How To Get An International Driver Permit

If someone is planning move to a foreign country in a rental car then he must need an international driving permit. Traveling as a tourist in a country where the language is different from yours, you might face difficulties dealing with local authorities or car rental agencies, as they will not be able to understand the information included in your native driving license. In this case, your international driving license, presented together with the original - government issued license, will eliminate this misunderstanding. This is a special document that works in conjunction with your standard license to give you rights to operate a vehicle in a country other than America.

Before you start your journey for your destination country, it is very important make sure you know the requirements for driving. If you need a permit, you will want to get one in advance of your trip. Obtaining an international driving permit involves a process. Fortunately, it is not very difficult to follow.

There are few steps needed to get the International Driver's License.

The very first thing that should be taken care of is the validity of the original license. The driving license issued by the native country should be valid. Make sure to renew it if its expiration date is approaching. It should not expire in between your travel days. International driver's license is only valid if the original driving license is authentic and valid. Its only the translation of your original license so that the person in authority may find your identification easily.

One may get the application form online. Just visit the website and find all the information there. This process can be easily performed online, or you can fill out the application manually and send it by regular mail, along with all necessary documents.

Get passport photos - When you fill out the application for the International Driving Document, you will find it calls for two passport photos. To get these, just make an appointment with a local photography studio or check with stores that develop film.

Photocopy of signature - You can take a picture of your handwritten signature using a digital camera, or you just scan the image. Be sure that the quality of your signature image has good quality and resolution.

The importance of this document is obvious, as a language barrier is one of the major issues an international traveler might deal with. Therefore, having the International Driver ID helps tremendously to overcome misunderstandings between a country's officials if they will not be able to interpret the information containing in your native driver license.

Paul K Lennon is writing for International Drivers License offered by UDC Service. International Driving Permits is a translation of the information contained in a national driver license into 11 major languages. For more information about International Driver Permit please visit the website.

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

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4 Ways To Book A Cab With Ease

The modern and up to date car rental companies are constantly looking for new ways to enhance customer experience when it comes to booking a cab. This may seem like an easy thing to do, but if the right channels are not implemented, then a simple booking can go completely wrong and can be very frustrating. 

The one major factor that can be the cause of irritation is having to wait on the telephone for several minutes in trying to get through to a customer care representative who can make your booking. At times, due to a great demand for hired vehicles, the cab service may not be able to provide you with a car. This can be highly exasperating and you may end up wasting a lot of time over a process that can otherwise be a lot smoother.

The few ways in which one can make this process smoother is:

1. Book a cab in advance: While this would ensure in you getting a cab when you want it, it also helps in saving money because last minute bookings would only lead to higher costs.

2. Book a cab online: With everything made easy at the click of a button, booking a cab is an easier task if done through the Internet. All big car rental companies have online services. This is also a way of speeding up the services in an effortless way. Also, look for websites that are user friendly and less complicated. They usually have a 2 or 3 step process when it comes to booking a cab which is easy and less time consuming. This helps in saving out on time.

3. Only go for reputed cab rental companies: While getting a good bargain for a trip on the road is a good thing, safety is something that cannot be compromised with. Do a quick research for car rental companies that are reputed, and that would also provide quality services with a safety assurance. There are several small car rental companies listed online, but all of them are not credible. So one has to be careful while searching.

4. Personal references: Word of mouth is very important. Ask your friends or relatives and they would definitely be able to tell you which car rental company provides the best services in town. This would help in narrowing down the search and in making the right booking with the right company.

When trying to book a cab, it is best to pick at least 3 different cab rental companies and compare the difference in costs and benefits before making the final booking. It is also important to not overlook the fine print. In other words, carefully read the terms and conditions offered by the cab rental company, since you do not want to get a rude shock while you are away from home. All these steps would guarantee that you make the right booking and get your money's worth.

Carzonrent is India's no. 1 personal ground transportation service provider today offering a complete bouquet of end-to-end long and short term car hire solutions through its fleet of 6500 cars across the country. It is well known destination if you want to book a cab.

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

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How to Submit a YouTube Video

YouTube has dramatically changed the way people use videos, previously video was primarily used for personal reasons such as recording a family event, or capturing holiday memories. 

With the sudden rise of YouTube in the last few years video is now also used more widely for publicity, and exposure for business and brands. The internet is making nearly all things social, and sharing videos is one of those dynamic changes.

YouTube has made it very simple for users to upload video content. First, a new user must visit the YouTube website and register. A person or organisation that does not register with YouTube will not be able to submit a YouTube video. Non-users can watch YouTube videos but they are not able to provide (upload) any content. This is because YouTube wants to have a record of all people that submit a video. As an aside, when a new user registers for YouTube they are registering with Google, as YouTube is owned by Google.

Once the simple registration is completed, the actual steps to uploading a video are very simple. You must select 'upload' from the navigation at the top, then they will be taken to a screen where they will have the following options; Select files from your computer, Upload multiple files, Record from webcam. It is also now possible to drag and drop files onto the page in order to start the upload.

Whilst the video is uploading you must then enter a title to the video, the title should be relevant to the content within the video. Next, you will have to create a description of what the video is about, enter tags for the video, as well as selecting a category. As you might expect from YouTube since it is owned by Google a major part of the functionality is the quality search feature, having tags for the uploaded material makes this possible

. This is where it's important to refer back to SEO, in other words use keywords that are relevant, but also that receive traffic. If you have not already completed keyword research then this would be a good idea before completing any of this data. Remember YouTube videos now appear in normal search results so this can be a great way of gaining additional exposure if done correctly.

Once the category and tags are in place it's necessary to select privacy settings, you have the option to select public, which means anyone on the internet can view your content, unlisted which means anyone you provide the link to can view the video, or private which means only people you choose can view the video. Typically if the video is for promotional purposes then you would select 'public' here.

Finally you then need to choose your license type, the options here are: 'Standard YouTube License' and 'Creative Commons Attribution License', the latter essentially means you will permit others to re-use your content as long as they give you credit. You can read a full explanation as to what these mean on the YouTube site of course.

Once this last step is complete all that remains is to wait for the video to upload. Once complete you will have the option to watch the video, email a link to share the video or even get code to embed the video elsewhere on the internet.

David Vallance is Managing Director at Kit Happens, an internet marketing business providing, search engine optimisation, graphic design, email marketing and web design Midlands Milton Keynes, Northampton, Luton and Bedfordshire.

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

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The Most Popular iPad and iPhone Apps for Video Production

Ever since the release of the iPhone and later the iPad, there has been a continual roll out of applications or apps aimed at the video production market. Some have come and gone but many have now become an indispensable part of our kit, providing convenience and in some cases replacing high priced production equipment.

Pre Production

Some of the most useful apps have been designed for use in pre production and planning. Often taking the place of expensive desktop software and in some cases adding additional usability.

Scripting apps such as script pro allow users to write scripts with the aid of pop up menus and short cuts straight onto your iPad.

It is also compatible with industry standard software such as final draft. It also senses when an external keyboard is plugged into the iPad and eliminates the onscreen keyboard for an even larger view.

Another extremely useful app is Hitchcock storyboard composer. This is a very well thought out storyboard app which allows the user to upload multiple images from your libraries, add music, notes and of course shot descriptions. It also emulates camera moves such as pans, tilts and dolly movements. Your storyboard can then be exported as a PDF or even played back as a movie.

Production

Perhaps some of the most popular apps are those used for production, such as movie slate or DSLR slate which replace the need for costly clapper boards.

The movie slate app does everything you need a clapper to do and then some. You can make comprehensive voice and image notes, export reports and ingest shot data in editing platforms such as final cut pro. You can also sync timecode between cameras, between other iPads or iPhones, with a clock time and even sync with an iTunes song, if you're shooting a music video.

Telepromptor apps are also gaining in popularity too. The pro promtor app lets you edit the presentation text and has a customizable scrolling screen of text where you can adjust size and speed. Another handy feature is the ability to sync between iPads so your presenter can talk to numerous cameras displaying the same text.

There are also several editing packages available such as iMovie, a portable version of the popular desktop software for Mac. It's surprisingly flexible with many of the usual features. Users are able to edit existing footage or shoot more with the built in 1080p HD capability of the iPad camera. This is of course not going to be as good as a professional camcorder but is very useful for shot planning, location scouting and story boarding.

And when you're finished, the sharing possibilities are endless. Upload to YouTube or Vimeo, to a cloud or website or even play it on a big screen TV using airplay.

The iPhone and iPad have brought lots of new possibilities to the world of video production and i for one think video production is the better for it.

John Hubbard is a video production professional who resides in Melbourne, Australia.

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

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Facebook Home Preview

Recently the most popular social connect website Facebook has introduced its latest mode of reaching out to mobile users. The Facebook Home interface is designed for Android Smartphones. Let us find out more about it and its functionality.

The Home will be available on April 12, 2013 with AT&T ($99.99). Additionally, this app will be pushed on to the HTC One series including One X+ and Samsung Galaxy series with Note II.

What is Facebook Home all about?

The best feature seems to be the ability to fling away an icon from the screen with a mere flick of your finger. This is indicative of the highly advanced and responsive UI while making things easier for a user. Another thing to notice is the scroll functionality that is swift and smooth. You will find it easy to navigate between pictures without any lag in response.

Fetching E-mails Made Easy

Facebook Home is a surprise to those who have long been hooked on their Android and iPhone devices. This is because basic functionality like e-mail alerts is easy to fetch, it can now be dragged down to the bottom of the screen to be used later on as per your convenience. Now you need not access the menu functionality to access your e-mails.

Home and Display

You will be greeted by a home screen as soon as you will launch the app. The home screen displays an array of your news feed from your Facebook account. This functionality is a bit similar to that of News Feed. You will also be able to view the traditional layout of pictures and stories that you are able to see on the original website. Additionally, all your notifications that are related to your account and system updates will be made available to your with one tap. On the home screen, you will also see a News Filter item that is customized according to what you have chosen and how you want to see it appear on your screen.
Initially you will find the Facebook Home free of any ads.

Apps and Other Functions

The app launcher is yet another interesting aspect that will pleasantly surprise you. This software is built from scratch to be compatible for the mobile utility. The launcher at the first glance might seem like a standard Android app interface that includes familiar buttons that can be tapped and are arranged in a row. You have the freedom to switch between most used apps to fully functional app menu. You will be easily able to move an app from within a menu to another menu.

The addition of Chat Heads is yet another surprise for users. This is a system that manages your chats including text messages, IM's from Facebook that will run effortlessly on the background. Even if you are busy with other app on the home screen or performing some other functionality the chat is still running.

With Facebook the Chat Heads gives you the extra benefit of providing you the visuals of the contact with whom you are chatting. The chat is displayed within a bubble with the picture of your friend appearing at the top of the chat screen. This allows you to quickly access a chat without having to go through the entire menu.

When you want to chat the bubbles transform into tabs on your chat screen. You can easily switch between your text conversations. Flipping between multiple chat users is easier while talking to them simultaneously. Just tap on the bubble and switch between chat users. On an average touch enabled screen display you will be easily able to view at least 6 tabs of conversation on your screen. If you are using a phone/ tablet like device then you will be able to accommodate more chat conversations simultaneously. It is like the larger the screen the better advantage you have of utilizing the Chat Heads. However you need to remember that if you have been idle for a long time then to resume your chat back you need to re-launch it again.

Conclusion

It is quite early to say anything about it yet but there seems to be some interesting features that have been incorporated in Facebook Home. The best seems to be the Chat Head as chat is the primary communication tool amongst most of the people online. Still some improvements can be made including adjustments in the idle time that will not log you off automatically. Other changes can be made on customizing more options for a user.

Alicia Portman is a technology writer in Qresolve, who loves discussing various new emerging technological trend in computer and mobile technology. She is an avid tech-geek and a gadget freak who also writes how to's on virus removal, tablet support articles and computer support self-help blogs. Her inputs on antivirus support and online tech support are helpful and easy to apply.

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

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9 Golden Rules to Effective Android Application Development

With the rapid development of Android, it is important to consider performance of the application. A best performing application is possible only when it works error free. To make sure that Android developers are able to check their application before launching it, Android SDK also includes number of tools for debugging the word class, which can easily identify performance problems in Android applications.

Android applications are for laptops and portable devices such as smartphones, which come with their limitations related to loading and storage, requiring that Android application developers develop applications that focus on reliability and effectiveness. One of the most common measures of performance of the application of Android is the battery life, if your application is not as effective, battery life of the Android mobile will shorten easily. So it is strongly recommended that you optimize the performance of your application for better battery life.

Here are 9 golden rules to effective Android application development, followed by Android developers during the process to boost the performance of their applications:

1. First rule base for optimizing the performance of your application for Android, is to just avoid other things that are not required for your application. Many fresher Android developers often ignore these things related to the application and so end up with an application that is not all that good.


2. Do not create something just because you have to create something in fact try to create something meaningful. When Android application development is done just for the sake of it then the application is disastrous and will not be able to impress its users.


3. Avoid virtual method calls as much as possible, when using C / C ++, it's a good idea to use getter or setter methods rather than directly accessing the fields to use; as this will impose some restrictions on application's accessibility. But with Android, it is not best to call virtual methods within the class. You should always use the virtual method calls to the public rather than the class.


4. Reduce your layout complexity and keep it simpler. This is the best idea to follow to make sure that your Android application development project is a success.


5. I prefer to go for integer rather than floating! No difference between integers and floating in terms of speed, but floating need two times more space than integer. Hence try to avoid floating method, instead go for the other option.


6. While designing it is better to use test Relative Layout or Grid Layout so as to create a simple layout which is also very easy to understand. It will definitely help in increasing the performance of your application in Android.


7. Try to develop an index of the database to optimize queries for your application.


8. Always use a precompiled SQL statement or careers that are often used.


9. Try the native methods if they are needed.

So we see a number of important guidelines or recommendations included in this article to help Android application developer in their Android application development task so as to create optimized applications.

Androidapplicationdevelopment.biz is a professional Android Application Development company. Hire Android developer for cost-effective Android solutions at AAD.

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

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Water Or Mobile Apps: Which Would You Give Up?

If you picked water as your answer, you're just like the majority!

In a recently conducted study by Apigee, a staggering 85 percent of international respondents said they would rather give up water instead of mobile apps. Although the majority of the respondents may have been exaggerating, the statistic is still pretty remarkable.

Here's another little factoid about the study: an incredible 85 percent of respondents said they couldn't avoid one day without using a mobile app. What types of apps were special enough to make respondents avoid missing a single day using them?

These special apps were mostly email and social media apps, not to mention the ultimate app of practicality-the alarm clock app. Other apps people reportedly can't live without include GPS navigatiors, dinner finders, date finders, and incredibly enough, entertainment apps used to impress others.

Developers are now finding new ways and new uses for apps, mainly to satiate the demand from the people who avidly use them. Some of the newfangled apps, as suggested by these developers, include:

Reality or remote control apps, which 'control' things like lighting and door locks. 46 percent.
Keeping track of daily energy usage. 38 percent.
Starting cars from a remote location. 34 percent.
Making purchases attached to their mobile device bill. 21 percent.

This information only correlates to the fact that mobile apps are still very much in demand. Mobile dependence, in fact, is high and increasing by the month. This also shows that people are happy with the state of mobile trends, anticipating its eventual expansion.

The players in the mobile industry, however, think otherwise. In fact, many mobile developers not only see the increasing dependency on mobile apps, but see this dependence as a sign of great things to come in the future.

These advantage-filled opportunities vary, of course. Also, functions previously performed by other technologies are now being shifted to working on mobile apps. As an example provided by Ernst & Young, SMS messaging is now being replaced by instant messaging apps.

Mobile app development isn't the only opportunity there. Accessories for mobile devices are also necessary. Even mobile reviews and tutorials are needed to help users make the most of their mobile devices. Mobile developers themselves make up an entire secondary market of solutions, created by the thousands chasing that chance of making a top-selling app.

So, keep your eyes on the lookout for mobile opportunities. Though some might think otherwise, the saturation point for this burgeoning market is still a ways off.

Want more information on the benefits of mobile apps and mobile websites?
If you're ready to add a mobile-based strategy to your business goals, contact us today to get started.

For more information, please call us at: 1-800-939-3998 or visit our website at: http://www.niceapp.ca

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

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Smartphone Apps Help in Emergencies or Disasters

Nature's fury is uncontrollable. Even its majesty can anytime turn into a dangerous threat. But if you have a smart phone with some emergency alert apps, you can keep yourself away from being caught in a hurricane or other disasters. Yes, a smartphone can be your rescuer in these cases too. All you need are apps. Mobile developers have built several apps that can help you in emergencies or disasters. These apps can provide weather alerts, emergency preparation guide and various sorts of information in extreme conditions. Let's take a look how mobile apps can help us.

Apps for Hurricane

People living nearby large basins of warm water such as an ocean or sea know the rage of a hurricane. Hurricanes mostly form over North Atlantic Ocean, Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Northwest Pacific Ocean, Bay of Bengal / Arabian Sea, Southwest Pacific Ocean, Southeast Indian Ocean and Southwest Indian Ocean. So people living on coasts of these seas/oceans are more prone to hurricanes. But they can monitor conditions in their areas through mobile apps. Hurricane by American Red Cross (ARC) is a good example of an emergency alert app that keeps you informed in stormy weather. Apart from Hurricane by ARC, Other mobile developers have launched Hurricane Hound and WDSU Hurricane Central.

These apps for hurricane can monitor your area and alert you to prepare your family and home. They can also help you inform others that you are safe. They can offer a list of do's and don'ts in a hurricane.

Apps to Prepare in an Emergency or Disaster

We all need to learn how to prepare in disasters because they can strike anytime, anywhere. Many people do not know about how to react in emergency conditions. But if they have smartphones, they can quickly get access to emergency prep guides. Disaster Readiness, FEMA and Alabama's First Response Radio are some examples of apps that help users learn to respond to any emergency situation.

Apps for Disaster Alerts

It is good to stay informed about disasters or weathers. There are many apps that keep informing about disasters. Disaster Alert, for example, is a good app that keeps its user informed about all the active natural hazards all over the world. Onguard Weather Alerts is another good example. It helps users prepare plans and stay informed through weather alarms and alerts.

Wrapping Up

We can discover tens of other useful apps that help users in different types of emergencies. Most of these apps are available on both Apple's iPhone app store and Google Play. Apps have been mentioned in this article just for references.

Denis Richard- Working as professional technical content writer -For more information kindly visit here- mobile application development and mobile software development For any queries call +1 516 515 9871 or email us at info@rapidsofttechnologies.com

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A Clear-Cut Shopping Guide for Your Next Smartphone

Buying a new smartphone is harder now than it ever was before. The market abounds with diverse choices, and picking out the ideal smartphone for you can be quite the daunting task. You should marvel at the variety, because it implies that you can get a phone to meet your precise needs.

About Carriers and Plans

Wireless carriers offer contracts to subscribers, which bundle up a smartphone with a talk, internet and messaging plan. These agreements are attractive and convenient, and should make up the foundation for your search. There is more freedom in not being bound by a contract, but in that case, but an unlocked phone has a rather expensive purchase price especially if it is high end.

Know Your Needs

There are those needs that define a lifestyle. For someone who is young, outgoing and social, the most important features are the social networking and media capabilities of the phone. For a businessperson, the ideal smartphone is one that offers elaborate connectivity options. By today's standards though, these needs are met by most smartphones, starting from the mid-range up. That said, there is more that you should be looking for.

Decide on an OS- Your options here include iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry. iOS enjoys the best app support, Android enjoys popularity, has many hardware options, and is customizable. Windows offers you the riches office experience, while Blackberry has the Blackberry Service.

Decide on connectivity- 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are pretty standard now. What you really have to think about is LTE or 4G and NFC.

Decide on Hardware- What kind of power are you looking for. While there are there are quad-core CPUs, you might not need all that computing power if you only need your smartphone for routine tasks.

Display- You need to think about the screen size and resolution as well. 4.0" is ample screen estate, though there are larger options which extend past the 5.0" mark. As far as the resolution goes, any screen with over 300ppi will look brilliant.

Media, Social Networking and Photography- Social networking is elaborate across all platforms and so are the media capabilities. As far as photography goes, a megapixel count of 8MP should suffice in taking crisp, useable photos.

Price- It is perhaps the biggest consideration that you need to make. Suffice it to say there is a smartphone for every budget size. So how much you are willing to spend will ultimately decide the kind of smartphone you end up with.

This article is written by Yogesh Vashist - a self developed blogger who loves to read and write everything about Technology. He maintains his own blog FTechBlog.com where you can find his creations.

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

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Customize User Interface of Android Device

Right out of the box, the newer versions of Android have fancy ways to jazz up the background of your home desktop, with the launch of live wallpapers for example, which allow screen interactions and a much more visual way of improving the appearance of your home screen - at a slight cost of battery life.

The Play Store is your main source for downloading third-party software, which can be used to customize the phone. However, there are normally plenty of ways, you can improve the look of your phone without even needing these apps.

Adding items on your home screen is the first step and can be easily done by selecting an icon and pushing down on it. Now you can either reposition the later or dump it in the trash bin (it does not remove the program, just the home screen icon). Finally, pushing and holding down on an empty screen lets you add shortcuts, folders or widgets. The last of these can improve the functionality of your phone immensely, such as displaying weather widgets, status updates or calendar entries.

Heading into the Settings menu provides a few more options you can change. For example, you can adjust your ringtones, vibration feedback (if present), how long your phone's backlight stays on before dimming and locking the screen. Or you can enable alternative keyboards, so if you don't get on with the default Android version, you can download a couple of freebies from the Play store (eg. iPhone keyboard) and enable these instead. Some custom keyboards can even have different skins.

In terms of a performance boost, we recommend Spare Parts (search for it on Play store). Despite reportedly being a root-only app, it seems to work fine on non-hacked phones and it's really handy for adding additional features, such as auto-rotation transition effects, haptic feedback or viewing detailed battery status reports.

Don't Like it? Change it.

Another way to customize your phone is to replace your default software. For example, you could get hold of Documents To Go for editing Microsoft Office documents or download Dolphin Browser, which is a great replacement to the default browser. For a start, the browser feels faster in operation and has gesture control as well, so you can draw on the screen to perform certain actions, such as adding bookmarks.

Of course, you may be sick of your default home theme or the way the icons/widgets look. Here you can head to the Google Play store and download a variety of third-party apps to customize your Android further.

Read more useful android tips on Everything Android which focuses on apps, tutorials and useful stuff for your Android device.

Checkout Everything Android today at etandroid.com.

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

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What Type of Cooking Oils Do You Get?

There are quite a variety of cooking oils that you can get on the market today. While there are many choices, it's best to be informed about the different oils so that you can make a better decision to suit your circumstances. In this article I will go through some of the types of oils and their possible uses.

1. Sunflower oil is the most popular type of cooking oil. Everyone has heard about it and even used it at some point. It is made from sunflower seeds and is generally used for cooking, baking and even for frying. It has a high heat threshold and remains stable at high temperatures. This is a healthy cooking oil provided you get it from a reputable cooking oil supplier.


2. Palm oil is also a well-known and versatile type of oil which is naturally reddish in colour with a semi solid texture at room temperature. It is made from oil palms and is used more often in the commercial industry. It can be used for frying and is used in the manufacturing of chocolates, sweets and biscuits, amongst others. It has nutritional benefits as it is the only vegetable oil that has a balance of saturate and unsaturated fatty acids. Palm oil is also stable at high temperatures.


3. Olive oil is available in many varieties from virgin olive oil to extra virgin. It all depends on your preference which one to use. As the name indicates it is made from olives. It is most commonly used as a dressing but also for cooking and frying. It is also very healthy cooking oil. Besides its uses in cooking, it is also used in pharmaceutical products and cosmetics.


4. Soya oil is available in a dark yellow colour and is made from soya beans. It has health benefits in terms of it having no cholesterol and can be used for cooking, baking and frying. It is a good choice for people who may have high cholesterol or even heart disease. This type of oil is also affordable and can be used on a daily basis without having to break to the bank.

There are many more types of cooking oils and frying oils that you can choose from. I've just mentioned some of the more popular types to help you to make a more informed decision for your household. While there are many oils that have health benefits, it all depends on your preference as to which one you'll choose.

Our core focus at Golden Fry is to provide specially customized sunflower oil products and services to Restaurants, Take-Aways, Food Manufacturers, Caterers, Wholesalers, Supermarkets and Spaza Shops. We are an approved used oil collector.

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

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Tips on the Art of Cooking

Cooking time and temperature greatly determine the nutritional value of the end product of your recipe. Vitamin c for example, once heated for a temperature beyond a particular point breaks down the nutrients in it.
Cooking method in general can be divided into two categories

• Dry heat cooking- cooking food in an Oven/ flame without adding water. This process involves roasting, sautéing and baking.
• Moist heat cooking- covered cooking or cooking involved liquid content. This process involves boiling and steaming.

Stir frying or sautéing helps to retain characteristic crunchiness and nutrients to a great extent. This process involves sautéing of food quickly on a hot pan using small amount of oil.

Sautéing makes food appetizing and retain its flavours. The right apparatus for a perfect sauté is a pan that has a dense, heavy bottom which spreads the heat evenly without any hot spots. While cooking a Mediterranean style dish, olive oil shall be put to use, but if you are prepare an Asian dish, sesame oil might be the better choice
Grilling adds a beautiful charring or browning flavour to your dish. A grill generally exposes your food directly to flame whereas Broiling is done in an oven with heat coming from the top. For the smoky flavour, the best method would be barbecuing which is not possible in a gas grille or boiler oven.
High temperature grilling possesses health risk due to presence of carcinogenic compounds. This can be eliminated by marinating the meat well in advance and turning it during heating.
Roasting is a process of browning the surface of the individual contents of a recipe without compromising the cooking of its inside. The added value of this method of cooking is to obtain golden and crunchy meat skin and the juice that concentrates inside the skin. This method is widely used for cooking meat. Though it destroys vitamins it retains minerals in the food.

Deep fry involves food immersed in hot oil. This delivers a crispy texture at its exterior and soft, moist interior. The choice of oil should have a very high smoke point, like avocado, refined sun flower oil and peanut oil.

Boiling is a versatile style of cooking where as poaching refers to slowly cook food by simmering in hot liquids. The temperature of the stove should be moderate as high temperatures can kill the nutrients in the liquids. Water is first boiled and food, lentils, vegetables are dropped in it and boiled in reduced heat and covered by a lid to maintain pressure and temperature for quickening the process of boiling.

Steaming is the process of cooking the food in a steamer. The food does not touch the boiling liquid and the lid put over the pot helps to cook food in steam and moisture in the vessel. This is a great option to cook vegetables and sprouts without loss or very little loss of minerals, vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

The way we cook our food tells a lot about who we are and what are eating habits. Food is inextricably linked to occasions and memories. So choose your cooking methods wisely to bring the best to your family.

You should look into the great possibilities of the education and training from culinary art schools.

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

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What Is A Halal Restaurant?

With the growing number of Muslim travellers in the world, many restaurants are trying to entice those travellers to dine in their restaurants by offering Halal food. Halal food can be served by anyone, including non-muslim as long as it follows the Islamic guidelines.
So what is Halal Food? Halal is an Arabic word that means "lawful" or "permissible". Halal Food simply means food that is permissible to be eaten by Muslim.
What kind of food that is permissible for Muslim to eat?
Based on the holly Quran, there are a few restrictions on what Muslim can not eat:
1. Pork
2. Blood
3. Any animal that is not slaughtered in the name of Allah
4. Alcohol
So halal food is food that doesn't violate the restrictions above.
Most non-Muslims know that Muslims can't eat pork but very few people understand that halal is more than pork-free and alcohol-free. With the exception of seafood, any animal that is not slaughtered in the name of Allah is not halal. Chickens, cows, lambs, or turkeys can be non-halal when they are not slaughtered according to the Islamic guidelines. The Islamic guidelines require animals to be slaughtered by making incisions at the front of their throats using very sharp knives. The incisions should be deep and cut into the carotid artery, wind pipe and jugular veins to release all the blood from the body. The meat can only be consumed/processed after all the blood is drained from the body. When slaughtering an animal, the head of the animal has to be aligned to face the Qiblah and the butcher should utter a prayer "in the name of Allah"
With the growing demand of halal meat worldwide, more butchers are training to obtain halal certificates. Halal restaurants should obtain their meat supplies only from certified Halal butcheries.
Apart from getting the meat from Halal suppliers, food preparation is also important in determining whether or not a dish can be classified as halal. Any kitchen utensils like knives, spoons, baking tray or plates that have been previously used to prepare non-halal food should not be used unless they have been cleaned properly according to the Islamic guidelines.
Chefs should also refrain from using alcohol (wine, sherry, lager, etc) in their sauces. While people may argue that most of the alcohol will evaporate once the sauces are flambéed or simmered down, a lot of Muslims will not eat anything that has been "touched" by alcohol.
While it takes a great effort for restaurants to serve halal food, the demand is growing so rapidly that a lot of restaurants and food manufacturers do not mind doing the tedious process.

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

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Choosing a Car Stereo

Choosing a car stereo can be a complicated and difficult task, especially for individuals with little knowledge on the subject. This process requires extensive research in order to determine you are receiving the best deal possible. Before going to a car stereo dealer, you may want to review and understand all the components of a car stereo. This way, you can personally choose which components you would like for your car. The following is a list of the basic components of a car stereo:

1. Decks - Car stereos cannot function without a deck. A deck constitutes any piece of equipment ranging from cassette decks and CD players to MP3s and mini discs. The deck is considered the glue that holds the car stereo together. The deck controls the overall output of the sound and allows you to control the music being played. All car stereo decks have a minimum 4-channel output for your speakers. If you want more power than what your speakers alone can hold, you may want to consider purchasing an amplifier.
2. Amplifiers Amplifiers provide the power needed to blast the music in your car. The more powerful your amplifier is, the louder the sound system is going to be. An amplifier can have anywhere from 1 to 7 channels. The number of channels in your amplifier is the number of speakers you can hookup in a series circuit.
3. Speakers Speakers are where the sound from the stereo is emitted. Different types of speakers are designed to produce different frequencies. Higher frequencies provide the capacity for more sound and produce a higher level sound as well. The efficiency of the speakers is what will determine how far the sound will travel. If you want the sound to travel far, you will need speakers with a higher frequency.
4. Subwoofers Every high-tech car stereo system should have a subwoofer. Subwoofers complete the sound by providing high efficiency of low frequencies, through the bass. In other words, the subwoofer is the piece of equipment which makes the car vibrate. A subwoofer needs to be enclosed in either a box or possibly the trunk of your vehicle. Keep this is mind when budgeting the cost of your stereo system.

Now that you know the basics of how everything operates, you can ask informed questions as to which components you should have in your car.Amy Barson works as a contributing editor for http://www.carstereos101.com a site that offers information on car stereos and car stereo installation.

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Are You Setting Limits for Your Teen?

July 14, 2006 Most teens claim not to want limits, but, deep down, they really do. Parents need to decide and agree upon the limits that are absolute - what they expect their teenager to do or not to do - and make these very clear to the teen, with an understanding of what the consequences will be if these limits are not respected. At the same time, teenagers need an increasing amount of autonomy and decision-making power.

Decide which issues are negotiable - and sit down and work out some compromises with your teen. For example you may decide that she can date with certain restrictions - e.g., the boy must be her age or not more than a year older, no unsupervised parties, no car dates, etc. When she feels that she has some power to make choices in some areas of her life, she will be more likely to observe the limits you set.

You may decide that she can date with certain restrictions - e.g., the boy must be her age or not more than a year older, no unsupervised parties, no car dates, etc. When she feels that she has some power to make choices in some areas of her life, she will be more likely to observe the limits you set.

In the absence of peer pressure to engage in dangerous or particularly undesirable behavior, it may be best to say little beyond this, to encourage more positive friendships and to let the questionable friendships unravel in their own time, as they probably will. (On the other hand, if you show continual, obvious distaste for a friend, the teen may cling even more tightly to that friendship.)

Regarding friends you don't approve of: let your teen knows that you have some reservations about some friends and tell them why, then invite them to tell you how they feel about these friends. Listen without interrupting or arguing. Talk with your teen. Without attacking their friends personally.

If you know, however, that a friend is pressuring your teen to drink, take drugs, steal, cut school or to engage in other serious risk-taking behavior, it's time to voice more than simple disapproval. You need to step in and limit, even forbid the friendship. However, this should be only your last-ditch approach. Save this only for situations where you feel your teen is in definite danger. Don't dilute this friend veto-power with over-use.

Remember that teens have mixed feelings about limits that mirror their developmental position between childhood and adulthood: while they may balk at limits, argue with them and claim to have the maturity to make all of their own choices, they feel quietly reassured when parents step in and let them know what they expect of them. Deep down, most teenagers see limits as reassuring, as a sign of ongoing parental protection, and as proof that their parents really care.

via http://www.articleworld.net

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Top Ten Tips for Lazy Dieters

Tip no. 1: Set SMART goals. Goals give dieters something to aim for and are a good source of inspiration. Fitness experts worldwide would agree that all goals you set should adhere to the following acronym:

S (simple): All goals should be easy to remember. Saying I want to lose 20lbs of fat, gain 10lbs of muscle, speed up my metabolism and lower my cholesterol in 6 weeks unless I get promoted in which case I want to lose 10lbs of body weight in 8 weeks may well be ambitious and time-considerate, but you are hardly going to remember it in 6 weeks when you need to figure out how much you have lost.

M (Measurable): Your goals should almost always contain a number. Whether it is to drop 10kg or to fit into those 34 inch jeans, having numbers involved means that you can check your own progress.

A (Achievable): Many people often ask me: Is it possible to lose all this weight in 3 weeks or I want to lose 50 kilos! Can I do it before Christmas? The answer to the latter question is usually a resounding no, and I often suggest that these people might want to set themselves a target that can actually be hit. Above all, it prevents disappointment and makes them less likely to fall off the rails halfway through a dieting program.

R (Realistic): Your goals should reflect your lifestyle. It is a good idea to diet when you are likely to have little stress from outside influences (such as work) and you have plenty of time for the exercise you enjoy.

T (Time-considerate): Which of the following sounds like a more positive statement: I am going to lose 20lbs, or I am going to lose 20lbs in 10 weeks? If you never put a limit on when you need to lose the weight by, you are never going to push yourself to shed those pounds.

Tip no. 2: Write Down Everything You Eat. Many people are overweight because they are heavy snackers and eat far too much than they realise. The simplest way to beat this is by writing down everything you eat. That way, when you eat something that you did not mean to eat, you will know about it.

Tip no. 3: Use Smaller Plates. As silly as this may sound, a smaller plate will look fuller than a bigger plate with the same amount on it, so your mind will tell the rest of your body that it is getting more food. Besides, you can only fit so much on a small plate!

Tip no. 4: Proteins. Low fat protein rich food, such as egg whites and chicken breast, are fantastic for dieters that want larger portions, as they contain amino acids that build muscle fibres. Aim for 60g per day (I favour tofu or soya bean; its cheap, easy to fry -with fat-free Pam spray- and contains beaucoup protein).

Tip no. 5: Low Carbs, Not NO Carbs! Atkins enthusiasts rave about the benefits of carb-starving and that fats are not really that bad, but the simple fact is that your body needs carbs as a basic energy, so after starving yourself of them only to eat them again, your body stores that energy as, you guessed it; fat! Aim for around 240-260g of carbohydrates per day (look at potatoes, pasta, rice and wholemeal bread).

Tip no. 6: Buy a Bag of Nutrasweet. Any sweetener can be used as a sugar substitute and I believe they taste fairly similar. Plus, a tablespoonful contains about 0.1 calories, compared to the 18 that you will often find in sugar.

Tip no. 7: Lift Weights. Lifting light weights can burn calories and tone up every muscle in your body. It is a common misconception that lifting weights will always build big muscles, which is something that many women are keen to avoid. However, this is only true if your body is of the correct somatotype (body shape) and if you really are overweight then believe me, its not.

Tip no. 8: Drink Green Tea. The benefits of green tea have long been discussed, the main one being that it contains the right chemicals to speed up your basal metabolism (which in turn burns fat faster). Two cups per day (without sugar!) is enough, while the only known side effects are that the caffeine in it can cause minor sleep deprivation, so drink it in the morning.

Tip no. 9: Get Busy! As I mentioned earlier, many overweight people are heavy snackers and these are usually people with two much time on their hands (that are often bored). The best way to combat this is to, quite simply, do something! Getting a new hobby, and therefore spending less time near the TV, are ways to keep you away from the fridge.

Tip no 10: Stop Talking About it! Diet must be one of the most discussed topics in modern society, yet, the people who talk about it are often the ones who want to lose weight. Then, how to prevent obesity? The real secret is to get on with it. As of tomorrow, you are officially dieting, so scribble down five small meals and brew yourself a cup of green tea!

via www.articleworld.net

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50 Reasons Why You Are Absolutely Beautiful

Beauty is this word that is often thrown around conditionally.

It’s another category that can sometimes feel esoteric. To me, beauty is a celebration of everything in our lives—even the stuff that we shove deep down in hopes of never seeing that “ugliness” again—it’s the organic substance that fuels our gorgeous smile, and breathtaking laugh. Beauty in its rawness can’t be faked.

1. You are beautiful when you are afraid to do something, and you do it anyway. 

2. If you have been to hell and back, your resilience is beautiful.

3. Beauty is a daring action. One that is built on your authentic intention instead of being attached to the outcome.

4. Asking questions—especially “why?”—is always beautiful. Why? Because curiosity is beautiful. 

5.  If you can string words together into a sentence, and you’re brave enough to let someone else read it, that’s beautiful.

6. Flat stomachs are beautiful, absolutely, but big, soft bellies are beautiful, too.

7. It is beautiful to speak another language. It is beautiful to try.

8. Beauty is putting paint on canvas, or strumming a guitar, or capturing a stunning moment in a picture, or dancing with your eyes closed.

9. Creating is always beautiful.

10. Your eyes are beautiful. Nobody else has eyes like yours. They are deep and authentic and instantly recognizable.

11. Beauty is being brave enough to embrace your feelings- the good, the bad, and the ugly. To open yourself to the possibility that there is something magnificent there. 

12. Remember the time your best friend called you crying? Because only your voice could calm her down? That was beautiful.

13. Beauty is laughing so hard your stomach hurts and you’re yelling, “Stop! Seriously, I’m peeing!” Yes. Peeing your pants can be beautiful.

14. Beauty is not letting ignorance be mistaken for truth. Even if you’re the one in the dark.

15. Beauty is calling someone out for saying something hurtful, even if you weren’t the one getting hurt.

16. Your legs are beautiful. No, really. They are. Admire the curve of your calves, the muscles in your thighs, the peaks and valleys of your knee.

17. Letting go of a toxic relationship? Ah, what a beautiful relief!

18. You are beautiful when you rock out so hard at a concert that your neck is sore the next day.

19. Intelligence is beautiful.

20. Humor. There is nothing more beautiful than laughter.

21. Compassion is very, very beautiful.

22. Beauty is wearing an outfit so fierce that when people compliment you on it you say, “I know, right?” and then, “Oh, I mean, thank you.”

23. Strong opinions are beautiful.

24. Respecting other people’s strong opinions is beautiful too.

25. Beauty is your hometown, whether you love it or hate it, because it helped shape you who you are.

26. Beauty is telling a joke only you think is funny and laughing so hard nobody can hear the punchline.

27. Walking away from a relationship –Platonic or romantic because you know its the only way to truly love them is to stop trying to change them, and let them be who they are. That is most beautiful.

28. Deep breaths are beautiful.

29. Listening is beautiful. Choosing to respond instead of react- even if you don’t want to hear it- trusting that there is always something valuable in someone else’s words.

30. Your bare face in the morning is beautiful. Ask the people that love you. It’s true.

31. The way our bodies tell the truth—we blush when we are attracted to someone, we blink twice when we lie, we get sick when we’re pushing our mental limits—is beautiful.

32. Having faith in someone else’s word, because we know we’ve been true to our own. That is beautiful.

33. Beauty is being comfortable enough with someone else to be silent. As the character Sherry Anne in the movie Best In Show put it, “We could talk or not talk forever and still find things to not talk about.”

34. Beauty is being able to walk gracefully in high heels.

35. Beauty is digging your bare feet into the sand.

36. Beauty is sitting very still with your thoughts.

37. It is beautiful to find the strength to ask for help when you need it. No matter how successful you are. We all feel like we’re drowning sometimes, and we would all be glad to pull you from the rapids.

38. Beauty is loving your pet as much as they love you.

39. Beauty is a fresh flower in your hair.

40. The physical remnants of our life experiences—stretch marks, scars, wrinkles, and sun spots—are beautiful.

41. Wisdom is beautiful.

42. Humility is beautiful.

43. Beauty is the sweaty satisfaction of a hard workout- moving your body in the way it was meant to.

44. It is beautiful to finally tell someone your secret.

45. It is beautiful to turn the worst night into the funniest story- the ability to see the humor in the darker, sometimes neglected parts of our life.

46. Beauty is being able to truly enjoy the food you eat.

47. It is beautiful to be grateful to all the strong people who came before you: the ones who raised you, the ones who fought for your rights, the ones who were burned at the stake because they were too powerful.

48. Giving birth is beautiful. (Messy, but beautiful.) Rebirth- as many times as necessary- is also beautiful.

49. Freedom is beautiful. You are free to fill your life with the things that make you happy. You have a choice.

50. Happiness is beautiful. Never be ashamed of being happy.

Via elephantjournal.com

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Communicating With Young Children

Adults often become frustrated when communicating with young children.

Parents and teachers often ask me, "Are we really communicating? Do they understand me? Do I truly understand them?"

Children, especially young children, are still learning to use words. Their communication skills are relatively new. Language may be the last piece added as a child solves the puzzle of communications.

Learning words and sentences are a much harder skill set than mimicry or gesturing.

Parents usually understand their infant's needs from the baby's facial expression, or the tone of his or her cry.

Later, adults see clearer nonverbal communication in children, and encourage them. For example, most young parents learn quickly what the "wee wee" dance looks like, and rush to help the child to the bathroom.

For a young child, it can be easier to use body language or display emotions, than to try to find the right words. For a toddler, language can be an onerous, intellectually consuming thought process.

The problem is compounded if the child is constantly corrected with "constructive" criticism such as, "No, that word is pronounced...," or "Didn't you mean to say...?"

Even as adults, we're sometimes at a loss for the right words. In an emotionally or physically overwhelming situation, words can fail us. For a young child trying to communicate, that can be a daily struggle.

Many young learners have difficulties with the nuances of language. For example, "too" and "two" sound alike but mean different things. Likewise, your tone of voice when saying, "Oh, great," can completely change the intent of the words. Your facial expression - trying to keep a straight face while reprimanding a child -- can increase your communication difficulties with children.

Young children are puzzling out how words are used and what they mean in different settings. However, until they think that they have it right, they may be reluctant to use words.

In recent years, we've seen great inroads in working with childhood communication difficulties. Some communication options for children include a sign language for preverbal children. This builds their communication skills and confidence while they're learning to use words.

Keep these tips in mind when communicating with children of all ages:

1. Always speak in an age appropriate way to a child.

2. Never confuse that with speaking down or condescendingly. Children will know/sense it.

3. Look for all the different ways the child is communicating. This may include changes in habits. He or she may use drawings or doodles to express emotions. Or, you may notice increased sensitivity or withdrawal.

4. If it is safer for them to speak through an imaginary friend or stuff animal, allow them to so. Listen when a child says, "My friend Johnny says...," or "Kitty-cat doesn't like..."

5. Don't try to rush communications, or push a child to talk until he or she is ready to.

6. Before talking with your child, always make sure you are in a loving, receptive mood. Never judge. Use every opportunity to teach your child how to think, not what to think.

It's normal to feel frustrated when communicating with young children. It doesn't mean that either of you have a communication disorder. By understanding the communication challenges that young children face, you can find ways to talk, verbally and nonverbally.

With patience and creativity on both sides, you and your child can overcome most communication difficulties. A counselor or mediator can help, if necessary, but practice, patience and understanding can be effective first steps.

http://www.edarticle.com/

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