than you actually require. Having a lawyer is an easy way in which you can fight to defend your rights. Insurance companies are much more willing to take you seriously if they see you are being represented by a heavyweight and could be more open for settlement. If they, however, are not – you will still have the support of a knowledgeable litigator who will be willing to fight for your rights in a courtroom setting. Black molds are known to bring serious health problems in human beings. Though this type of fungus is essential for earth's ecosystem, it is not at all good for our health. You must stop this indoor toxin from growing, as it may result in serious health issues.
Black mold gets nutrition from dead organic materials by decomposing them into simpler forms. They reproduce through spore formation. Molds grow at an alarming rate and it becomes very difficult to control them. Such mold releases mycotoxins in the air, which can be inhaled by people through breathing. Direct contact with these types of mold is another mode of entry. There are numerous health problems which are associated with the exposure to black mold. Initial symptoms of this toxic fungus are allergic reactions to cold or dust, and ignoring these early symptoms can be dangerous. Health issues due to such mold may turn out to be very serious if no action is taken against its growth. Some of the symptoms of these types of mold are stuffy and runny nose, difficulty while breathing, throat irritation and headache. There can be many other allergic reaction of mold exposure, but it is advisable that you consult a doctor to know the exact cause of the allergy. In some cases, people may feel congested as soon as they get in contact with such mold or enter an infected room. When these types of symptoms occur, you must be very careful. Skin rashes, itchiness and swelling are other common mold symptoms. People suffering from asthma may experience severe conditions in the presence of such mold. Other common mold health effects include weaker immune system, sickness, diarrhea and even death in some cases. There are many ways to get rid of black mold and some people use bleaches to kill this mold. However, bleach cannot reach every single corner of your room, where molds nest. Moreover, bleaches clean the house for the time being but fail to prevent it from future contamination. Bleach is also not good for health, which further adds to health problems. Natural black mold killer is a better option, because they are free from side effects and also prevent future mold growth efficiently. For best results, you must do regular inspection for mold growth. Before such mold invades your entire house, you must prevent its growth. You must avoid moisture retention and try maintaining good ventilation throughout the house. by: Kelsey Libby Looking for low cost health insurance quotes? Good. You are taking that most important step of shopping around for the best price. But more importantly, you undstand that it is important to have health insurance, and perhaps, even more importantly, understand that the real purpose of health insurance, as for any insurance, is protection. That is, you do not get health insurance to act as a sort of discount off the price of doctor and hospital services. The point of insurance is protection in the event of catastrophe. Yes, health insurance costs are high and continue to rise, but do not forget that the reason you are seeking health insurance quotes online--and even offline--is to insure you get the most protection (not discount) for the best (lowest) rate. Getting health insurance quotes is now extremely easy with the use of the Internet. Take advantage of online insurance quote availability to get an idea of the range of premium prices offered. Even if you don't want to buy online, you will have a better understanding of what the insurance agent is talking about, and when it comes time to put ink on the contract, you will be making a more informed decision. Remember, too, that quotes are free and come without obligation. When you look for cheap health insurance quotes, online or off, you must also consider type of health care you want and what that means in terms of how your care is delivered to you. Health insurance is a much more than a matter of co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles. When you get a health insurance quote, you are getting a quote on a certain kind of plan. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a single "best" plan. You will find that there are some plans that will serve your needs better as an individual, and plans that will be better for both you and your family's needs. Plans will vary according to what services they offer, and you will probably have to make some hard choices as to what services are most important. No plan will pay everything; there will always be out-of-pocket costs associated with your medical services, though some plans will pay more for the services you deem most important. So, health insurance quotes are really the tip of the iceberg to a very important subject. Cheap Health Insurance Quotes and the HMO, PPO, FFS/indemnity plan, and POS *HMO--An HMO is a health maintenance organization. An HMO contracts with doctors, hospitals, and other medical providers to form a sort of network. As a member of an HMO, you are required to use the providers in that network. You pay the HMO a certain amount of money per their payment arrangements in order to receive medical services. *PPO--A PPO is a preferred provider organization. A PPO is similar to an HMO in that there is a network of medical providers that you can use. However, the PPO does not require you to use that network and allows you see doctors and go to hospitals out of network. Normally, you do not need a referral to see doctors out of network. However, in that event, you do pay more for the service. That is, the amount of coverage is less. *POS--A POS is a point of service plan. A point of service plan is very much like an HMO except that POS doctors can refer you out of the network of providers to see a specialist. In a POS, you would not refer yourself, and if the plan does refer you out of the network, you do pay more for the service. *FFS--A FFS or indemnity plan, is a fee for service plan. In a fee for service, you are billed by the service. You are usually not required to use a network of providers. That means you choose which doctors, hospitals, and specialists you want to see and use. Because you make the decision about who you see and where you go, there is no need for a referral to see a doctor. The only limiting factor is whether or not the provider accepts the insurance of the fee for service plan insurance. Low Cost health insurance quotes have a lot going on behind the scenes. Seeking an online quote? Now you have a better idea of what that quote is for. When you visit an insurance agent to talk health care, be sure to look thoroughly into the options available to you. Your health insurance quote represents a package of insurance services, and it is important for you to understand the relationship between the quote and the services you may be purchasing.
by: Evan Davis Everyday you meet someone new, which later on can be your new boss or perhaps your new customer. Upon that first meeting, the person makes snap judgments about you: Are you someone trustworthy? Do you look like someone professional and credible? These judgments are often made at lightning speed, mostly in just a span of seven seconds.
In business, first impression is important. Although you can’t stop people from making snap judgments about you, you can always influence those judgments to work in your favor. You can tell them to make positive impression of you and encourage them to trust you. If you can do this effectively, you will be able to develop long lasting relationships with them. It will even result in a sale and repeat purchases if you are able to hold that impression. So, if you are attending meetings, conferences, and other business events, what’s the best way to make a good first impression? A good marketing material you can invest in is presentation folder printing. Presentation folders when designed well will give you a competitive edge against other business. They will allow you to give your customers and prospects something they can take home with them. If your folder is able to make an immediate impact to your prospects, the more they are likely to keep it, which will help them remember you. If elegantly designed, the folder will serve as a subtle marketing tool that will impress your customers and prospects. If you want to look professional and polished in front of people, it’s time you get your own presentation folder. Here are a few ideas to help you create the perfect folder to serve as your representation. - Always include your business cards. Despite what other businesses claim that smartphones and social media are the best way to exchange contact details these days, you should still never go out of your home or office without your business cards. Be sure to include them in your folder so people will have an easy way to getting your contact details. When they open your folder, the first thing they should see is your card. If designed effectively, it would be so much easier for you to convince your prospects to keep your card. - It’s important to consider the size and shape of your folder. If you want to draw attention to your folder, it would be best to invest in a big folder. You can also go for a unique shape that will add to the visual impact of your folder. Customizing the shape and size will surely stir the curiosity of your customers and prospects. Of course, this will cost you more than using a standard size and shape, but your investment would surely be worth it. - Use a different material. For instance, instead of using standard paper, you can always opt for a recycled or texture paper. You can also opt for embossing or engraving to give a different texture to your folder. - Full color printing is always a great way to brighten up your folder. Attractive colors never fail to capture attention. It would be best if you can invest in vibrant impressive colors to make your folder visually appealing. Doing something unique with your presentation folder templates will surely help make them creative and attractive. Remember that a visually appealing folder can make the difference between a sale and bankruptcy, so make sure that you folder gives you the best first impression you can ever have. by: Charen Smith Do you find it difficult to make a choice regarding security products. If you have a hard time picking out the best products for security for yourself, use the information in this article to narrow down your selection.
There are a lot of home security products that are available for you to use. They can be either wireless or hard wired, optional or required, or simple or complex. It can be difficult to determine which of the security products will work best for your needs. When you want home security it is best to stick with the basic home security products. Here are a few of the basic home security products for you to consider. 1. The control panel - This is one of the most important products for security available. This is the heart of the whole system. Without this component your security system will not work at all. 2. Keypad - This is how you will interact with your security system. You will use this to activate and deactivate the system. This is also where any messages are displayed for you. For example, if there is a breach in the security or your system is malfunctioning there will be a message displayed to let you know. The keypad will also display the current status for your system. 3. Access Control Sensors - These are critical to the function of a security system. The sensors will detect if a door or window has been tampered with while the system is on. If these sensors are triggered the alarm will sound immediately or on a delay. The delay is added to the sensors so that the homeowner will have time to shut if off if they are the ones that set it off when they got home. 4. An audible or visible alarm - these home security products can be used separately or used together. These are important because they will alert you and your neighbors if there is an intruder trying to break in. These will most of the time scare away the burglar before they get inside your home. All of these products for security are necessary for an alarm system that will keep your family safe when at home. Don't just buy the first system you find. Take your time choosing the security products and make your decision wisely so that you and your family will be protected with the right system. • Don’t respond to an email from someone you don’t know, not even to “unsubscribe” from an email list that sends you unwanted information. It only confirms that your email address is a good target.
• Don’t download any email images that weren’t initially displayed by your email program. That also confirms that your email address is available to spam. • Don’t sign up for any online service that says it will remove your name from spam lists. Chances are, the site is run or monitored by spammers. • Don’t respond to attention-grabbing emails, such as a “delivery failure message” for an email you didn’t send, or a message that says you requested something that you didn’t. They’re just bait. • Don’t let an automatic email response go to everybody. When on vacation, set your email to respond with an “I’m-not-here” message only to emails from people already in your contacts list. Otherwise the automatic response may confirm your email address to spammers. • Don’t be fooled by phishing emails that urge you to use an email link to a website where you can correct or confirm something about your email, bank account, credit cards or other personal material. These people are trying to steal your personal information. • Don’t participate in online contests that offer cash prizes or free trips in exchange for your email address. This is a bit like giving out your street address and telephone number whenever you buy a lottery ticket, something most people would never do. • Don’t use your main email address in online forums. Spammers scan these forums with programs called “Web crawlers” that copy email addresses (typically they copy anything that contains the “@” symbol.) Protect yourself by adding phony details to your email address, such as inserting the phrase “delete(UNDERSCORE)this” in the middle of the address. You won’t fool any people, but you might trick an automated Web crawler. A report by Ohio State University sociology professor Zhenchao Qian for the
US2010 Project shows that the number of young U.S. adults between the ages of 20 and 34 living with their parents rose to 24 percent during the recent recession in 2007-2009. That’s an increase from 17 percent in 1980. The jump was even bigger – to 43 percent from 32 percent – among those younger than 25. The trend can be attributed to a 12 percent unemployment rate among young adults, high student debt levels, delayed marriage and divorce. While the percentage of young adults with graduate degrees who live with their parents held steady at 8 percent, the report indicates a gain among young adults with only a high school diploma from 29 percent in 2009 to 18 percent in 1980. While some young adults live with their parents for financial reasons, Sally Koslow, author of “Slouching Toward Adulthood: Observations From the Not-So-Empty Nest,” says lifestyle reasons also play a role. “They don’t have to pay and have access to a full refrigerator,” she says. Qian found that men are more likely than women to live with their parents, and that the metro areas with the highest percentage of young adults living with their parents were Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn. (34 percent), New York (30 percent) and Los Angeles (28 percent). Additionally, non-Hispanic whites were less likely than those of other races to live with their families, with 24 percent of Hispanics, 26 percent of Asians, 27 percent of blacks, and 30 percent of Native Americans doing so. Source USA Today Your apartment can have the appearance and feel of a well lived in home. The mindset that your apartment has to be cold and uninviting should be the farthest idea from your head. Apartment living is a great way to save money and you have the freedom of moving around as you please. Decorating your apartment cheaply will make you feel good when you entertain, and when enjoying your place on your own. Here are ideas to cheaply decorate and furnish your apartment and to make it the best it can be.
SALES: Yard, garage, and discount stores are the best place to find décor items for cheap! Furniture, wall décor, and storage items don’t need to be bought brand new. You can find beds and couches and spruce them up with mattress covers and slip covers. ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS: Websites like Craigslist, Backpages, and other free online classifieds are great resource for finding décor. Often time’s people are moving out of their homes and need to get rid of items fast and cheaply. Estate sales are also published in online classifieds as well. Estate sales are trying to sell the belongings of a deceased person. They can also be from individuals who can’t financially afford their belongings. Take advantage of these because the items may be hard to find bargains! DO IT YOURSELF: Believe it or not, you and some friends may be able to assemble anything you put your mind to. Do it yourself tables, chairs, and entertainment centers can save you money. Stores like Ikea have made their entire business centered around merchandise that you can assemble yourself. Ikea has décor and storage ideas for every budget, and every assembly skill level. LOFT BEDS: Loft beds are a cheap way to accommodate several people in a small space. Loft beds are reminiscent of bunk beds, which take advantage of vertical space. Loft beds can be bought at furniture stores, garage sales, or check college dorm and apartment bulletin boards for quick sales. Even if you don’t have a lot of people in your apartment, loft beds can house a bed on top and a desk area beneath to save valuable space in your bedroom. DOLLAR STORES: These stores have come a long way from when they only sold car fresheners and cheap soap! Try to find dollar stores that offer home décor, cleaning products, storage items, kitchen utensils, etc… You may be pleasantly surprised to see that you can decorate and have all your essentials for your apartment for a small amount of money. ADD COLOR: Bring color into your apartment with bed and bath accessories that can change the atmosphere instantly! Coordinating bed linen, curtains, and an area rug can make your drab space look pulled together with minimum effort and cost. Matching shower curtain, towels, and bath rugs will make you feel and look good in your bathroom. COLLECTIBLES: Do you collect movie posters or have a collection of vintage Coke bottles? Why not use them as décor in your apartment? Décor doesn’t have to be purchased. Use your collections to display them on walls, in shadow boxes, or on a shelf to bring instant personalized décor to your apartment. You will be surprised how collections can be a clever focal point for a room. The amount of money you spend in your apartment can be minimal when armed with resources to find quality items. Remember, there is always someone moving in and out of apartments and homes. Take advantage of these resources, and do the same when you move out of your apartment. Source freshome.com Once we set foot on an airplane, we essentially become baggage. We can't do anything to reduce the length of the flight, eliminate the bumpiness or render our seats any more comfortable. Rapid recovery from a plane flight does rest in our hands, however, both in the way we approach the flight itself and the steps we take once we land. Plan carefully, and your jet lag will vanish rapidly; ignore the effects of the flight on your body and it may take days to reset your internal clock.
Step 1 Schedule meetings at your destination based on the time zone from which you are departing. If you live on the West Coast and have a meeting in New York, set the meeting for 1:00 p.m., which would be 10:00 a.m. according to your internal clock. This allows you to stay focused and remain at your best during such meetings, especially if you're taking a short trip with a rapid turnaround. Step 2 Drink lots of water during your flight. Airplane cabins are extremely dry and dehydration makes it tougher to recover. If you're not sure you can get water on the plane, purchase some at the airport after you go through security; you can't bring liquids in large amounts through the security checkpoint, but you can purchase them afterward. Continue drinking water once you reach your destination, and stay away from alcohol or caffeine on the plane; both are diuretics, which further dry you out. Step 3 Gauge your arrival time and plan to either sleep or stay awake on the plane accordingly. If you arrive in the later half of the day (late afternoon or evening), then stay awake on the plane; you'll be tired and want to sleep when you land. If you land in the morning or early part of the day, try to sleep on the plane so you'll be refreshed when you arrive. Step 4 Exercise on the plane, even if it's just a little bit. Get up and stretch periodically, and walk up and down the aisles. If you can't get out of your seat, then perform small stretching exercises centered around your legs and feet. If you have a stopover, see if you can get off the plane, then walk or perform some basic exercises in the terminal. It keeps your blood flowing and prevents aches, which can lengthen your recovery time from the flight. Step 5 Caffeinate after you land if you arrive in the morning, and avoid napping in the day if you can help it. Coffee, tea or caffeinated soda will keep you alert and awake until the evening, when you can engage in your normal sleep cycle. Conversely, stay away from caffeine if you land in the evening; it disrupts your normal sleep patterns. Step 6 Exercise in the morning after you land, especially if you can do so outdoors in the sunshine or in a brightly lit gym. The lights and activity help your body naturally reset its internal clock, speeding your recovery. If you have trouble getting up, set an alarm clock to help you. Food poisoning is usually mild, and most people get better within a week. But sometimes it can be more severe, even deadly, so it’s important to take the risks seriously. Children, older people and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning. “The safest option is to cook food indoors using your oven,” says a spokesperson from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). “You can then put the cooked food outside on the barbecue for flavour.” This can be an easier option if you’re cooking for a lot of people at the same time.
If cooking only on the barbecue, the two main risk factors are:
Cooking meat on a barbecue When you’re cooking any kind of meat on a barbecue, such as poultry (chicken or turkey), pork, steak, burgers or sausages, make sure:
Some meat, such as steaks and joints of beef or lamb, can be served rare (not cooked in the middle) as long as the outside has been properly cooked. This will kill any bacteria that might be on the outside of the meat. However, food made from minced meat, such as sausages and burgers, must be cooked thoroughly all the way through. Raw meat Germs from raw meat can move easily onto your hands and then anything else you touch, including food that is cooked and ready to eat. This is called cross-contamination. Cross-contamination can happen if raw meat touches anything (including plates, cutlery, tongs and chopping boards) that then comes into contact with other food. Some easy steps to help prevent cross-contamination are:
Make sure you keep the following foods cool:
Fire safety Make sure your barbecue is steady on a level surface, away from plants and trees. The Fire Service advises covering the bottom of your barbecue with coal to a depth of no more than 5cm (2in). Use only recognised firelighters or starter fuel, and then only on cold coals. Never use petrol on a barbecue. Here’s more information on why you shouldn’t buy those seven things used, plus more than a dozen others…
1. Cribs Cribs – especially the drop-side kind – are frequently on recall lists, and the reasons why are pretty terrifying. For example, in April, Nan Far Woodworking recalled their drop-side cribs for repair. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission had this to say about it: The cribs’ drop sides can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear. So how do you know if that crib you’re eyeing on Craigslist hasn’t been recalled? You could check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s list of crib recalls, but you don’t know if the crib was sent back for repairs or not. You’d just have to take the seller’s word for it. It’s better to play it safe and buy a new crib. 2. Car seats The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says car seats can be safely reused after minor crashes – if the air bags didn’t deploy, no one was injured, and the car drove away. But it recommends car seats be replaced after moderate crashes. So how do you tell the difference between a car seat in a minor crash, one in a moderate crash, or one that wasn’t in a crash at all? You probably can’t. The damage could be internal and not visible. Don’t risk it. Buy a new one. 3. Helmets In a crash, the thick foam inside a helmet absorbs shock and protects your head. After a crash, the helmet may look fine, but it often has breaks or tears inside the foam. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends replacing a helmet after any crash – even a minor one. Otherwise, the helmet might not protect you in the next crash. 4. Laptops If you take great care of a laptop, it can last through years of heavy use – but you can’t know how someone else treats their stuff. Maybe they dropped it or spilled coffee on it. The laptop could work great at first, but break down after you take it home. I just paid $119.99 to replace the hard drive in my laptop – and it was working great until it wasn’t. Had I sold the laptop to someone else, they wouldn’t have known about the failing hard drive. 5. Video cameras The same goes for video cameras. You may not see any visible damage, but it could have been dropped, exposed to water, or otherwise mistreated. Video cameras are costly to repair, so it isn’t worth buying one used. 6. Mattresses A used mattress can come with a lot of extras you don’t want – dead skin cells, bacteria, hair, and every other gross thing you could imagine. It might also have bed bugs. The bugs are such a growing problem that Terminix has released a Top 15 Cities for Bed Bug Infestation list. Bed bugs live off human blood, leave itchy bite marks, and can cause skin infections. And they multiply. According to Orkin: Females can deposit one to five eggs a day, and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in a lifetime. Under normal room temperatures and with an adequate food supply, they can live over 300 days. Bring a bed bug-infested mattress into your house, and you’ll pay a hefty fee to an exterminator. 7. Shoes I believe you need a good mattress and a good pair of shoes – since you’re usually in one or the other. The problem is, those used shoes may have been great for the original owner, but they’ve conformed to his or her feet. They might not be great for you. Used shoes that don’t fit just right can lead to feet or leg pain and back problems. 8. Makeup I see makeup at almost every garage sale I go to, but I’d never buy any. Cosmetic brushes and wands come into contact with skin and can’t be cleaned very well. That barely used tube of lipstick? It might be hosting illness-causing bacteria. Considering drug stores and beauty shops regularly run makeup sales, risking your health isn’t worth the savings. 9. Plasma and HDTVs Old tube-style TVs held up a lot better than modern flat-screens. While MSNBC says TVs cost an average of $500 to repair, the repair costs run much higher for plasma screens and for more complicated issues. Even at the lower end, it may be more cost-effective to buy a new TV under warranty than a used one. 10. Hats The inside of that hat could be brimming with someone else’s dead skin, hair, or worse – lice. Head lice feed on blood and cause itchy and painful reactions in the scalp. The nearly invisible bugs also travel quickly onto other people and your stuff. Getting rid of lice requires two treatments of pesticides on everyone in the household. Then you’ll have to clean your bedding, linens, clothes, mattresses, and any other soft fabric in the house. The treatment can take hours or days of hard work – all because you bought a cheap hat. 11. Swimsuits Swimsuits hug the body. The close contact can transmit bacteria and other diseases – which may transfer to you when you wear the suit. Swimsuits are also fragile. If the washing instructions aren’t followed, the straps might rip or the swimsuit might lose its shape. So you could be buying something that may fall apart after only a few uses. 12. Vacuums Vacuums take a lot of wear and tear. (This morning I slammed mine into the wall three times trying to reach some dog hair in the corner.) That can lead to costly repairs. Considering you can buy a new vacuum for under $100, it isn’t worth the risk to buy a used one. 13. Tires Edmunds.com warns that thin tread isn’t the only safety hazard for tires – old and used tires can pose a safety risk. As tires age, they lose elasticity. As a result, the tread could separate from the tire, causing an accident. Even if the tire isn’t that old, it could have been treated poorly. Bottom line – you can’t tell a tire’s condition from the tread alone, so don’t buy a used one just because it looks good. 14. Software Software comes with a product code, and most software manufacturers put a limit on the number of times you can reload it. When you buy software used, you have no way of knowing how many times the product code has been used. For example, if the code has a three-time limit and the original owner used it twice, you’ll only be able to load the software onto one more computer before it’s no longer good. 15. DVD players DVD players often cost more to repair than replace. For example, a friend of mine took her DVD player to a repair shop because the DVDs wouldn’t load. The repair shop told her she’d need a new DVD drive tray. It would’ve cost $55 for the repair. She bought a new one for less. 16. Stuffed animals Children love to stick stuffed animals into their mouths, dirt, and gooey substances. Since the stuffed animal has a fabric surface, bacteria and dirt are absorbed in the fibers. Do you really want your child putting that teddy bear in his mouth if you don’t know where it’s been? 17. Halogen lamps Those old halogen lamps may look cool, but they’re a fire hazard. Anne Ducey, the marketing coordinator for Seattle Light, told the The Seattle Times that halogen lamps have been linked to at least 350 fires, $2 million in property damage, 114 injuries, and 29 deaths across the United States. Instead of buying that retro-looking halogen lamp at a thrift store, look for new CFL or LED lamps – they’re safer and cheaper to use. 18. Blenders Blenders are subject to loads of abuse. (I’ve broken two myself trying to force-feed frozen strawberries and ice through the blades.) Not to mention most blenders have not-always-invisible old bits of food stuck to the underside of the blades and in the blending bowl. Since you can buy a new blender pretty cheap – I just paid $25 for one at Target – the savings isn’t worth it for used ones. 19. Costume jewelry Children and adult’s costume jewelry can contain poisonous substances like nickel, cadmium, and lead. The problem was so prevalent that testing and subsequent legal action by the Center for Environmental Health in 2004 led to the recall of more than 150 million pieces of jewelry for kids. While lead testing is stricter now for new products, the used costume pieces you’re buying may have lead or other chemicals. 20. Pet food and treats A recent outbreak of pet food recalls has me worried – after all, salmonella causes serious health problems for pets that eat recalled food. So why would I buy used stuff? Even if the food hasn’t been recalled, open bags of dog food and treats can contain bugs and bug eggs. Where I live, it’s not uncommon for pet food to become infested with roaches. The possibility of food poisoning and bugs isn’t worth the potential savings. Source Money Talks news |
AuthorJose E. Guzman C. Archives
August 2015
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