Cited: The Wall Street Journal

It is going to be more difficult for vehicles to receive top grades on their respective safety tests thanks to the government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). As a safety-research arm of the insurance industry, IIHS says that 2010 vehicle models will have to be better to get its “top safety pick” award if it does not get a good rating on the new test of roof strength. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also creating a more vigorous crash testing system for 2011 models starting next year. This new safety rating system involves smashing vehicles in the polls and new overall safety rating scores.

The bottom line: Fewer vehicles are likely to get five-star ratings in the NHTSA’s one-to-five-star scoring system, and fewer vehicles are going to get the Insurance Institute’s top safety pick award, representatives of the NHTSA and IIHS say. In 2009, a record 84 vehicles earned the IIHS’s top endorsement.

This could be confusing for consumers, and present both engineering and communications challenges to car makers. Cars and trucks may get lower scores and fewer stamps of approval, but they won’t suddenly be less safe. Instead, the pressure will be on manufacturers to take vehicles to a higher level of safety.

Auto makers have done so well over the past two decades at figuring out how to engineer vehicles to pass safety tests that consumers now face the Lake Wobegon problem when they shop: All the cars are above average. So safety evaluators are raising the bar—the better to show consumers that there still are important differences in safety technology and engineering among the hundreds of models on the market.

Yet the Insurance Institute and the NHTSA are not instituting tougher tests in the same way or at the same pace, which could add to the challenges for consumers trying to plug safety scores into their new-vehicle buying decisions.

The IIHS’s latest focus is on roof strength. In its newest round of testing, released last week, the institute rated six mini-cars for their ability to withstand a test designed to simulate the roof-crushing impact of a rollover accident. The cars tested—the Chevy Aveo, Smart Fortwo, Honda Fit, Mini Cooper, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris—are the kind of highly fuel-efficient cars the government’s just-concluded “cash for clunkers” program encouraged consumers to buy.

Tops in the small-car roof-crush test was the Smart Fortwo—a car the IIHS slammed in April when it was making a different point about how tiny cars fare poorly in head-on crashes with larger ones. But if a Fortwo flips on its roof, the Insurance Institute test predicts it will do a good job protecting the occupants, because it can withstand 5.4 times the car’s weight.

The worst performer was General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Aveo, a Korean-made car that supported 3.09 times its own weight in the crush test—double the current federal standard. The Aveo’s score was also a touch better than the new federal standard of three times the vehicle weight that phases in starting in 2012.

“One test alone doesn’t determine whether a vehicle is safe,” says GM spokeswoman Janine Fruehan.

The IIHS doesn’t rely one test for its top safety pick awards, but it is making a point with its new roof-crush requirement. Its president, Adrian Lund, said in a statement that the government’s “leisurely phase-in of the new standard means roofs won’t have to get stronger right away, so we plan to continue rating vehicle roof strength for the foreseeable future. We want to reward manufacturers who are ahead of their competition when it comes to providing protection in rollover crashes.”

The government’s decision to phase in the new standard between 2012 and 2016 responds to pleas from the auto industry, which, besides being battered and bruised financially, always wants at least one product cycle to accomplish any regulatory change that involves the structure of a vehicle.

The same desire not to crush the industry with regulatory demands in the middle of a financial crisis led the NHTSA to delay until 2011 from 2010 the launch of its new more-rigorous crash tests. But the 2011 model year is right around the corner, given the lead time auto makers need to redesign vehicles and conduct their own testing.

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My Take: I like this little car! It is so cute! The Fortwo is a fantastic car for single people and it is economical. Of course, you have to give up the crowd when going to a party, but it is worth it. I now if they could just make a four seater that was just as economical they would really have a car that everyone would want. Well, almost everyone.

Since it is not a gas-guzzler, people will begin to travel more. This will improve tourism around the country and help the economy. The question is, how often will it break down? If the engine, transmission and framework constructed well, it should not break down very often. This can make a difference to a single person financially.

It is like choosing a doctor or dentist, once you find a dentist that you like; you do not want to change. Even if that dentist were a cosmetic dentist, you would not want to change as long as they gave you what you wanted.

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Are Lockpicks Legal?

In the United States, laws concerning possession of lockpicks vary from state to state. Generally, possession and use of lock picks is considered equivalent to the possession of burglary tools and is generally prosecuted as a felony under the category of possession of burglary tools or similar statutes. Lock picking is usually done by a locksmith who uses a lockpick, which is a small instrument, typically of metal, used to simulate the interaction of a key in a lock. Coupled with a tension wrench, it is used to copy the action of a key inside a lock.

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Cited: Business Wire

A program called “Marketing Your Business: Five Strategies to Position Your Company in a Challenging Market” featuring Carolyn Sawyer, Founder and Chief Creative Strategist of the Tom Sawyer Company will be live on June 30 at 12 PM (CT), a hosted by The Principal Women in Business Teleclass Series complimentary teleclass.

“Now, more than ever, clients seek results-focused partners and that’s where opportunity emerges,” said Michelle Swanson, assistant director, Advertising, The Principal. “Having started her company from scratch and working with national brands, coupled with leading a successful broadcast career, Carolyn knows the meaning of perseverance especially in a tough market. She’ll inspire our listeners with her story and proven approaches to turn today’s market into opportunity.”

Held on “Teleclass Tuesdays,” the series of four complimentary teleclasses are squarely focused on bringing the best leaders, ideas and tools to women business owners to navigate the recession. This second session in 2009’s program allows the audience unique interaction in a casual format with Sawyer. To take part in the program and become a member, register at www.principal.com/women.

A respected author, Sawyer wrote, “Forget the Glass Slipper, Build Your Own Castle: 10 Traits of a Million Dollar Business.” Sawyer has served as a correspondent for ABC News and as a news anchor for Lifetime Television. She is an active member of the Women’s President’s Organization (WPO,) an association for multi-million dollar business owners, and is a founding member of the Coalition of 100 Black Women-Boston Chapter.

Those looking for invitations or announcements . . . Life has so many special occasions and you make each one truly special. From graduations to first communions, from anniversaries to Baptisms, wedding announcements to birth announcements you can find unique invitations for every occasion you want to celebrate. That includes the most popular in invitations.  While bridal showers are great fun, they also take a lot of time to coordinate. When you order professionally printed bridal shower invitations, you will save time with a quick and easy ordering system. You can save even more time and money when you order your marriage announcements.

The teleclass is provided by the Principal Financial Group. It features nationally recognized business leaders and thinkers from bestselling author and “Today” show financial contributor Jean Chatzky to chocolate visionary and multi-million dollar business owner Katrina Markoff. Class summaries and audio of all past programs are available for download at www.principal.com/women. The program’s moderator is Pamela Mitchell, Founder of The Reinvention Institute and Inc. Women in Business Contributor.

The Principal Financial Group (The Principal) is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $236.6 billion in assets under management and serves some 18.8 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

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My Take: I think it is always a good idea to keep learning when you own a business. Programs like this allow business owners to improve themselves, which improves their business. They can even do it from the comfort of their own home.

Many large corporations offer their employees and executives educational opportunities within the company and they even will pay them to attend these opportunities. However, a small business owner may not have the opportunity to take advantage of additional education because he or she is too busy running their business. This type of program gives that small business owner the opportunity to increase their knowledge and improve their business without taking precious time away from that business.

Small business owners need more programs like this, especially if they are free. I believe it would help the economy more if small businesses could grow without additional expense. Sometimes, that additional expense could be a problem for small business owner.

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Special Occasions

For a special occasion like a baby, you want adorable baby shower invitations that truly express how much you care. You will be thrilled at the wide selection of baby shower invitations from which you can choose. Ask for a free proof to ensure it is printed exactly the way you want for your invitations.  Any birthday party is a blast, but those that fall on landmark years are especially fun. Spend your time tending to the details, and let someone create memorable birthday party invitations for your special event. You can even find coordinating party supplies to go with the invitations. Your friends and the birthday boy or girl will be impressed!

Simpler Times

In a much simpler time, children grew up in a small towns or neighborhoods. They experienced a childhood lifted straight from the pages of a Norman Rockwell book. They rode bikes to baseball practice, fished in the local river for whatever would bite, and delivered newspapers each afternoon through rain, sleet, or snow.  From the art of Bob Byerley, featuring nostalgic paintings of children building tree forts or soapbox cars, to replica tin signs and wooden airplane propellers, you can bring that same smile to every person who remembers something from their childhood.

Had an Accident?

A traffic collision or car accident is when a road vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or geographical or architectural obstacle. Traffic collisions can result in injury, property damage, and death. Many factors contribute to an accident including driver behavior, speed, driver impairment and even road design. Let us not forget that even a well-designed, well-maintained vehicle with good brakes and tires can still be involved in an accident. Car collisions will usually carry legal consequences in proportion to the severity of the crash. This means that you should contact a Portland OR personal injury attorney if you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Epoxy and Tires

Keep epoxy and your hot car tires do not mix well! Most epoxies react to your hot tires during the curing process. That means that your new garage flooring is going to come up quickly because the heat from your tires make epoxy softens, then this color, bubble, appeal or even stick to your tire. Not only that, but your hot tires are extremely abrasive and wear the high gloss finish off most epoxies that new garage floor in no time at all. In addition, did you know that all solids based epoxies are not UV stable and need a topcoat of urethane based topcoat to prevent it from yellowing from sun exposure?

Professional Transcription

These New York transcription services offer digital transcription services in several file formats including audio CDs and DVDs. They can transcribe from standard tape cassettes and microcassettes. They can also digitize almost any kind of analog format. This New York transcription company offers professional recording services which produces crystal-clear and quickly produced transcripts. For those who do their own recordings, they offer complimentary recording consultations. With their on-site technical experts, they can also troubleshoot your media problems for seamless, accurate and on-time transcriptions. With 18 years experience of providing quality services to businesses and individuals in the New York area, you can be assured of expert quality.

Types of Hosting Services

Anyone can find various kinds of web hosting services on the market. They are broadly divided. There is free hosting, shared hosting and reseller hosting. Web hosting reviews shows that free hosting is the least expensive and very restricted on services and space. Shared hosting is where a website is placed with several other sites on a centralized server. Top web hosting services can be reseller hosting that provides ample amount of bandwidth and space to personal or e-businesses and has more control over their website. However, the best and usually the most expensive are the dedicated hosting and virtual private servers or the user gets their own server with few restrictions.

Creating the perfect office can be a daunting task, but it can be fun as well. There are so many different office products that you can include in your office and they will depend on what type of business you have. However, regardless of what type of business you have, there are some items that you need to consider when purchasing office supplies.

Office furniture is a necessity for any office! What type of furniture you purchase for your office will depend on your budget and how much time you will be spending it. You definitely will want a comfortable chair to sit at your desk. You might also consider a couch and a couple of other chairs for your clients to sit in.

A desk is a must and it goes under the category of office furniture. This should be the focus when purchasing office products because it will be a focal point. Again, it will depend on your budget and how much space you have as well as how much stuff will be stored it.

All offices need a variety of office supplies that include pens, pencils, paper, staples and staplers, rulers, scissors and paper clips and do not forget the pushpins. As time passes, you will realize what you need and what you do not need in your office.

Because of the fast pace that most businesses move at it is essential to have a computer, all-in-one printer and fax machine in your office. You need to be able to connect with your customers and they need to be able to connect with you. Of course, the computer is more important than any other items needed. A computer will keep your business on track as well as keeping all of your paperwork in order.

This item may not seem quite as important but there are many reasons why you should have a bulletin board. It can be used not only to leave messages for fellow employees or yourself, but it can help keep everybody organized in the office.

There is a variety of office products that you may need to put together a perfect office. Nevertheless, you want to start with the essentials first. Those essentials may include modular office systems instead of just a desk and chair. The best thing you can do is make yourself a list of everything you need that will fit your budget and a list of everything you want. Your want list may have to go into the drawer until the budget allows for.

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Related Resources

Screen Printing

Back in the 1960s, the hippies took the ancient art form of screen-printing and started using it as a decorating method. It did not take long before the business community started using it on their promotional products. It has grown tremendously in popularity over the ensuing years and modern technology has made it possible to reproduce almost any design. A mesh screen is chemically coated, exposed under high-intensity lights, treated to reveal the desired image, dried and put on either a manual or automatic press for each color in your design. The more elaborate your design, the more costly your promotional T-shirts will be.

What is a virtual office?

A virtual office is an off-site live communication service that allows users to reduce traditional office costs and maintain business professionalism. Frequently, the term is confused with “office business centers” or “executive suites”, which require a conventional lease whereas a true virtual office does not. The term virtual office has become synonymous with virtual assistant, who is a “lone eagle” working from home, who rarely meets with clients face-to-face. The virtual office is more than just an answering service, it can provide assistance with collective handling of letters, faxes, live chat and e-mails at one location. You get more than an answering phones service.

New York Computer Networking

One computer service can provide you with expert IT computer services. They can provide mission control critical technical support and IT consultation services that include planning, design, implementation and integration of critical systems that will help to ensure the success of your business. Not only do they focus on your IT components, server and desktop computers, they also focus on your network, stability, for referrals, software, Internet connectivity and the security of your systems. So, if you are in need of New York computer help, they can provide computer solutions and home computer security services that could resolve your problems.

Premium Frameless Whiteboards

Unlike any other dry eraser boards on the market, this whiteboard comes with the same porcelain writing surface and 50-year warranty but comes frameless. The board is laminated to a 1/2″ hardboard back and then all of the edges are painted in white giving it a very professional clean look. The unit comes with a full length concealed Z-bar hanging system which makes mounting a breeze. If you are looking for something unique, you have found it. This provides one of the best visual aid systems for schools, corporations and hospitals. Everyone will be impressed by itas well as your new display cases.

School Supplies and Furniture

One all-inclusive school furniture selection provides high-quality chairs, desks, stools, tables and workstations that keep students comfortable and focused as they listen, learn and study. Do not spend precious time comparison-shopping for different pieces of furniture on multiple websites. All your classroom furniture needs, at affordable prices, can be found at one convenient spot online. This company works with the finest manufacturers in the United States and Canada that allows them to pride themselves on offering a tremendous selection of safe, durable, reliable and sustainable school products such as kids desks. You can order quickly and easily from their online catalog.

Promotional Products

An important part of any effective marketing scheme is promoting your corporate image. One retailer has a wide righty of promotional products that can be customized to fit your specific needs for your company image including marketing, incentive or gift programs. Their promotional product lines consist of over 750,000 items and can be customized to fit your advertising campaign. They use state-of-the-art research technology to search for unique products to fit your special promotion. That includes high-end branded corporate gifts to tradeshow giveaways and employee incentive items that can only be limited by your imagination.

New Jersey IT Management

One of the many benefits of partnering with New Jersey IT services, a team of technology experts is the superior quality of maintenance and support you’ll receive. They know that your computer network’s performance is vital to your company’s success. There team of certified technicians has over 75 years of experience, offering you a comprehensive level of service that individuals simply cannot match. To keep your business productive and profitable, they offer a unique, 24×7, 365 Ultimate-Care™ support and Guardian maintenance programs, which proactively monitor your systems and deal with issues before they become problems.

You’ve just landed a new sales job, perhaps your title is assistant vice president of IT sales leads. You’ve been charged with ramping up your company’s sales numbers by, oh, let’s say 4 percent by the end of the second quarter. How do you get there?

Most sales experts today contend that there is NO better strategy for boosting leads than by getting to know who the decision makers are at the companies you want to get business from.

Sending out e-blasts; blanketing your market with viral messages and links to your organization’s Web site and “About Us” pages isn’t going to cut it. You need to know who it is that makes the decision to buy what you are selling and target your sales efforts to include those people.

In the IT business then, you want to use your contacts, the Internet, and any other resource you have available to you to obtain the most current company profiles available and create your own it org. charts to use as sales tools. These org. charts are so invaluable according to many sales training firms out there, that they are becoming a requirement by many IT service providers and ancillary companies.

Want to create customized org. charts? There are companies who can help, such as CogMag.com, and online wiki that lets you see, edit and create organization charts for companies you want to sell your IT Services to, including many of the country’s Fortune 500 org charts, such as Google, Coca-Cola, Yahoo and Microsoft.

Other companies make supporting software programs that will allow you take your org charts a step further, creating “political” overlay maps, for example, to create a snapshot of and analyze the relationships between the key decision makers.

How important are these political relationships? I’ll let Dave Stein tell you. He is the CEO and Founder of ES Research Group, Inc., and author of How Winners Sell.

Stein writes: “If you’re in a complex selling environment and your team isn’t taking the political landscape within the customers’ organizations into account when developing a strategy to win, you need help. Yesterday.”

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Other Resources

How to Screen-Print

A mesh screen is chemically coated, exposed under high-intensity lights, treated to reveal the desired image, dried and put on either a manual or automatic press for each color in your design. The appropriate color ink is then forced through the exposed portion of the screen onto the garment, followed by any additional colors called for in the design. Garments are then removed from the press and run through a curing dryer to set the ink and make the design permanent. For an additional design, the garments are returned to the press and the design is applied. The more elaborate your design, the more costly your promotional T-shirts will be.

Automation Software Testing

Do you want an intuitive, user-friendly package that is easy to use and maintain? This software with its flexible licensing, ability to implement performance testing at multiple sites around the world without having to spend a fortune on licenses is what you want. It is five times faster which allows you to do a software test in much less time or can increase your test coverage area. Greater test coverage and more frequent testing means you catch defects sooner, leaving you more time to fix problems before your software ships or goes live.

Anywhere IT Service

This technology allows New Jersey IT services to connect to desktops, laptops and certain PDAs anywhere they are located. Whether you are traveling or in the office, these certified technicians will be able to assist you no matter where you are. You can save money on your company’s IT costs instantly. After reviewing your business, analyzing your IT environment and recommending ideal solutions for you, New Jersey IT consulting will begin implementing the necessary changes to reduce your existing IT expenses. Hiring these guys as your single-source provider of comprehensive integrated IT systems, services and maintenance means you are hiring a team.

Business owners of all kinds these days have plenty of options when it comes to where they run their companies from and when.

Thanks to wireless technology, even the busiest retail merchant accounts can now be handled remotely with ease by using wireless credit card processing technology.

Cash may be “king,” but there are plenty of consumers out there who prefer to carry as little of the green stuff as possible. They are growing more reliant upon the fact that they can use their ATM debit cards and credit cards for minor purchases, ranging from a pizza to fresh organic tomatoes from their local farmer’s markets.

If you’re a retailer and you want to maximize sales opportunities, you’d be wise to invest in this technology that allows you to manage credit or debit card sales via the Internet.   There are several manufacturers of high-quality mobile credit card machines or “terminals” out there with products ranging from around $450 on up to $700.

One of the most popular versions is the Ingenico 7910. This wireless credit card processing terminal comes with a GPRS-capable wireless device built for retail merchant account credit card processing in single-terminal, outdoor locations. It’s got a long-lasting battery and backup modem to make sure you can handle a full day’s worth of transactions; a compact light-weight design for easy load in—especially handy for trade shows and other events. This one retails for $595 new.

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