Environment Hazards Of Acidity Mine Drainage

Mining regulations work to prevent toxic acid drainage.

Mining can also be a destructive force in the environment. Chemical and bacterial reactions in abandoned mines can cause the formation of toxic corrosive acids that work their way into waterways where they can destroy large areas of ecosystems. Since 1978, ecological practices have been initiated to restore mines and mining areas to their original condition. Much work is left to be done.

Acid Drainage

Mining of sulfides, coal, zinc,copper, lead,gold, silver, and uranium causes sulfuric acid to form when the elements are exposed to water, air and some forms of bacteria. The acid dissolves other minerals that are toxic to life and they become part of the drainage. The acid gets into water near mines and lowers the pH, resulting in a corrosive, toxic stew that is unable to support life. When acid drainage spreads, it can destroy large amounts of ground water, making it impotable, useless for consumption and agriculture. Wildlife habitats in areas where water is polluted with acid drainage are diminished or die off completely. Even human-built aqueducts, wells and other structures can become corroded and compromised by water contaminated with acid drainage from mines.

The Scope Of The Problem

Mining regulations are in effect to prevent new sources of acid drainage from mines being worked today. Mining, however, has been going on for hundreds of years in the United States. The Bureau of Land Management estimates there are between 100,000 and 500,000 abandoned mines in the United States. Exact figures are impossible to reach because there are many small mines that are unknown. It is further estimated that between 5 to 10 percent of abandoned mines are environmentally hazardous. While work is ongoing to clean up acid mine drainage, no one solution is applicable to all mines and problems must be solved on a case-by-case basis.

Active Clean-up Techniques

Active cleaning techniques focus on cleaning affected areas and restoring pH balances to water. These techniques require ongoing work as they do not stop the leakage from the source. Wetlands are created and species of waste-eating bacteria are introduced into the areas. Lime is used to neutralize acids and raise pH balance of the water. Using these methods involve continuing efforts which can be hampered by funding and other factors. Active treatments work best when coupled with passive treatments which stem the introduction of acids and metals into the environment.

Passive Clean-up

Passive methods involve stopping drainage at the source. Specially developed grouts are injected into some mine shafts and tunnels to stem the flow of acid drainage. Mine portals can be sealed. "Wet seals" consist of seals with pipes which allow for the collection and treatment of drainage to prevent leakage of the material. Limestone channels, leach beds, and oxic limestone drains are used to neutralize acid before allowing water to escape into the environment. Limestone fills are used to fill in pits which are then restored. Each mine presents it's own obstacles and finding the appropriate solutions is a difficult and expensive undertaking.

Rules For Possessing A Tow Company In Massachusetts

Towing companies in Massachusetts have to meet specific state requirements covering areas ranging from pricing to driver qualifications. The Massachusettes Department of Telecommunications and Energy is responsible for establishing many of the towing regulations that apply, and violating these requirements may result in fines or other civil penalties. The laws and regulations governing tow truck companies in Massachusetts can change, so talk to a Massachusetts attorney if you need advice and assistance with any tow truck company question.

Towing Rates

According to the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, towing companies are limited in the amount they can charge for the towing and transportation of motor vehicles. 220 CMR 272.00 states that a towing company can charge a maximum amount of $90 for the first five miles. After the initial five miles, a company can charge up to $3 per mile and up to $32 per manhour or fraction thereof.

Other Rates

Apart from the actual towing of the vehicles, Massachusetts tow truck companies are also limited in other fees and rates. 220 CMR 272.00 states, for example, the a tow truck company may charge a commercial motor vehicle, such as a tractor-trailer, up to $90 for the first five miles and $4.25 per mile after the first five. If the tow truck operator has to employ services outside its capabilities, such as bulldozers or special labor, it can only charge the exact amount it takes to obtain such services.

Licensed Drivers

Anyone operating a commercial tow truck in Massachusetts has to have a commercial driver's license, or CDL. According to MassDOT, if the gross vehicle weight of any combination of towed and towing vehicle exceeds 26,000 pounds, provided the vehicle being towed is greater than 10,000 pounds, the driver needs a Class A commercial driver's license. If the combined gross weight is more than 26,000 pounds and the vehicle is not in excess of 10,000 pounds, the driver needs a Class B license.

Business Formation

Like other businesses in Massachusetts, tow truck company operators have to register their business with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Tow company operators can choose from any business structure available in the state, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations. Some forms of business, such as sole proprietorships, are relatively simple to create, though they offer fewer legal protections to owners as other more complicated forms such as corporations or LLCs.

What Foreign currencies Are Called Towards The Dollar

What Currencies Are Pegged to the Dollar?

In a free market system, the value of a currency rises and falls depending on the value of what is supporting it, whether it's gold or the economic output of an economy. But even dyed-in-the-wool, arch conservatives see some wisdom in maintaining currency pegs, which link movement in one currency to movement in another.

Function

The purpose of a currency peg is to facilitate international trade and foster economic growth. Companies that do international business usually have to account for fluctuations in currency as either a cost or benefit of doing business. For example, selling products in a currency that is gaining value increases profits when converted back into the domestic currency. But the opposite is also true. Currency pegs provide consistency and reliability, often essential prerequisites to the investment of large sums.

Features

A currency peg, also known as a fixed interest rate, can be set by fiat, which is to say it is simply made illegal to exchange at any other rate. More often, however, currency pegs are accompanied by a corresponding monetary policy through open market operations with reserves of the currency to which they are pegged. If there is too much of it circulating, the law of supply and demand dictates the value of the currency will decline. The supply is too great. In response, the country exchanges reserves of the peg currency for its own, which it takes off the market. If the supply is too small, the country puts new money into circulation by buying the reserve currency.

Types

While it's feasible to peg currencies at a 1:1 ratio, this is very rare. In most cases the currency is pegged at some other ratio, usually reflecting the exchange rate at the time the peg is established or some target. It's also possible to peg a currency to a basket of currencies, which provides the stability of diversity. China, for example, altered its strict currency peg in 2005 to permit a gradual appreciation against a group of currencies.

Significance

Currency pegs are usually undertaken by small countries and those whose economies are based on exports. The dollar became the world's reserve currency after WWII because represented the largest physical gold reserves. As those reserves dwindled and currencies left the gold standard, the fact crude oil is priced primarily in U.S. dollars on most exchanges helped maintain a constant demand for dollars around the world and reaffirm the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency. Countries that primarily export oil or have direct trade with the U.S. as a major component of their GDP are the most likely to have a U.S. dollar peg.

Potential

When a currency loses value, prices tend to rise in a phenomenon called "inflation" and currencies pegged to the declining currency also succumb to price inflation. The huge decline in the value of the dollar in the last half of the 20th century and the acute depreciation between 2005 and 2008 caused several countries to rethink their dollar pegs. Some, such as Syria, have instead moved towards diversified reserves including euros and gold. Some oil bourses have even contemplated pricing in local currencies and euros in addition to dollar, eroding demand for dollars. Though the dollar appreciated in the last half of 2008, many speculated further declines would ensue as a result of the huge economic stimulus and bailout packages aimed at the credit crisis.

Time Frame

As the actions of China and Syria indicate, no list of pegged currencies can always be accurate. Nevertheless, as of 2008, there were at least 17 national currencies pegged to the U.S. currency, not counting other organizations that maintain a similar link. These include the Netherlands Antillean guilder, Aruban florin, Jordanian dinar, Bahrain's dinar, Lebanon's pound, Oman's rial, Qatar's rial, the Saudi riyal, Emirati dirham, Maldivian rufiyaa, Venezuelan bolivar, the Belize dollar, the Bahamian dollar, the Hong Kong dollar, the Barbados dollar, the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which is used by Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, the Grenadines and Grenada.

Start An Internet Business Painting Houses

Painting Small Business

Starting a home based painting business will keep you busy and provide an extra income, if not your main income. This type of small business requires a bare minimum investment to start and you provide the man power to grow your painting business. Here tips on start a home based painting business.

Instructions

1. Small Business License and Insurance

Liability insurance is essential.

Other types of insurance needs ,to start your home based painting business, depends on:

• Are you part of a union?

• Will you be doing both interior or exterior painting or just primarily one or the other?

• Will you be having a carrier for ladders on a truck, transporting chemicals of any kind, and putting any advertising on a truck?

• Will you be having people working for you whom you will consider to be actual employees of yours?

Those things will make a difference as far as your cost and coverage in the possible types of insurance that you will need to get in addition to liability insurance.

To start a home based painting business you may not need a State contractor's license as most State contractor licensing boards only require licenses of technical contracting specialties such as HVAC or electrical type work. You should get a business license so you can take jobs in several different cities, town, or municipalities.

2. Painting Services to Offer

Determine what services you will offer.

• Interior

• Exterior

o Wood

o Stucco

o Brick

• Specialty painting

• Commercial work

3. Tools Needed For Your Painting Small Business

To start your home based painting business you will need a truck or van, ladders, brushes, rollers, masking tape, and some drop cloths. A pair of white painting pants will help you look the part, also. Build up your tools slowly as your business increases by adding air compressors, electrical paint rollers, scaffolding, and other equipment as you need and can afford it.

4. Small Business Marketing and Advertising

To get your phone ringing without investing a lot on advertising use the following small business marketing tactics:

• Get sturdy lawn signs made. Make sure there is plenty of white background with blue letters with the name of your company and a statement about how you provide a service that they need. Put them on intersections, where there are homes being built, etc.

• Make up flyers and take a couple of hours each week canvassing different neighborhoods distributing them.

• Print out business cards and pass them out to everyone you meet. Remember them when you go shopping, to church, your child's sport events, even to the movie theater.

• Take a around your community and determine what homes look like they could need a new coat of paint. When you see a need, leave your card and/or a flyer for the homeowner letting them know you can spruce up their house.

• Paint your walls, or someone's you know, and take before and after pictures to start a professional portfolio. Bring this with you when providing bids/estimates for painting jobs.

• Remember to use the Internet and take advantage of websites that let you submit free classified ads. Some include www.craigslist.com, www.alibaba.com, www.hotfrog.com.au, www.kellysearch.com, www.kbclassifieds.com, and www.oodle.com.

• If you plan on spending money on advertising, plan to advertise on a regular basis, one ad in one issue of the newspaper never works, it should be continuous, at least until you have been in business for a length of time, have repeat customers and/or referrals.

• A good target marketing idea is to find the people, realtors, and banks that are purchasing the foreclosed homes and offer your painting services to them.

5. Painting Estimate Tips

Until you can, based on experience, look at a job and know what it will take to complete a complete painting service Here are some tips for bidding or estimating a painting job.

• Know exactly what your potential painting customer's needs are and what needs to be painted with which color.

• Measure the square footage of all the surfaces to be painted and subtract openings such as doors and windows. This is the amount of surface to be used for your painting estimate.

• Each type of paint will be able to cover a certain number of square feet. Use this information to determine how much paint will be needed.

• Note how many small surfaces such as window sills and trim and determine the amount of paint needed and if it is a different color.

• Have an average cost per square footage determined, making sure you include all of your expenses for tools, paint, mileage, etc.

Appeal A Zoning Board Decision

The rejection of your zoning permit application by a zoning board need not signal the end of your building project. City appeals boards and state appeals courts offer opportunities for residents to get second hearings about issues on their properties. You need to remain persistent and organized as you appeal a zoning board decision.

Instructions

1. Locate a copy of the meeting minutes and supporting materials from your zoning board presentation before you appeal a decision. Your city's zoning board website should feature meeting minutes for each month's meetings. You have the right to access copies of meeting transcripts used by the zoning board in its portion of the appeals process.

2. Pursue an appeal to a zoning board decision based on undue harm to private property. Most appeals boards find unnecessary blockage of private-property development as the best argument against a zoning board decision.

3. Argue to overturn a zoning board decision based on faulty interpretation of zoning laws by municipal bodies. This argument requires extensive knowledge about the letter of the law and an overwhelming history of similar decisions made by the board in the past.

4. Organize your neighbors to seek an appeal for a zoning board decision that influences neighborhood aesthetics. You can compile testimonials and signatures from people who share your property line as well as other neighbors who have experienced similar problems with the zoning board.

5. Develop a connection between overturning a zoning board decision on your property and the greater good. Local courts and appeals boards typically side with the initial board decision unless a property owner demonstrates that his zoning permit improves the community in some way.

6. Seek the services of an attorney who specializes in zoning laws. Your attorney may be most useful for preparing administrative documents and reviewing your arguments to find faults that may be exposed by a board member.

7. Research the possibility of pursuing additional legal action if your appeal is denied by the city's appeals board. You should consider your circuit court as the last resort for appeals, as state supreme courts will only hear extraordinary property cases due to their full dockets.

Purchase Carbon Credits

Reducing your carbon emissions is as important as offsetting them.

Many of our daily activities use fossil fuels. Driving or flying are just two of them. Burning fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Carbon credits allow individuals and business to offset their carbon emissions by purchasing credits in renewable energy projects like tree planting or wind energy. A number of companies offer carbon credits. It's important to find a company that's reliable, verified and uses your money appropriately. There are online tools that assist in both finding a company and finding out how much you should consider offsetting.

Instructions

1. Calculate your household's carbon emissions by going to the EPAs website and clicking on the "emissions calculator" tab. When ready to begin, click the "start" button and the calculator will load. The following pages are complete with instructions and a "next" button -- on the bottom right -- that will prompt you through the remaining pages. The site estimates it will take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete the form. The calculator will also give you ideas for reducing your carbon imprint. Enter in your information accurately, and note the results.

2. Choose a carbon offset company by going to ecobusinesslinks' website. Scroll about halfway down to a chart that shows a number of different companies. Choose a few to explore further. Review each company, looking for third-party verification and information about their carbon off-setting process. Also look for how much they charge per metric ton, which is the measuring unit for carbon credits. Go with the company that has a price that's affordable for you and has verification.

3. Purchase your carbon credits from the company you've chosen. Save copies of any paperwork they send for your files.

Color Correct Images In Illustrator

If you have a color that you would like to correct in an image, you can do so easily with Adobe Photoshop. One way you can do this is to adjust the hue, saturation and lightness of a selected color. The "Hue/Saturation" adjustment dialog box makes this easy to accomplish. Keep reading to find out how you can color correct your images by adjusting the hue and saturation.

Instructions

1. Start Adobe Photoshop and open an image that you would like to color correct.

2. Choose the "Image" menu, point to "Adjustments" and click on "Hue/Saturation" to open the "Hue/Saturation" dialog box.

3. Choose the color within the image you want to correct from the "Edit" menu. You can choose the "Master" option to correct all of the colors in the image at once. You can also use the eyedropper tool at the bottom of the "Hue/Saturation" dialog box and click on the exact color in the image that you want to color correct.

4. Change the color of the selected image color by adjusting the "Hue" slider. As you move the "Hue" slider, you will be able to see in your image how the color changes.

5. Adjust the "Saturation" slider to change the intensity of the selected color. The greater the saturation, the more intense the color will be. The lesser the saturation, the more washed out the color will become.

6. Use the "Lightness" slider to increase or decrease the amount of light in the selected color.

7. Click the "OK" button to close the "Hue/Saturation" dialog box and apply the color corrections to your image.

Qualities Of Effective Advertising

Effective advertising meets the right marketing objectives. These can be short or long-term objectives, so it is important to measure the relevant factors. Decision Analyst Inc., a marketing research firm, differentiates short-term objectives, such as conveying new information, building awareness or enhancing credibility, from the more strategic long-term goals of conveying brand image or building a positive reputation.

Produces Results

Measurable results are clear proof of advertising effectiveness. The U.K.'s Institute of Practitioners in Advertising publishes a series of case studies that demonstrate how money spent on advertising can significantly increase return on marketing investment. Advertisers must decide what they want to measure -- impact on branding, direct response, or both -- according to research firm Dynamic Logic. This is particularly important for online media where simply measuring click rates may give a misleading impression of a campaign's effectiveness.

Addresses Priorities

Marketing teams have different priorities for their campaigns and advertising must deliver according to those priorities. The publisher Reed Business quoted research that asked marketing directors how they would spend a substantial increase in their marketing budgets. Their priorities were increasing awareness, improving customer data, generating more leads and developing customer insight. The advertising campaign should reflect those priorities and use appropriate research to measure effectiveness.

Offers Value

Consumers respond to advertisements that offer them value. Use market research to align the product offer with consumers' most important concerns and needs. The copy should present the offer in terms of consumer benefits rather than product features.

Encourages Action

Effective advertising causes consumers to take action. The actions could range from becoming aware of a product to making the decision to buy. A 2011 project by the Advertising Research Foundation aims to develop standards for neuromarketing research. The aim of the project is to help advertising researchers understand how consumers react to advertising from a scientific perspective. However, preliminary findings indicate that measuring factors such as attention or awareness is much simpler than measuring the relationship between specific emotions and intent to purchase.

Is Cost-Effective

Advertising must also be cost-effective -- that means delivering marketing messages to the target audience at a lower cost than other media and achieving the communication objectives. Budget restrictions mean that advertising planners must justify every dollar spent on media. Advertising that forms part of an integrated marketing program can improve cost-effectiveness by reducing duplication in campaign administration, use of creative resources and campaign response levels.

1031 Exchange Benefits

Exchange your investment properties to receive several benefits.

If you invest in real estate, you are probably always on the lookout for new investment opportunities. While there is always more real estate that can be bought, sometimes it may be beneficial to do a property exchange. A 1031 exchange is an exchange of two properties between people that has several benefits over buying and selling.

Tax deferral

Section 1031 is the part of the IRS code that deals with property exchanges. The reason this type of exchange is in the tax code is since there is no cash involved with the transfer (the properties simply have a change of owner), there are no taxes paid. This means that an investor can get into a new property without having to worry about capital gains taxes. You are basically getting an interest-free loan that has no limits on it. Also, if you continue to move your properties through 1031 exchanges, you can defer your taxes indefinitely. This can be a huge advantage, especially if you are heavily invested in real estate.

Diversification

You can greatly diversify your holdings to include several types of buildings in several different geographic areas. For example, you can take an office complex you own and trade that for several apartment buildings located in different states. This will allow you to take advantage of areas that are experiencing a large increase in the value of their real estate. Since you can transfer your properties as many times as you like, you can quickly and easily move through the country to maximize your income stream. Finally, getting into different types of buildings will allow you to gain experience in the various kinds of real estate on the market. This will allow you to expand your portfolio because you will be familiar with the ins and outs of residential and commercial real estate.

Relief from costs

Many investors have one or two multi-unit apartment buildings or houses in their real estate portfolio. Owning property, especially ones that you rent to tenants, comes with a huge costs. If you manage the buildings yourself, there is a huge time and materials cost (for maintaince and upgrades) which you have to bear. Even if you have a property management company maintaining the property for you, you have the burden of being the sole owner of the property. By placing those homes or apartment buildings into a 1031 exchange, you can get away from those apartment buildings and turn your investment to ownership in an office building. These type of 1031 exchanges usually have multiple owners and act more as an investment into a security as you are futher removed and the burden of ownership is spread out. This type of ownership is worth it when compared to the time and cost of maintaining properties yourself.

The Benefits Of Communication In The Place of work

Effective communication is essential to any working relationship. From offering instructions about new projects to identifying important deadlines for the time in which goals must be met, communication puts management and employees on the same page.

Identification

Success in the workplace starts with effective communication. For communication to be effective it must be clear, concise and constructive. Clear communication is logical and easy to understand. Concise communication is direct and to the point, and constructive communication imparts information that is both useful and important to the audience or listener.

Conflict Resolution

At its best, communication resolves conflict. If, for example, a manager introduces a company policy that threatens to disrupt the status quo, she can hold a staff meeting to explain the facts of the new policy, the practical day-to-day changes that will take place as a result of the new policy and the positive impact the new policy will have on the company.

Increased Focus

One of the advantages of communication at the workplace is increased focus. By identifying company-wide goals and setting reasonable project deadlines for employees, management can bridge the communication gap and inspire greater productivity. Sending a clear and direct message regarding company expectations encourages greater personal responsibility among employees.

Success

Employees want to feel that major and minor success matters. By acknowledging major and minor success, management can increase morale and create a supportive environment. Acknowledging valiant efforts at success motivates employees and affirms the notion that every great action contributes to the success and productivity of the overall company.

Steps For Closing A Company

Make sure to comply with all state laws to close down your type of business.

The steps for closing down a business depends upon how the business is legally organized. Independent business entities, such as corporations and limited liability companies, have formal requirements for ceasing operations that are based on state law. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are easier to close down because they are less regulated as simply extensions of their owners. However, the basic theory of ceasing operations, paying off all creditors, canceling state and federal registrations and filing final tax returns remains the same regardless of the business entity type.

Instructions

1. Vote to close down the business and record the vote in writing as a resolution. Partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations must have the majority consent of the owners to close down the business. In some states, the Limited Liability Company Act requires a two-thirds majority to close down a LLC, and in other states, the written consent of all owners is required. Check the business code of the state where your business is registered for the exact requirements for your business.

2. Pay all outstanding creditors. Use business assets to satisfy all obligations, including loans made by owners to the company. Put money aside if you suspect a financial obligation to arise after the business has closed down.

3. Distribute the remaining assets to owners in proportion to their ownership interest. If there are assets remaining after satisfying all debts, the remainder should be distributed first to reimburse owners for their capital accounts. Then, any remaining to owners in proportion to their ownership interest.

4. File dissolution paperwork with the state or cancel state licenses or DBA registrations. Corporations and LLCs must file articles of dissolution with the state office where their formation paperwork was filed, usually the secretary of state's office. Dissolution articles state that the business is dissolving as of a particular date. Many states provide a template that can be downloaded from the state website. A few states require sole proprietorships and general partnerships to obtain a business license. Cancel the business license and any DBA, or "doing business as" name, that has been registered with the state, if applicable.

5. Cancel accounts, business registrations, permits and licenses. Terminate insurance, close bank accounts and cancel business registrations and accounts with all state agencies, including the revenue and employment departments and any state agency that issued a specialty or occupational license or permit.

6. Provide notice of dissolution to the public, if required. State business codes typically provide an avenue for independent business entities, such as corporations and limited liability companies, to avoid having its owners be perpetually liable for lawsuits initiated after a business has dissolved. Many states require companies to publish an announcement of the business closing in a paper of general circulation with a deadline for filing claims. Any claim that is not filed by the deadline is forever barred.

7. File final federal and state tax returns for independent business entities that file business tax returns. Check the "final return" checkbox in the header of the state and federal tax return forms to notify the tax entity that this will be the last filed return for the business.

8. Close the business employer identification number, or EIN, account of a sole proprietorship with the IRS. A sole proprietorship does not file a separate business tax return so can't notify the IRS of dissolution by checking a final return checkbox. If the business had its own EIN that it used to open a bank account, for instance, it must notify the IRS that the EIN account should be closed. Write to the IRS at Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, Ohio 45999, requesting they close the account, and state the reason for the request.

Cfr Rules On Handicapped Parking

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provides basic rules to states on handicapped parking.

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provides uniform federal guidelines for states to apply when designing handicapped parking placards and spaces. The CFR guidelines for handicapped parking can be found in Title 23, Section 1253. The CFR rules are general in nature, allowing states to devise the best specific systems for persons with disabilities.

"Persons With Disabilities" Defined

A "person with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk" is eligible to use handicapped parking under the CFR. Such a person is one who either: cannot walk 200 feet without resting, cannot walk without a mobility aid such as a cane, crutch, prosthetic limb, or wheelchair; has a lung disease that restricts her exhalation volume to under 1 liter; uses portable oxygen; has a Class III or Class IV cardiac condition; or has another disability that severely limits her ability to walk. The condition that limits the person's ability to walk must be determined by a doctor.

Placards for Handicapped Parking

Section 1253.6 specifies that a handicapped parking license plate or a handicapped parking placard are the only things that give a person permission to park in a labeled handicapped parking space.

Accessible Handicapped Parking

Title 23, Section 1253.7 of the CFR lists requirements for designing handicapped parking spaces. Each state is required to create rules governing the design and creation of handicapped parking spaces. These rules must follow the federal guidelines set out in the CFR. Each handicapped parking space must be "accessible to, and usable by" a person with a disability that limits or impairs his ability to walk. For instance, a handicapped parking space must leave enough flat, even space to allow a person using a wheelchair to enter and exit a car parked in the space.

Safe Handicapped Parking

Both the handicapped parking space and the routes to and from the space must "ensure the safety of persons with disabilities" who use them. For example, a handicapped parking space should be well-lit so that people who have trouble walking can see any obstacles.

Signs on Handicapped Parking

Handicapped parking spaces must be labeled with signs that show the space is reserved for persons with disabilities. These signs must meet the uniform sign requirements laid out in 23 CFR 655, subpart F. Among other things, the signs must include the International Symbol of Access, described in section 1253.1. The symbol resembles a person in a wheelchair as seen from the side. It is usually printed in white on a blue or red background, but the CFR does not require these colors to be used as long as the symbol is clearly visible.

Be A Selfemployed Artist

Learn self-employment tax laws when getting started

Widespread use of the Internet means companies large and small need quality graphic design help for websites. A clever graphic designer will also make the case for skills in the print realm since direct mail, brochures, and signage remain proven ways to attract customers. Designers who specialize in areas like laying out manuals for attorneys, insurance companies, or pharmaceutical companies can discover a few substantial projects account for an annual salary. Work hard in the beginning to satisfy initial clients and word-of-mouth referrals should increase the client list.

Instructions

1. Make sure a logo is easy to understand and replicate

Design a logo that reflects a chosen personality and even an industry like designing for small manufacturing companies. Draw the logo so it readily understandable and easily transferable from online usage to print.

2. Launch the business following guidelines of the Internal Revenue Service at irs.gov that "a sole proprietor is someone who owns an unincorporated business by himself or herself". Use schedule SE for self-employment tax returns.. Mark a calendar with dates to pay the Internal Revenue Service quarterly self-employment tax. Use the first name, last name and choose either "associates" or "graphic design" to follow and start the business as a sole proprietor.

3. Design a three-page to five-page website and personally code it or approach a programmer skilled in Flash development to code it. Build the home page frames so one small portion animates a portfolio. Build the website in a platform like Wordpress.org or Joomla.org to display creativity in how a customized website will look using a popular platform. Upload the logo.

4. Design business cards, letterhead and postcards. Assemble a small instructional giveaway for prospective clients like "10 Killer Design Ideas for Websites" or "5 Surefire Ways to Make a Brochure Sizzle". Write copy for the instructional one-sheet or booklet citing case studies on industry-leading sources like the redesign of the National Public Radio website as described on Aiga.org. Develop a reputation for excellence in a particular niche that may include brand identity packages under a certain dollar amount.

5. Attend chamber of commerce business mixers, practice a 30-second introductory elevator pitch, and add a unique twist such as specializing in custom illustrations or designing Wordpress websites for less than $ 1,000.00. Find complementary individuals like writers and web designers within the larger group to create a mini-association.

6. Leave a clever give-away at offices of prospective clients

Approach a former employer, if appropriate, and offer freelance graphic services. Use a local business directory like the Gale Directories in the reference section at libraries to get contact information for companies that may find it more cost-effective to outsource design work instead of hiring an internal staff. Call art directors for local ad agencies or ad agencies across the nation. List services on industry directories like Design-agency.com and compare skill sets with competitors. Ask clients for testimonials and referrals to companies they know that may need design assistance.

Strategies To Halterbreak Cattle

Earn the command of your calf by training it every day.

Owning a nice heifer or steer will make you competitive in the show arena. However, good presentation can give your animal a more competitive edge for standing at the top of the class. Show your calf off to the judge by training her to calmly walk and stand on command, using effective training techniques. Effective training takes time and patience and can be made easy with the help of friends and family.

Tie-up

Introduce your heifer or steer to a halter by tying it up with a rope halter in a large stall. Keep it tied up for several days to help it learn behave with a halter. Attend your animal at all times and keep it comfortable and well-fed and watered. After a couple days lead your steer or heifer to a place it is familiar with, such as a feedbunk or water tank.

Train in Pairs

Cows are strong and sometimes need coaxing from two people to convince them to move.

Recruit a friend or family member to help you train your steer or heifer. Gently tug on the halter while someone else pushes the calf from behind. Encourage the calf to move forward by talking quietly and stroking its neck. Make sure the nose-strap on the halter is placed approximately two inches below the eyes. Keep the halter from tightening around the muzzle by gently loosening it each time the calf moves in the correct direction.

Group Training

Cows are herd animals and prefer the company of other cattle. Practice walking your heifer or steer with other cattle. Cows that are already trained to lead will help keep your calf calm while also acting as the lead cow for your calf to follow. Refrain from training your calf around other untrained heifers and steers as they can may feed off each other's anxiety.

Leading For Show

Be consistent with your leading style so your heifer or steer does not become confused on show day. Always walk on the left side of your animal and hold its head up as if you were showing it. Practice this style every time you lead your calf to water or load it onto the trailer. Moreover, do not allow your animal to walk faster than show-pace. This will help your animal learn behave when led by you.

Manage A Store According To Christian Concepts

Spending time in prayer is an important part of Christian leadership.

The Christian faith holds that we are to live all of life for the glory of God. This means that the practice of Christianity extends beyond church and personal devotional pursuits to affect every attitude, choice and activity in a Christian's life. Running a business according to Christian principles requires a fairly high degree of discipline and commitment because God calls Christians to show integrity, wisdom, diligence and joyful generosity as they steward the resources and opportunities he has given them, such as leadership over a business.

Instructions

1. Carry out careful market research and design a wise business plan before starting your business. The Bible teaches that we are to be wise stewards of the resources God gives us, and, within ethical, moral and legal boundaries, this includes running your business according to the most up-to-date and effective techniques.

2. Follow local, state and federal laws scrupulously, including by refusing to cheat on taxes or participate in any activity that involves an evasion of the law. While many businesses may cut legal corners, doing so as a Christian business owner dishonors God by disobeying the authorities he has put over you and implicitly depending on your own solutions rather than trusting God.

3. Treat employees and customers with true respect and humility, seeking to serve rather than to be served. The Biblical model of leadership is one in which leaders seek the well-being and maturity of those under their authority rather than trying to milk their position for personal privilege or special treatment.

4. Give generously from your profits, seeking to support the work of wise charitable organizations and mature Christian missionaries around the world. The Bible clearly teaches that when God blesses us it is so that we can live simple, responsible lives and enjoy blessing others with our excess.

Begin A Towing Company

A towing business can be a profitable one. You can even make money if you are a small business with only one tow truck.It just takes time, a lot of hard work and a little bit of imagination.Here are some tips on how you can get your own towing business started.

Instructions

Make a business plan

1. Make a business plan. A smart business person has a plan. This plan will include a listing of all your available capital, all of your assets, a list of what you will need to buy, a list of all the insurances and licenses you will need, etc.

2. Buy at least one tow truck, if you do not already own one. As your business grows, you will need more than one. Make sure the truck or trucks are dependable.

3. Secure a license with the city or cities that you plan on working. This process can be slow. Make sure you keep copies of all the information you turn in to the city.

4. Purchase the insurance you need. Proof of insurance will have to be shown to the city once your license is approved.When purchasing your insurance be sure to add in liability costs for possible damage that may occur to other vehicles and people should an accident occur.

5. Advertise.Invest in some business cards.Hand out business cards.Also begin getting to know the area businesses, especially the owners and managers of auto body and repair shops. These are the people who may need a tow truck driver someday.You may also want to let area businesses know that you will tow unwanted vehicles from their premises, free of charge to them.

6. Speak to someone in charge at your local police station and see if you can be added on to their list of tow truck drivers they call when a crash occurs.

7. Speak to someone at the impound yard to see what is needed for you to bring in vehicles.

8. Invest in a cell phone which you can carry with you at all times. This is the number you will want to use in all your advertising as a way for customers to contact you any time of the day or night.

9. Begin hiring more workers and adding more trucks to your business as your business begins to strive and grow.

Find Government Grants or loans Online Without Having To Be Cheated

If you look online, you will find many companies claiming to provide you with the resources needed to apply for and secure government grant money. The problem is that many, if not all, of these offers are scams and have no government affiliation. The following information should be considered when looking for grant money online.

Instructions

1. Be cautious about companies that advertise "free money." Remember, government grants are for specific purposes, such as for housing and schooling. There is no such thing as free money from the government to spend on whatever you like.

2. Look out for online companies that will guarantee you grant success. All grants are received after review of an application, funding approvals and other factors, such as grant proposal letters and more. Many grant applications are turned down each year; there is no such thing as a grant guarantee.

3. If an online grant "company" asks for your checking account information, it is a scam. There is never a need to send your checking account information to any company online that claims to be a government grant provider.

4. If you have received a call from a "government employee" about a grant that you qualified for, but that you have never applied for, it is most likely a scam; hang up the phone and block that number.

About Business Possibilities In Dubai

Dubai's free zones attract foreign investment.

Dubai's economy, which was once considered reliant on oil, is now diversified, relying on trade, services and finance sectors. Centrally located between European and Asian markets, Dubai has established itself as a hub in global trade. Its free zones attract foreign investment and can have 100 percent foreign ownership, unlike the rest of Dubai, which requires a 51 percent ownership by a United Arab Emirates (UAE) national. Small and medium enterprises are encouraged.

Advantages of Dubai's Business Opportunties

Strategically located in the Middle East, Dubai provides easy access for business trade. Its strong economy makes it attractive for business establishments. The country is soaring further with its modern and sophisticated banking sector that caters to a wealthy expatriate clientele, with privacy often compared to that of Switzerland. Furthermore, because there is no taxation, no accounts need to be filed. There are no public records kept of the directors and shareholders of a corporation and foreigners can send home their income, tax free.

Merchant Considerations

Dubai is labeled as the city of merchants and continues to be a place of trade opportunity for foreign business today. Dubai is politically stable and open to business with all countries of the world, with the exception of Israel. Foreign businesses enjoy Dubai's complete freedom of capital movement. Communication facilities are state-of-the-art and the city has a cosmopolitan lifestyle. You have the option of a regional office location or setting up a plant for manufacturing and distribution operations.

Benefits of Business Opportunities in Manufacturing

The government of Dubai encourages manufacturing operations, particularly if they involve acquisition of land for plant development. If you set up your factory and have a trade license from one of Dubai's free zones, you are exempt from import and export duties, commercial taxes, property license fees, land tax and restrictions on the transfer of capital invested in the zone. See Resources for a list of Dubai free zones. The law requires that you have a local partner who holds majority interest. Culturally, this can work in your favor when it comes to skillful negotiation in the manner that Arabs are accustomed to.

Media Business Opportunties

Businesses in graphic arts, publishing and packaging have the benefit of free zone opportunities through the International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), an initiative of the Dubai government. The IMPZ is interested in collaborating with media production companies around the world to create a media production cluster environment, with Dubai as the media hub. While this is a powerful opportunity, it is not inexpensive. The IMPZ has invested $280 million, and through its program is looking for strong investment partners with combined capital investment of another $280 million. For those that qualify the advantages are irresistible. You enjoy 100 percent ownership and tax exemption from almost all corporate and personal taxes.

Cash Handling Rules

Cash-handling regulations have become an integral part of business in the 21st century. Businesses that handle sums of money need to implement regulations that will protect the company and employees from fraudulent activities, human error and theft. Proper regulation includes linking employees to register transactions, daily deposits and regular audits, clear and precise refund policies and managerial staff to account for financial transactions. These simple procedures can help business owners track all incoming funds and detect issues concerning business profits.

Mistakes

Although business owners may wish that human error was a curable phenomenon, it is not. Employees may give incorrect change, ring up merchandise or services incorrectly or just miscount totals. These actions can result in a shortage of funds, excess funds or several refunds and confusing transactions. Assure employees that if they make a mistake, they should alert a supervisor as soon as possible. If the mistake is caught early enough, it may be remedied. However, after an employee leaves for the day it will be harder for supervisors to unravel the faulty transaction.

Accountability

One of the most effective cash-handling regulations is accountability. Employees should have to log in to the register or otherwise be accountable for transactions made on their register. Accountability may sway a would-be thief as well as allow supervisors to reference the right employee over questionable transactions.

Deposits / Audits

Supervisors and senior staff members should make regular deposits. Each deposit should be audited for accuracy. A copy of the register tape can be used as a reference to balance transactions against the original bank. Sale transactions should match cash, checks and credit card transactions. Regular accounting and auditing can catch mistakes as well as missing funds before either becomes a serious problem.

Refunds

Employees should not be able to make payouts from a register. With the exception of giving out change, there is no reason for an employee to remove money from a cash register. However, returns and refunds must be accommodated. It is important to implement procedures to accurately handle these situations. Preferably, a manager or supervisor should be present and should approve all refunds. This way, the employee must present evidence of a refund as well as allow the supervisors to make the transaction. This point needs to be stated in advance of an employee's first refund request.

Protection

Having cash-handling regulations in place protects the employer and employee. Employers must ensure that all monetary transactions are accounted for to avoid losing revenue through excessive mistakes and employee theft. But employees also gain protection from effective cash-handling regulations. Employees do not want to be accused of something they did not do, and knowing that mistakes can be addressed will relieve a certain amount of the stress associated with handling other people's money.

Use A Hotel Telephone System

Installing a hotel phone system requires good preparation and planning.

Installing a hotel phone system is achievable as a do-it-yourself project and dramatically reduces costs of hiring professional fitters. According to ICT industry expert and consultant Paul White in an interview conducted specifically for this article, the most important criteria for an hotelier to consider for hotel installations are compatibility between the phone system and billing software, the capability to accommodate business expansion and the return-on-investment percentage of the phone system equipment. With the right planning and preparation, a hotel phone installation project is straightforward and effective.

Instructions

1. Decide where to locate the phone system unit. Commonly, position the unit in a back-of-house office or IT room. Remember that cabling runs from the unit to telephone sites, so placing the unit near to the cabling channels of other services saves time and money on cable length routing.

2. Contact your local phone service provider and order the number of outside phone lines you require. The provider installs these lines for you, and you can ask it to bring the lines into the room where you site the phone system unit.

3. Position a computer with Pentium-level processing power near the phone system unit. Dedicate the computer to the phone system to handle the phone billing software, and in this way you do not need an expensive PC. Install the phone billing software onto the computer. Link the computer to a printer so that the phone billing software prints out bills for phone use for each hotel room.

4. Use established service channels to run the phone cabling and reduce installation costs.

Run the multicore cable from the phone system unit into a channel that sites cabling and pipes for other services. Choose a distribution point for the cabling so that from here it splits off to each hotel room. Use grade-1 cabling for telephone lines or grade-5 cabling if you want to run IP services with the telephones.

5. Use insulation displacement connectors to connect hotel room cables at the socket terminal points. These have an interference fit and quickly push in to grip and expose the cable. Fit telephone socket housing to the wall over the terminal points. Position the telephone near the phone socket and connect the phone cable into the phone socket in the wall.

6. Plug the phone system electrical plug into an electric socket. Connect the external phone line cables into the phone sockets that your phone service provider installed. Connect a suitable cable from the phone system unit to the computer. Use an RS232 cable for an analog or digital phone system or an Ethernet cable for an IP phone system. Plug the multicore cable into the phone system unit to connect up the whole hotel phone system.

Send Full Of Mailing

Mass emails are easy to send.

Recipients of mass emails view these messages skeptically, often assuming they are spam. Spam is a serious problem on the Internet, and everyone should avoid sending such unwanted mass messages. But you may have a legitimate need to send out email to a lot of people who want to see the message, and there are simple, legitimate ways to do so. The average person can even send out mass emails for free or a very low cost. Unfortunately, most email programs limit you from sending emails to more than a set number of addresses per email, so you will need an email marketing service.

Instructions

1. Gather a list of all the email addresses you need to include in your mass email. Make sure you have the permission of the email owner before including each email address.

2. Sign up for a mail service like Mailchimp, Constant Contact or Vertical Response. Services like these are set up to perform mass emails. If you have a small list of under a few hundred people, some of these services are free, but others only provide a free trial period. Not only can you send mass mails but they can be HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) emails. The service will also let you know who opened your emails and include many other statistics.

3. Click on the "Create campaign" or "Create email" or similar link and enter the text for your email. You will also have to create a list. Choose to create a list or group and enter in the email addresses you have. Compose your email in the editor and include your list or group. Check your work and make sure you first send a copy to yourself to see how it looks. You can then send the email to everyone.

Chinese Business Associations

China is an important business center for countries all around the world. Many of the products traded internationally are produced in and bought from China, which is why businesses across several industries strive to make business connections with Chinese enterprises. Joining a Chinese business network or association is one way to make business contacts and advocate for trade practices which made doing business with Chinese companies easier.

EUCBA

The EU-China Business Association, more commonly referred to as EUCBA, is an international, non-profit federation that works to improve trade relations between European countries and China. EUCBA is registered in Belgium and has over 2,000 members in different industries, including small, medium and large businesses. EUCBA has tiered membership levels, based on the size of the member's business.

EU China Business Association

Martelaarslaan 49

B-9000 Gent

Belgium

0032-9-266-1432 /30

eucba.org

China Business Association

The China Business Association has members in the Northeast region of England, including government and private enterprises. The goal of the China Business Association is to link Chinese businesses with British business contacts, and vice versa. Members of the China Business Association receive networking opportunities throughout the year, exclusive discounts and business support. Membership is open to British and Chinese businesses looking to trade, as well as those who advocate trade between British and Chinese companies.

China Business Association

Gateshead International Business Centre

Mulgrave Terrace, Gateshead

Tyne and Wear, NE8 1AN

United Kingdom

4-191-4909414

cba-online.org.uk

US-China Business Council

The US-China Business Council's goal is report on and analyze trade relations between the United States and China, as well as advocate for legislation and business practices that will improve trade relations between the two. Benefits of joining the U.S.-China Business Council include subscriptions to "China Market Intelligence," an exclusive bi-weekly newsletter, and "Washington Update," a newsletter about U.S. legislation that affects trade with China. Membership in the U.S.-China Business Council is open to American businesses, with case-by-case approval for foreign businesses with one or more incorporated offices in the United States. Government, non-profit and academic organizations are not allowed to be members.

US-China Business Council

1818 N Street, NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20036

202-429-0340

uschina.org

Health Safety Codes & Standards For Painting Resins

Resins are present in many paints and most varnishes.

Resins are defined as either a binder or a varnish layer used on a coat of paint. Many paints have a certain amount of resin inside them that is used to bind the paint to the surface on which it is applied. Varnishes use resin to provide a thick, protective coat to the paint to keep it from wearing down and peeling.

Resins often use various types of solvents that are considerably more dangerous to humans than the resin itself, and care should be taken in the workplace when using and disposing of resin materials. States may have additional guidelines that extend federal codes.

Application

When working in confined spaces where fumes are a problem, government rules require significant ventilation systems or the use of gas masks and other protective devices, especially when working with volatile paints. No one should be able to enter the confined spaces unless they have been authorized to do so.

Because many resins also can be absorbed by the skin and cause damage, protective clothing should be worn to minimize total exposure to the resin. If any spills take place and the paint is flammable, turn off all nearby ignition sources and clean up the spill immediately.

Cleanup

After work is done, any excess paint should be returned to the can and the can sealed. All brushes and tools should be washed with water that drains straight to a sanitary sewer system.

Disposal

If the paint has become unusable because of age or contamination, it should be taken to a designated facility used for treating hazardous waste and disposed of properly there.

The primary exception is resin latex paint. If this paint has naturally dried out over time, it can be disposed of in the trash safely, along with any cans that are completely devoid of resin paints.

Gear and Components

Proper gear in a professional environment usually consists of a spray booth for protection of the painter operating high-powered, resin-spraying machinery, along with impermeable overalls and gloves. A full face shield and a respirator are often required.

Vessels that are used to mix large amounts of paint should be properly cleaned out using caustic solutions, then hosed down with water. If there are any cans of resin or other materials used to make resin paint, they should be stored in well-ventilated areas and treated as hazardous materials.

Empty Cans

Cans are generally considered empty when no more paint can be removed from them by chipping, scraping or using aerosols. The chips should be gathered in a plastic bag before being thrown into the trash.

Compare Commercial Van Insurance

Comparing commercial van insurance is a worthwhile endeavor.

If you operate a commercial van for your business, you will want a commercial auto policy, not a personal auto policy. Comparing commercial auto policies is tricky, however, particularly if you are not used to dealing with business insurance. You will want to know whether you are covered to drive any vehicle or just the van you list on the policy. You may also wonder whether all drivers are covered or only those you list. Following a few simple steps will help you understand what coverages and limitations exist in the policies you are comparing.

Instructions

1. Check the liability limits. This is the most important part of your policy. Make sure that you are comparing apples to apples, in that each of your quotes has the same limit of liability. One million dollars or more is usually the recommended coverage limit for liability. If your carrier doesn't offer limits higher than $1 million, you can usually buy an excess or umbrella policy for additional limits.

2. Compare other coverages. Check to see if your quotes contain medical payments coverage. This covers injuries to passengers, and you will want a high limit here if you have a passenger van. If you are in a state that uses PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage, check the limit. Be sure that all of your quotes provide uninsured and under-insured motorist at the same level of coverage as your liability limits. If you are covering your van for physical damage, check the deductibles.

3. Ask what vehicles are covered. The quote may or may not disclose this. It is possible to buy a policy that will only cover your liability for operation of the vehicle you schedule, but you can also buy endorsements or policy forms that will cover your business for the operation of rented vehicles; borrowed vehicles; your employees using their own vehicles; or even a policy that will cover any vehicle. This is a crucial step and a piece of information you need to know before you make a purchase decision.

4. Ask what drivers are covered. This will likely not be disclosed on the quote. Traditionally, commercial auto insurance companies asked for a list of drivers and assumed that the insured business would be honest enough to report any new drivers. Even if an insured failed to report an occasional operator they would still cover a claim involving this operator. The carrier or agent would run driving reports on each driver and let the insured know if any drivers were not acceptable. Today, more and more carriers are beginning to demand that all drivers actually be named on the policy and are even adjusting your rates based upon the individual driving record of your employees. Check with your agent to see which type of policy you have and consider this when making your decision.

5. Research the carriers' financial strength ratings. There are many public websites available that will list insurance companies' financial strength ratings. Look for ratings of A and above to ensure you are with a carrier that can pay its claims and offer a stable insuring relationship. If you have a great rate from a C-rated carrier, it will probably be worth the extra premium to trade up to an A-rated company.

Make Roof Trusses

Make Roof Trusses

Generally speaking, roof trusses are structurally engineered and manufactured by a licensed truss company, sent to you with a stamped copy of plans. However, if you wish to make roof trusses yourself, providing the trusses are non-structural, follow some basic guidelines carefully, and you too can make your own quality roof trusses.

Instructions

Make Roof Trusses

1. Gather together your rafters, collar ties, vertical members, and fascia board. An overhang of 3 ft. at the gable end may require conventional headers and cripples. Find a large open space for constructing your roof trusses. You will make them on the ground and then have them raised into place when finished.

2. Start your roof truss with a standard triangular layout. You will have a bottom chord, or a 2 by 4, along the bottom. Your top chord 2 by 4s attach to each end of the bottom chord and connect in the top center to form your triangle. From the top point down to the center of the bottom chord is a 2 by 4 called a truss web. There are also two other truss webs diagonal from the center of the bottom chord extended up to the center of both top chords.

3. Attach each 2 by 4 to the next using a gusset. Those made in the factory are usually metal and have sharp metal prongs that extend out which are used in place of nails to hold everything together. Homemade trusses are made from small square pieces of wood. These are nailed onto both ends of the chords they are connecting. This is a secure way of tying the ends together.

4. Attach collar ties, which are 2 by 4 pieces, from one top chord across to the other. These are also held together by gussets. Collar ties are used when more roof truss strength is needed. Fascia board is used on the outside of the roof trusses, after they are constructed, for appearance. The fascia board is non structural.

Iso Container Standards

ISO container standards support the freight container shipping industry.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) presides over thousands of standards affecting thousands of industries. Standards cover everything from food safety to textiles to information security systems. Standards for shipping containers are also covered.

Identification

The ISO container standards refer to freight containers. The standards are classified in the ISO system as category TC 104. Category TC 104 is divided into the subcategories of general-purpose containers, specific purchase containers and identification and communications. Each of these subcategories underwrites several individual container standards.

Function

The TC in TC-104 stands for "technical committee." TC 104 represents an international committee of technical experts charged with the task of identifying and establishing standards for the freight containers. The standards cover areas such as freight design and testing, industry terminology, container-handling equipment, electronic tagging and identifications, container seals and a number of other considerations.

Significance

According to Michael Bohlman, Chairman ISO/TC 104, TC 104 has led to a significant growth in the freight container industry. Effective standards boost international collaboration and participation, which lead to increase commerce, increased international trade and a stronger freight transportation industry.

Close A Company In California

The State of California Board of Equalization must be notified when a business closes.

Businesses closing occurs when the owners are no longer actively engaged in business, sell their business or their stock of goods to a new owner, change the structure of business or change the partnership agreement. Similar to starting a business, closing a business requires completing a series of steps. The State of California Board of Equalization (BOE) must be notified when closing a business. Actions that must be taken when closing a business depend on the structure of the closing business; a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, S corporation, or a limited liability company (LLC).

Instructions

1. Closing a business involves filing various forms.

Closing a business involves making the final federal tax deposits for the year and filing an annual tax return for the year the business closes and a quarterly or annual employment tax form for any employees. Also the business owner is required to issue a final wage and withholding information to employees and report information from any W-2's issued, all capital gains/losses, all shares related information and any other pension/benefit or final payment information. A list of forms associated with each of the above mention actions can be found at the State of California BOE's website.

2. The IRS specifies where each form must be submitted.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) specifies locations where the tax return forms have to be submitted. Where to file the forms is determined by the first number or alphabet character in the name of the form. For instance, to file Form 3520, choose the No. 3 to find the location. Locations for filing can be found on the IRS website.

3. The IRS must be contacted to cancel the Employer ID Number.

Each new business is assigned a unique Employer Identification Number (EIN). Even though an EIN is never reused, it is recommended that when closing a business, the owner contact the IRS at: Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, Ohio 45999 and specify the reason for closing the business. The notification should include the legal name of the business, the EIN and the business address.

4. Information needed for tax return forms.

To close the business, the following information must be ready for filing various forms: the official last date of all business activity, the reason for closing, the names of all owners/partners, the means used to dispose of the inventory/fixtures/equipment, the current address and business phone number, and a copy of any business-related permits.

Cope With Opponents

There are some people in this world that make us really mad. Our enemies are usually the people who make us most mad with their comments, insults and gestures. It is not always easy to deal with your enemies.

Instructions

1. Talk with your enemy in a calm manner. Ask him or her why they are upset with you or why they hate you. Do not get offended by what they say. If they start thrashing out at you, you should walk away and talk to them later when they are calm. The first step to dealing with your enemies is confronting them face to face.

2. Ignore their comments. They will make many nasty, mean comments about you and about anything associated with you such as your work, family or other friends. Just ignore them.

3. Get new friends who you like and who like you, also. There is no need to waste your valuable time with enemies. Make new friends and forget about the people who hate you. In the end, your friendship will be their loss, not yours because you will have more new friends.

4. Call the police. If they continue to harass you or get violent with you, do not return the favor. Simply get out of the situation, and call the police. They cannot legally harm you, so you should call the police if they threaten or assault you in any way.

5. Stay away. Avoid going places where you know they will be hanging out. Do not go around them. Go the opposite direction, if possible.

6. Apologize if the situation is your fault. Tell them that you are sorry, and that you want to make things better. Be sincere.

Patent A Procedure

Patents don't have to be for inventing physical things. You can also take out a patent for inventing a groundbreaking process. Patent law specifically excludes some processes from consideration, however. Even if your process can be patented, you must still meet all other U.S. Patent Office requirements to actually secure a patent.

Processes

The patent office issues plant, design and utility patents. If you intend to patent a process, you'll need a utility patent, which is issued for new, useful inventions, compounds and processes. Potentially patentable processes include new software, gene-splicing techniques, or manufacturing systems. A process that involves nothing but human movement -- a choreographed dance routine or a system of stretching exercises -- cannot be patented. If you have a new surgical procedure that usually won't qualify for a patent either.

Qualifications

Process patent applications must also meet the same requirements as other utility patents. The process must be useful, even if only in trivial matters, and it must be significantly different from any other previous processes for doing the same thing. It must also be "nonobvious" -- something that would hit someone experienced in the field as a significant original development. If the Patent Office decides your process qualifies, you can proceed with your application.

The Law

Like other areas of law, patent law changes based on previous court decisions. In 2008, a court ruled that business processes cannot be patented unless they're tied to manufacturing or the use of a particular machine or device. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that business processes can still be patented, though the four-judge minority argued strongly against that view. The judges unanimously agreed, however, that the specific process in the case -- a system for institutions to control their seasonal energy costs -- did not deserve a patent.

Considerations

Taking out a patent costs at least several hundred dollars and possibly several thousand. Even if your process qualifies for a patent, you might want to consider whether it's worthwhile spending the money. Even if your patent is useful, you should be certain it's marketable before you pay to patent it. There's also no point in patenting something you developed while on your employer's time: In that case, your employer may have the rights to it.

Write Compelling Advertisements Legitimate Estate

Write Compelling Ads for Real Estate

Writing a compelling real estate ad can help you generate interest in the property, home, or apartment you wish to sell. Using positive, attention-grabbing, accurate language will help you attract potential buyers. Since real estate ads must be both descriptive and informative, there are some important strategies to keep in mind.

Instructions

1. Write an attention-grabbing, positive headline. Mention a specific key feature of the home, such as its large front porch or secluded location.

2. Emphasize two or three strong benefits in the opening sentences. Don't include every detail; instead, highlight the best features.

3. Describe the dwelling or property, not your buyer. For example, rather than claiming the house is located in a "great family neighborhood," mention the tree-lined streets or nearby shopping. Profiling buyers may exclude potential customers.

4. Include the basic facts, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, and the asking price.

5. Include your contact information, including your name, phone number, and email address.

Define Personal Business Letter

Define Personal Business Letter

Fundamentally, the term personal business letter describes the nature of the communication. A personal business letter refers to any communication by way of a letter for which an individual writes a letter directed to a business party as described at the Writinghelp-central website. The letter writer of a personal business letter may send the letter to an addressee who is also an individual, but in that person’s role as an employee and representative of a business.

Formats

As with many forms of communication, opinions differ on the best format to use for a personal business letter. Typically, typed personal business letters use either a block format where every line begins at the left margin; or a semi-block format where either the Heading, the Concluding lines or both have a right-of-the-page placement. Both the Writinghelp-central and the Liberty, Missouri public schools websites provide examples of the semi-block style of the typed personal business letter.

Types - General

Types of personal business letters you might have a need to compose include a letter to a credit card company, letter to your bank or complaint letters to a retailer with whom you have done business. Potentially, also, certain letters to school officials, especially at the secondary grade level or below such as a parent on behalf of a child, could fall into the general category of personal business letters: although letters to post-secondary school officials from the student most likely will fall into the career-related category of personal business letters.

Standard Career Related

The most widely used career-related personal business letters involve a cover letter that accompanies a resume and a post-interview thank you letter. Less frequently, but closely related to these job-search related personal business letters, you may have occasion to write a letter requesting a reference from either a former teacher or employer; or a related request for a testimonial from a client or customer if you work in a self-employed capacity.

Career Related - Variations

Another personal business letter similar to the cover letter is variously known as a letter of interest, letter of inquiry, or application letter. This type of letter combines the most pertinent elements of a resume with the cover letter. Typically, you will use the letter of inquiry in a situation where the job skill set is very narrow and specific; and most often individuals working on a self-employed basis use this type: such as a work-at-home mother applying for a particular set of transcription projects.

Handwriting Occasions

Some instances occur when the letter writer can acceptably use a handwritten letter for a personal business letter or that a handwritten note even has preference. A letter from a consumer to a company about merchandise previously purchased, for example, does not require a typewritten letter because the company already has an obligation to the consumer. Some job search experts also suggest handwritten post-interview thank you notes because not only does the personal touch of a handwritten note stand out, but some proficient job seekers carry their stationery with them so as to actually write the letter in their car and drop it in the mail before even returning home from the interview: which also sets them apparent for promptness and seriousness.

Can Mutual Fund Managers Pick Stocks

Mutual funds can be either passively managed or actively managed. Passive mutual funds, also known as index funds, invest in every company in an index that a fund follows. Index fund managers do not select stocks. The managers of active mutual funds pick stocks based on a fund's investment goals. While passive funds seek to match performance of the broad market, active funds seek to outperform the market. The higher expected return comes with potentially higher risk because managers' stock picks can go wrong from time to time.

Undervalued Stocks

Mutual fund managers who actively pick stocks do not believe that the stock market is entirely efficient, meaning that from time to time certain stocks are not correctly priced -- they are either undervalued or overvalued. One way to achieve higher returns is to find and buy undervalued stocks that will generate outsized returns once they are fairly valued by the market.

Growth Stocks

Some active mutual fund managers select growth stocks. The better a stock's growth prospects, the higher its potential investment returns. But stocks with significant growth prospects inevitably have higher risks, as growth stocks are often smaller companies without proven track records.

Quality Stocks

Some mutual fund managers may focus on picking primarily high-quality stocks. Investing in high-quality stocks is a lower-risk approach, as stocks with steady returns can accumulate in value over time. These stocks tend to be from well-known and large companies, also called blue chip stocks.

Sector Stocks

A disadvantage of index investing is that it ignores changing market and economic conditions. Different sectors tend to perform differently as they respond to various stages of a business cycle. Managers who pick stocks may add sector bias as an additional screening criterion. By eliminating under-performing sectors, fund managers try to maximize returns based on current market conditions.

Effects of Stock Picking

Because of the increased risk associated with picking stocks, actively managed mutual funds may earn lower returns than the market as a whole in certain years. Management fees are usually higher than those of passively managed index funds. In addition, buying and selling stocks frequently can lead to higher transaction costs, which are passed along to fund shareholders. Each stock sale also has tax implications. Frequent trading can result in short-term capital gains, which are subject to the higher ordinary income tax rate.

Proper Waste Segregation & Disposal

Generating waste is almost unavoidable in today's world. Properly segregating and disposing of your waste not only reduces the amount of toxins that enter the atmosphere, you may even save someone's life. Not all wastes are equal and some are so dangerous that they fall into a category all their own: hazardous waste. You can easily reduce all types of waste with changes in your habits, and even save some money in the process.

Preparation

Before you can begin to segregate and dispose of your waste, you must first determine if your waste meets the guidelines for the definition of a solid waste in Section 261.2 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In general, most solids, liquids and gases are considered solid waste.

Identification and Segregation

Once your waste meets the definition of solid waste, you must then determine if it meets the definition of hazardous waste under Section C of the RCA. While every material considered hazardous is listed under Section C, dangerous waste usually displays the characteristics of flammable, corrosive, reactive or toxic, according to the EPA. Be sure you know how your hazardous waste mixes. Two different wastes can often react to form explosions or dangerous vapor.

If you waste meets the definition of hazardous waste, then you need to isolate it from any municipal waste you have and prevent it from entering the municipal waste system. Then you must apply for a permit to treat and dispose of the waste, usually through a state health office. This includes tracking your waste and recording waste levels, according to the EPA.

Disposal

If your waste is not hazardous, then you can choose to recycle it or enter it into the municipal waste stream. Most MSW is stored in landfills or simply burned, according to the EPA.

Before disposing of hazardous waste, you must attempt to neutralize any dangerous components. For biological material, incinerators are a common method. Unless you plan to treat and dispose of hazardous waste on-site you will likely need a temporary storage facility. The 55 gallon drums are a popular method for storing hazardous waste. Extremely large amounts of toxic waste may require using the entirety of an empty building.

Once ready for disposal, you must decide on a proper method. Incineration treats and eliminates biological waste, thus a very popular choice. Hazardous liquids are often stored in underground injection wells. Metals and other materials that does not burn easily may have to be stored in drums in a landfill.

Considerations

Consider recycling waste or reducing the amount of resources you consume. This helps the environment and prevents potential health hazards in waste streams. Syringes are commonly thrown out into the MSW stream, often injuring or infecting waste workers, when many places offer to dispose of them for free. Buy products that use less packaging, such as open air fruit and economy size goods. Start a compost instead throwing out yard waste.

Be Considered A Headshot Digital photographer

Becoming a headshot photographer takes patience and talent. However, if you play your cards right, you might just make a nice living doing what you love. Here is become a headshot photographer in just a few east steps.

Instructions

1. Purchase a good camera with a really good lens. Do some research online or in books to determine what camera produces top notch headshots.

2. Acquire some basic lighting equipment. If you are strapped for cash, use only natural light outdoors or lamps you already have. You may need to remove lamp shades or add scarves to a light in order to dim the light down.

3. Find some willing test subjects to build your portfolio. This will be much easier than you think, as many people are looking for headshots, and would LOVE to get theirs done for free.

4. Do a few sample shoots to build your book. Then hit the pavement and start advertising. Build a website, hang up fliers, take out ads in local papers. Most importantly, ask your headshot models to spread the word about your fabulous photography skills. Word of mouth is always the best advertising.

5. If you stick with it, after about a year, your business should grow. Keep another source of income for a while. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Authors, musicians, writers, actors, models, newscasters and comedians all need headshots. The possibilities are endless.

Can The Minority Investors Cash Out Most Investor

When you are investing in a company, especially a privately held company, you may want to buy out your majority shareholders. This process would give you more control over the company. If minority shareholders buy out the majority shareholders, then the minority shareholders become the majority shareholders. However, this cannot happen automatically.

Process

Buying out majority shareholders requires capital. You may buy out majority shareholders upon the death of a majority shareholder through a buy/sell agreement. This agreements must have been in place prior to the death of the majority shareholder or shareholders. Buying out shareholders while they're alive merely requires that they sell you their shares.

Significance

Buying out majority shareholders means you may become the majority shareholder in the company. This happens when you control at least 51 percent of the company's stock. Because each share of stock gives you one vote on all corporate matters, you will always outvote all other shareholders, even if they are all aligned against you. This effectively gives you total control over the direction of the company.

Benefit

With a majority stake in a company, you may run the company any way you wish. For private companies, you may even assume direct control by voting yourself CEO of the company. You may also initiate a vote to replace the current CEO of the company with someone other than yourself.

Consideration

The majority shareholder in the company must agree to sell you his shares. You cannot force a sale of shares from the majority shareholders. If you own more than 5 percent of the stock of a publicly held company, you must disclose this information according to the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules concerning filing requirements for publicly traded stocks.

Purchase A House Having A Government Lien In Your Credit

Lenders may ask that you pay off your lien.

Tax liens are one of the most atrocious offenses in the credit reporting world and, unlike other kinds of negative information, can stay on your report forever, according to Equifax. Getting a mortgage with a tax lien on your record is a possibility, but it depends on the status of the lien.

Identification

Lenders can decide to whom they want to give a mortgage, so you can get a mortgage with anything on your record, even a tax lien. A tax lien, however, is likely to do severe damage to your credit score, so expect a high interest rate even if you find someone willing to lend you money. Nothing stops you from purchasing a home in cash, but the IRS could go after that property too.

Considerations

Whether you pay your tax lien makes a huge difference. When you have an unpaid tax lien, the IRS usually has priority over all other creditors. This makes it extremely risky for the bank to lend you money, because you already have money problems. If you default or declare bankruptcy, the IRS would get paid first from the sale of the home. A tax lien gives the IRS priority to all property you acquire after the notice of the lien, not just a specific asset, according to Tax Debt Help.

Subordinate Lien

The IRS sometimes authorizes a subordination of the lien -- giving secured creditors higher priority on the claims list -- when it deems it in the best interest of the government. You would have to prove that the IRS benefits from you owning the home, such as getting rental income, or that the subordination poses no threat to the IRS receiving its money, suggests Bank Rate.

Tip

Getting a mortgage is tough enough with a paid tax lien on your record, but it cannot hurt to see how lenders respond to your credit history. You should, however, deal with your tax debt. The IRS may accept a partial payment on your tax bill, called an offer in compromise. You could also wait until the debt becomes noncollectable in 10 years. Once the statute of limitations passes or you pay your lien, dispute it with the credit rating agencies. Debtors sometimes find that the IRS does not bother wasting its resources on responding to credit agencies once they receive their money, according to Carreon and Associates.

Opt From Yahoo'S Reverse Yellow Pages

If you're worried about identity thieves or stalkers getting your personal information from Yahoo's reverse telephone directory, you can opt out of the online listing to protect your privacy.

The data in Yahoo's reverse telephone listings come from a third-party provider called Intelius, which gathers telephone, address and email data from white pages and phone books, as well as other sources. If your number isn't listed in your local telephone directory, you probably aren't listed in Yahoo's reverse directory. However, you can still submit an opt-out request as a precautionary measure.

Instructions

1. Go to Yahoo's online removal request form (see Resources section).

2. Complete the form by entering your first and last name, city, state, zip code and phone number or street address. If you include your phone number on the form, your street address isn't necessary, and vice versa; you only have to list one of them to opt out.

3. Select "General Privacy Concerns" as the reason for removal.

4. Click the "Remove Me" button to submit the removal form.

5. Wait at least one business day to allow Yahoo to process your removal request.

Pack Furniture Inside A Moving Truck

Successfully packing furniture on a moving truck can help make the moving experience a more pleasant one. Proper packing will not only make unloading easier, but it will ensure the safety of your furniture as well as the person driving the moving truck. Follow the guidelines below to ensure you are packing your furniture properly.

Instructions

1. Pack the larger furniture first. The only items that should be placed on the moving truck before furniture is heavy appliances. Start with the heaviest furniture first and take it all the way to the back of the truck, close to the cab. Do not place any furniture in the truck upside down or on its side. Leave it in the proper position.

2. Balance the heavier furniture on either side of the moving truck. If a heavy piece is on a side wall, make sure there is a comparable heavy piece on the opposite wall. This will keep the moving truck in balance and prevent it from tipping should there be any sharp turns during the trip.

3. Keep mattresses in an upright position when loading. This will help to preserve precious space on the moving truck when packing. Bed frames should be taken apart. Keep all hardware together to ensure you're able to get the bed back together in the new location.

4. Use your sofa cushions as padding. These are great for protecting other pieces of furniture, such as glass tables. Whenever possible, wood furniture should be covered as well. Additional padding for all types of furniture can generally be purchased from the moving company.

5. Use a dolly if possible. These are great for getting those heavier pieces of furniture onto the moving truck. Not only will it be safer for the furniture, but it could also spare a possible injury for the people loading the moving truck. Dollies with large leather straps to hold the furniture in place are your best bet.