How To Avoid Getting A Speeding Ticket

When you’re driving on a highway, remember to stay within a group of other cars. This makes it much more difficult for a police officer to pick you off, as you aren’t speeding in front of everyone. Be aware of your surroundings. Remember to scan the road ahead of you, looking for any places where a police officer could be hiding. Make sure you know the speed limit of the area you’re driving in. Keep a look out for any traffic signs that tell you the current speed limit. Always keep you car in good condition. For example, if you have a tail light out, you are going to be noticed much easier by a police officer, as they are looking out for these kinds of things. Make sure you spend the few dollars it costs to keep your car in good repair. If you do get stopped by a police officer, always be polite. If you are rude in any way they will have something else against you. Also, try not to volunteer too much information. Obviously you have to answer his questions, but don’t add to much…just answer the question. The first question the police officer will most likely ask you is if you know why you have been stopped. At this point, you have three options to choose from. Firstly, you can completely admit that you were speeding. The officer would appreciate this, as this is what he wants. The officer may let you off with just a warning. The down side to answering in this way is that if you’re given a speeding ticket, and admitted that you were speeding then it can and will be used against you in the court. The police officer will be taking notes on everything you say to him, so if you feel that you will definitely get a speeding ticket then you should avoid directly admit to the police officer that you were speeding. The second option you have is to deny that you were speeding. Keep in mind that this approach is going to create some tension between you and the police officer. If you don’t have a good argument to prove to the police officer that you weren’t speeding, he will still give you a ticket. The upside to this, however, is if you deny speeding, you have a better chance of beating the ticket when it goes to court, because you denied speeding from the outset. The third option you have is to neither admit nor deny the fact you were speeding. Often this approach will work best. When you are stopped and asked if you know why you were stopped act as if you don’t know why. When he tells you that you were speeding, tell the officer in a calm and respectful force that you just didn’t notice…and give a plausible excuse.

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How to Act on a First Date

The key to a successful first date is to relax and just be the real you. If you try to act in a way that you think the other person will like, then they may start liking someone who you are not, and in the end you will wind up breaking up and getting hurt, so honest truly is the best policy, and in the end if you are just being you and it does not work you, you know they were not the one for you. Dating is like gambling at poker, sure a good bluff may win you a hand or two but you are not going to win the World Series of Poker by bluffing, only by playing the best you can. This is no different from dating if you make things up to try and impress this person they are not liking you but are liking the fake you and eventually they will see the two are no the same. Try to think back to the things you talked about when the both of you spoke on the phone and see if you learned anything that may help you decide where to go for your date, but if you do not have enough information about them to know what they may like you sometimes have to gamble and throw the dice, and hope you don’t crap out. The most important thing to do on a first date is to have a good time, the bigger a deal you make of it the harder it is going to be and the higher the chances of you making a jerk of yourself. If you are nervous before the date take a few minutes and take a few deep breaths and if this does not help then I recommend you do what I like to do in the casinos when my nerves are bothering me I simply have a drink. The alcohol in one drink will usually calm me down enough to concentrate. The key to having a nice first date is simple: Take her/ him to a nice place, quite but not too quiet, you should be able to hear each other but other distractions are also good for those uncomfortable moments. Do not take her/ him to a place where your friends hang out, this will make her/ him feel as if they are being ganged up on or they may feel out of place and resent you for making them feel that way. It is very important to have the whole night planned out already before the date and have a backup idea just incase. The tricky part is making it look like it was not all planned. Let's say you decide that you are going to take her for dinner, then after you want to take a walk on the beach do not just say hey after dinner let's take a walk on the beach. I would recommend you wait till after dinner and ask her if she wants to take a walk to burn off dinner and then take her to the beach. Then when you are on the beach take her/his hand while walking, this makes a physical connection between you and makes it easier later on when you go for your first kiss. Just remember that dating is a gambling sometimes you are going to get a bad hand and eventually if you play your cards right you will find the right person and win the jackpot.

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How the Online Ban helps Al Qaeda

Groups like Al Qaeda may very well be using online casinos to raise money for their global Jihad, but does banning online gambling really hurt them. The answer to this question is absolutely not, it actually help them. The way it helps them is easy to understand. Most of the money spent on online gambling was going to publicly owned British operators, but the online gabling ban passed by the American Congress put a stop to that. Out of fear of repercussions, as soon as the law was signed these companies sold off all operations dealing with the USA, but online gambling is still going on, so now who is getting the money. The problem with the Gambling ban is that it does not stop people from gambling online it only stops legitimate operations from getting the money and less reputable ones start getting rich. It is these small casinos that before went mostly unnoticed, that will now be bringing in the billions that will still be wagered online. It is also these casinos that have the best chance of being a front for AL Qaeda. Some so called experts will tell you that this is not true and that it was thru owning shares in these publicly traded online casinos that terrorists were making money, but if they were buying shares of online casinos I am sure they are buying shares of Microsoft and Google. So why not ban them as well? But once again the American people seem to be getting lied to by their elected Government officials, and it is time that we the people fight back against the government. It is time we as a nation start to question and demand answers that make sense from them, after all they work for us, don’t they? If you are tired of all the lies, then there is something you can do. Jim Nickogoski the creator of the http:www.myspace.com/angryonlinegambler has started a web page to help fight against the Online Gambling Ban, the page also offers an online petition so you can tell the government you do not agree and you demand they reverse this unfair and unjust law. The only real way for the government to ensure that money made from online gambling is not going to fund terrorism is to work together with the online casinos to regulate the industry with licensing so you really know who is getting your money. Only then can we be sure none of our money is going to the people killing out troops and threatening the American way of life. So make your voice herd, write letters to senators, congressmen and even the President. Tell them you disagree with the law and ask them for real proof that this law is really what is best for us. In the end I am sure the law will be reversed, maybe one day the government will learn what most Americans already know a ban on something never works, even if the government showed proof that online casinos are run by terrorists people would still play in them, just because they are not supposed to be it is just human nature.

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How Legalized Online is Better for Society

The question we should be asking is, by banning online gambling are we going to make things better or worse? The answer to that question is simple, banning legalized and regulated online gambling in any form, just makes another way for organized crime to get a hold of peoples money, and then no one but the criminals win. If you want to keep a child from seeing an R rated movie you do not ban the movie from the theaters do you? No that would be silly you just make sure that people are doing there best to check and verify that no one under 18 gets into see the movie. By banning the movie chances are greater that someone will get a bootleg copy and show it to every kid in the town. So if you want to keep a child from gambling online then all the online casinos should be regulated and monitored, not banned. The same goes for terrorists. If you believe terrorist groups are exploiting an unregulated and unmonitored industry such as the online gambling industry, then by regulating it you can see where the money is going and make sure it is not going to fund international terrorist attacks. All that is accomplished by banning it is that the criminals get a stronger grip on the industry. The ban on online gambling is much like the war on drugs. If marijuana was legalized in the USA crimes related to it would almost go away completely, because it would be sold in stores and it would be controlled, another advantage would be that people would no longer be going to jail for marijuana related charges, this means thousands of less people getting arrested and going to jail every year, which would save us tax money that could be better spent. By making online gambling in the USA a legalized form of adult entertainment it would also bring in an estimated 1.2 billion dollars in taxes to the American government. This money could be used for schools, police and universal healthcare for all Americans. This is how you improve society, not by telling people what to do. It is human nature to want what we can not have so the more laws you put in place to stop people from doing something the better the chances are that people are going to do it. People are just as likely to become addicted to gambling at a regulated casino as an unregulated one, but the difference is that in a regulated casino they will not extend you the amount of credit that will get you into trouble in an illegal casino. And in a regulated casino they will have information on how to get help if you have a gambling problem. In an illegal casino they will not have this type of information, they want you to continue to gamble till you have nothing left, and then they will let you fall and find someone to take your place. In the long run society can only prosper if we educate people on the dangers of gambling both online and in a casino, and not from banning an industry that employs thousands of people in countries all over the world. No one gains anything from just telling people they can not do something that they are going to do anyway. It is about time the government learned this and stopped making the same mistakes year after year.

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How Inflation Can Save You Money

Many Americans suffering from sticker shock at the gas pump could get an additional 10 miles out of every fill-up. In fact, American motorists could save more than $1.1 billion in unnecessary fuel costs. One of the fastest, easiest and least expensive ways to improve a vehicle's gas mileage is through proper tire inflation. An underinflated tire doesn't roll as smoothly and the increased resistance requires more energy, robbing the vehicle of fuel efficiency. Yet one in every three cars in the U.S. has at least one underinflated tire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Underinflated tires cost the country more than 3.5 million gallons of gasoline each day. The average driver could improve gas mileage by 3.3 percent by simply keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure. For the average 15-gallon fuel tank, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) statistics suggest, that's a savings of about $1.50 on every fill-up. To help, the experts at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have developed a few more easy gas-saving tips: • Replacing a clogged air filter can improve mileage by as much as 10 percent. • Don't overload your car. An extra 100 pounds reduces fuel economy by 1 or 2 percent, says the DOE. • Use the grade of motor oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. That can improve gas mileage by a percent or two, the DOE adds. • Keep your car properly tuned. That can improve gas mileage an average of 4.1 percent. • Make sure your gas cap is on tight and not damaged. Some 17 percent of the vehicles on U.S. highways have either misused or missing gas caps, causing 147,000,000 gallons of gas a year to vaporize into the atmosphere, reports Service Tech Magazine. • Avoid quick or "jackrabbit" starts and stops. Aggressive driving wastes gas and can reduce your gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city. Observe the speed limit; gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour. • To maximize fuel economy and also improve tire performance and efficiency, Goodyear is offering free inspection of tires-regardless of brand-at any of its 750 company-owned and at participating independently owned and operated Goodyear locations across the country. If tires are underinflated, they will be filled at no charge. No appointment is necessary.

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How I spent my Vacation in Amsterdam

During the vacation I got to see many of the wonders that Amsterdam has to offer. One of the first things I went to see was the Van Gogh Museum. Having just gotten off the plane I was tired, but some of his art is just amazing to see, and I did not want to wait to see them. After going to the museum I headed into the city center to look around, maybe do some shopping and get some food. I had herd many things about Amsterdam and just thought that many of them were blow out of proportion, well I am here to tell you that they are all true. The first thing that hits you is the strong smell of Marijuana, and then you start to see the almost completely naked girls in the windows. As if the prostitutes in the windows were not enough there are live sex shows and sex shops selling every imaginable sex toy known to man on every street, but this was not what interested me. Then as I continued walking around I started to notice something besides pot, and naked females, I saw casinos. I grew up in New Jersey, just about 2 hours from Atlantic City, and after my 18th birthday I spend a good amount of time in the casinos. So I decided to go in and check some of them out. Well I wound up spending most of the rest of my time in those casinos. The first one I went to was Video Gaming machines only, but they had video poker, video blackjack and Video Slot machines as well, I did not really do well her in this place so I only spent about an hour, and about 100 Euro, then left. The next place I found was a nicer place. Unlike in New Jersey, in these casinos people are dressed up in their nice clothes instead of jeans, sneakers and T-Shirts. This casino had actual table games so I tried to play some Blackjack, but there was a player at the table that either had no idea on how to play or he was somehow involved in cheating with another player, but I am inclined to think he just did not know how to play blackjack. So I started playing at the Roulette table, and I was doing really well, at one point I was up about 400 Euro before I started losing. So I decided to leave this casino and go walking around for a while. The next day I found myself in another casino, and I decided to see if my luck was back, I went to a slot machine and put in some money and on the third spin I won another 200 Euro, so feeling lucky I decided to enter the poker room, and that is when things got really interesting. I got into a game and boy were these guys good, but I was winning just as much as I was losing, and in the end I may have even walked away with a few Euros more then when I walked in. After playing for about 5 hours I decided to go outside and walk around a bit to stretch my legs. I would up deciding to sit down and have a cup of coffee, but I did not know the difference between a coffee shop and a caf?. In Amsterdam a caf? is a place to sit and have a coffee, but a coffee shop is a place to purchase and smoke Marijuana. So as I was sitting there drinking my coffee I noticed several people rolling joints. Now I have herd about this and I hade smelled plenty of pot while I was there, but I did not realize it was sold out in the open like this. So I decided to buy some pot and try it. I went to the counter where I saw others buying their weed and the guy behind the counter was very nice and showed me a menu of what they had for sale. I wound up buying a joint of white widow. The man behind the counter told me his was very strong stuff, but I was not prepared for this. I managed to smoke about half of the joint, before I was hit with this feeling. I have been a drinker for many years, but even in my college days I was never out of my head like this. Eventually I managed to get out of there and get some fresh air, and some waffles. I decided, this was the time to back into the casino and win my money back, and in the end I lost another 600 Euro, and wound up falling off my chair in the casino and needed to be helped out. So if you are going to be going to Amsterdam, be careful the grass is really strong.

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How Hybrid Cars Work

A hybrid car is such a car in which two types of motors are synchronized to provide power to the wheels. The most popular combination is the one in which the gasoline engine is assisted by the electric motor so that the gas engine is periodically shut off in order to reserve fuel. Usually hybrid cars are subdivided into two major categories. In the first type, only the use of electric motor propels the engine at very low speeds. The electric motor has the inherent ability to assist the engine when more power is required. It helps out the gasoline engine even while climbing or passing a steep road. The Ford Escape Hybrid and the Toyota Prius fall into the initial category. The second of its kind requires extra horsepower for its gasoline engine to drive while in rapid acceleration or when moving up the hill. It utilizes that excess power only from the electric motor to assist the internal combustion engine. The Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid are ideal examples of the second category. These two engines do possess some resemblances as well. When electric motor is used to assist the gasoline engine, both of the hybrids extract power from the battery depleting power, which in turn gets simultaneously self-recharged from the gasoline engine. Hence a hybrid car does not need to be plugged into a power source to recharge its battery, which is the most important aspect of hybrid cars. Hybrid cars usually utilize sealed nickel metal hydride batteries, a technology which is popularly used in laptops and cell phones. These batteries are easy to make, cost effective and long lasting thus making it ideal for a higher valued car. Hybrid engineers more than often have opted for unconventional design facets to maximize aerodynamics inside the engine, giving rise to its slim structure. These car units originally have very low (ultra low) drag coefficient due to sleek configurations, which make the cars slippery. All carmakers strive to reduce drag, as a vehicle with less drag requires less power as well as fuel to move. The electrical system is monitored by an onboard computer system. The system is program controlled in such a way that when the vehicle is coasting downhill or the brakes are applied, polarity of the system is automatically reversed as the motor actually turns into an energy generating unit. This process is popularly known as regenerative where the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy stores up power into the battery. All hybrid cars normally shut the gasoline engine off during road signals so as to conserve fuel reserve. The phenomenon is called idle stop characteristics. It cuts electrical consumption down during idle condition other than fuel saving and emission reduction. On pressing the accelerator paddle, the gasoline engine resumes work getting assistance from electric motor. The process being silent and seamless, the loss or delay in overall performance during this time is almost negligible. The hybrids are manufactured by a special forging process termed as shot peeing, which reduces friction in the sidewalls of the cylinder thus increasing efficiency. Hybrid cars, thus, by virtue of their technological advancement, exceptional fuel economy and marginal gas emissions, can be easily termed as the next generation cars

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How Horoscopes Help you Win

Many people believe that by using astrology you can tell your future, and maybe it can not, but by following the advice given in Horoscopes many people find great luck, so how else can it be explained. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that if you believe it is true that you will have good luck on a certain day you probably will. This does not mean that the prediction was right, but if you believe good things are going to happen to you at work, in your personal life or in a casino, you will give off a positive energy that attracts other positive energies and this will help good things happen. Some people do not believe this theory either. They feel that if you believe good things are going to happen and they do it is because you were in a better mood and making better decisions which will bring about better results. No one can tell how exactly gambling horoscopes help a person win in a casino, but the fact remains that they do help people win all the time. Studies have been done to try to show exactly how horoscopes work, but no one has ever been able to come up with an explanation that seems believable. All they have been able to show is that the more you believe the better and more accurate the predictions will be. This may be because if you really believe in the accuracy of the gambling Horoscope you will find things that you rationalize to make fit into the horoscopes prediction. No one has ever been able to find any reason any form of prognosticating works, but people do believe in it and it is that belief in it that seems to make the things come true. Studies have been done in the past and have proven beyond doubt that a person who has a more positive outlook will tend to have better luck and will generally be a happier person; where as a person with a negative outlook will constantly have negative events take place around them. The only explanation scientists have ever given for this is to say that the average human only uses 10% of the brain and that the explanation for these events is hidden in the 90% of the brain we do not use, and that maybe if and when we learn the secrete for unlocking these areas of the brain we will then be able to get a better understanding of how all types of psychic predictions work. But until then all I can tell you is that if you believe that the prediction will come true then it will come true. By reading your horoscope and waiting until it says you will have a good day, then going to the casino to do some gambling you will greatly increase your chances of having a winning day and the more you believe it will happen the more it increases your chances of being successful.

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How dynamometers work

Dynamometers or dyno systems seem complicated but once you understand the basics it all becomes clear! A dynamometer is basically just a measuring tool, in the same way as voltmeters, scales or speedometers are. Among force-measuring devices, dynamometers are a flexible metallic ring that bends when a force is applied in such a manner as to tend to collapse it (the amount of bending being a measure of the applied force) and a hydraulic “load cell” that measures compressive loads in terms of fluid pressure. Once you have built your new motor, or fitted any tuning parts, it is very important to visit a good automotive Dynamometer or rolling road. If you don't, then you will never be able to properly set up your engine. A good dynamometer allows you to use a gas analyzer while under load so you can see the real air fuel mixture at all RPM's while driving. Power-measuring dynamometers may be either transmission dynamometers or absorption dynamometers. The former utilize devices that measure torque, in terms of the elastic twist of the shaft or of a special torquemeter inserted between some sections of the shaft. The torque is produced by the useful load that the prime mover, motor, or machine is carrying. Unlike transmission dynos, absorption dynamometers produce the torque that they measure by creating a constant restraint to the turning of a shaft, by applying mechanical friction, fluid friction, or electromagnetic induction. A Prony brake develops mechanical friction on the edges of a rotating pulley by the means of a few brake blocks that are squeezed against the wheel by tightening the bolts until the friction torque FR balances the torque WL. A water brake creates a resistance by circulating the water flow between a rotating impeller and a stationary shell, while an electric dynamometer generates and absorbs direct-current electricity or eddy currents. In each case, the element that exerts the restraining influence is freely cradled so that its tendency to rotate with the rotating body can be restricted and the restricted force is measured at a known distance from the axis of rotation. Torque is the product of the spring load or weight and the distance from the axis of rotation. Dynamometers also measure the torque produced by an engine in order to reveal important information about its performance. A diagnose is then presented in performance graphs, which can be easily printed and interpreted.

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How Does A Turbojet Engine Work?

A turbojet engine is a type of internal combustion engine often used to propel aircraft. Air is drawn into the rotating compressor via the intake and is compressed to a higher pressure before entering the combustion chamber. Fuel is mixed with the compressed air and ignited by a small flame in the eddy of a flame holder. This combustion technique significantly raises the temperature of the gas. Hot combustion chemicals leaving the combustor expand through the turbine, where power is drawn to employ the compressor. Although this expansion process reduces both the gas temperature and pressure at exit from the turbine, both variabels are for the most part still well above ambient conditions. The gas stream exiting the turbine expands to ambient pressure through the propelling nozzle, causing a high velocity jet in the exhaust plume. So if the jet velocity surpasses the aircraft flight speed it amazingly creates a forward thrust. Under normal circumstances, the pumping action of the compressor prevents any backflow, this kindly helps the flow of the jet engine. You can compare the whole method with a four stroke cycle, but with induction, compression, ignition, expansion and exhaust taking place simultaneously. The efficiency of a jet engine is strongly dependent upon the pressure ratio (Combustor Entry Pressure/Intake Delivery Pressure) and the Turbine Inlet Temperature of the cycle. It is also perhaps instructive to compare turbojet engines with propeller engines. Turbojet engines take a rather small mass of air and accelerate it by a large amount, whereas a propeller takes a large mass of air and accelerates it by a small amount. At great speed the exhaust of a jet engine makes it efficient at high speeds (particularly supersonic speeds) and high altitudes. On planes that go slower and fly a shorter range, a gas turbine-powered propeller engine, commonly known as a turboprop, is far more common and also more efficient. Especially small aircraft primarily use conventional piston engines to drive a propeller but small turboprops are getting smaller as technology improves each day. The turbojet mentioned above is a single spool design, where a single shaft connects the compressor to the turbine Higher Overall Pressure Ratio designs often have two concentric shafts, this is to in essence improve the stability of the compressor during engine throttle movements. Basically it's the outer shaft that connects the turbine engine to the high pressure compressor. The combustor together with the high pressure compressor spool forms the core or gas generator of the engine. We must not forget that the inner shaft connects the low pressure compressor to the LP Turbine to create the LP Spool. Either spools are free to operate at their optimum shaft speed.

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How Do They Make Auto Glass Bulletproof?

As you may know bulletproof glass is glass that is capable of stopping all sorts of bullets fired at it. This type of glass is made by using a strong but transparent material such as polycarbonate thermoplastic. Sometimes it’s constructed by using layers of laminated glass. The polycarbonate layer is often put between layers of regular glass. A bullet will probably pierce the exterior glass layer, but will be stopped by the really strong polycarbonate layer before it can pierce the inner layer of glass. There’s also what’s called bullet resistant glass that’s constructed of laminated glass layers. This is built from sheets of glass glued together using some sort of liquid rubber. One-way Bullet Proof Glass As technology advances in the field of bullet resistant glass we now have a new type of bullet proof glass called one-way bulletproof glass. These types of glasses are commonly used by armored cars. The beauty of this glass is that it will resist incoming fire arms striking the outside of the glass, while allowing those on the other side of the glass, such as guards, fire from inside the armored car, through the glass at the exterior threat outside. Usually One-way bulletproof glass is made up of two layers. A brittle layer on the outside and a flexible layer on the inside. If a bullet is fired from the outside it will hit the brittle layer first and will probably shatter an area of it. This shattering of the glass absorbs some of the bullet's energy, and spreads it out on a larger area. When the slowed down bullet hits the flexible layer, it will be stopped. However, when someone fires a bullet from the inside it hits the flexible layer first. The bullet will then go through the flexible layer because its energy is focused on a smaller area. The brittle layer will then shatter outward because the inner layer flexes and doesn’t stop the bullet's progress.

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How Do Hybrid Vehicles Work?

How many times have you pulled up to the pumps lately only to be shocked at the price of gasoline? Suddenly your $25 tank of gas is costing $40. Have you considered trading your vehicle in for something that gets better fuel economy? How about a Hybrid vehicle? If you’ve ever wondered “how do hybrid vehicles work?” read on. Hybrid vehicles address two issues – global warming by reducing emissions and reduced fuel costs. There are lots of different hybrid designs showing up on the market, so understanding how they work is very important to getting the best value for your money. If you have ever owned a moped, you can proudly consider yourself a first generation hybrid owner because they combine pedal power and gasoline. Hybrid vehicles really aren’t that new a concept. You’ll find them all around you in commercial use. Giant mining trucks, submarines, buses, and even train engines all have a fuel source and an electrical source of power. Most of the hybrid vehicles we are seeing on the market are gasoline and electric hybrids. This means they use both gas and electricity to power them. The two power sources can be combined in different ways. The parallel hybrid has a fuel tank which supplies fuel to the engine and a set of batteries which supplies power to the electric motor. Both sources are able to turn the transmission. The series hybrid is a little different. The gasoline engine turns a generator which can either power the electric motor that drives the transmission or charge the batteries. In this type of hybrid the gas engine never directly powers the vehicle. With a hybrid car the gas engine can be a lot smaller than in a conventional car so it can be a lot more efficient. Acceleration requires a larger engine to produce the power needed, but by using a smaller engine and combining it with the assistance of an electrical motor that is operating at peak load the acceleration needs of a vehicle can be met. Hybrid vehicles also capture the energy from the braking system. When the brake is applied, energy is removed from the car and dissipated as heat which is then captured and stored in the batteries for later use. Hybrid cars also have an automatic shutoff, so when the vehicle comes to a stop the engine is shut off and then restarts automatically when the accelerator is touched. This conserves energy that would be wasted when idling. Depending on the manufacture, the technology is used in various forms but the basics remain simple. Hybrid technology in the consumer auto market is still relatively new but will continue to develop and improve. Hybrid vehicles work efficiently to reduce tailpipe emissions and improve mileage. So if you are in the market for a new vehicle you might want to have a look at the hybrids.

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How Can an Engine Produce More Horsepower? Part I The Basics

So you have a lead foot (and the tickets to show for it). You want to put the pedal down and have a little more power to the pavement (don’t we all). Then let’s talk about the basics of how your engine produces power, no matter if it is a 4 cylinder rice burner or a mammoth V-8 brimming out of your hood. Let’s start with the basics. As a Crew Chief in the United States Air Force, jet engine combustion was always taught in the simplest of terms: Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow. Yes it sounds like a sultry movie you would watch at a pay by hour motel, but it will all make sense in a second. Let’s start with the first part of our friendly Department of Defense taught equation. Literally your engine “sucks”oxygen. Now follow me on this one Homer, the air from the outside travels through an intake tube to a manifold all the way into the cylinder chamber. So why do we need more oxygen? Good Question. We need the maximum amount of ambient air to fill each cylinder chamber (no matter if you have 4 or 10 of them) on the down stroke of a combustion cycle with one of the magical ingredients that produce horsepower: you guessed it, oxygen . Why? Keep reading. At this point after our “suck” part of the equation is complete, we move on too the “squeeze” part. The valve that allowed the air to enter the cylinder chamber closes and the cylinder moves upwards and squeezes the air that was “sucked” in, at the same time fuel is introduced to the chamber at this point. Now if you where a Boy Scout or had gone through Combat Survival like I did, then you know you need three things to make fire. Air (oxygen), Fuel (gasoline), and Ignition (sparkplugs, more on these later). Now we are condensing the air and the fuel, making a nice packed (and denser) concoction for a nice fire, well really an explosion. How? Keep reading. I like fireworks, and that is what you have for the third part of our equation, “bang”. Now we are cooking, with that oxygen and fuel all compressed and ready to explode. Remember I told you about the ignition, you know the sparkplugs. These little puppies produce a high intensity spark that are going to ignite that condensed concoction we have been talking about. Bang, ignition, an explosion happens and this is really where the horsepower happens. Why? Well at this point the cylinder is pushed down at X amount of force. That X amount of force is dependant on a lot of factors, which when you get right down to it is where horsepower is made. How? Because that little explosion pushes the cylinder down, in turn will push one of your other cylinders up and then that little explosion happens again. It’s a tough vicious cycle, rotating continuously, producing what is better known as horsepower. Let’s move on. So we have sucked, squeezed, banged and now we need to blow (you’re a pervert). The exhaust valve opens up and lets out the carbon dioxide that are left over after our little explosion inside the combustion chamber. Now this little cycle, which happens in milliseconds, is reproduced thousands of times a minute. You know your tachometer, RPM (revolutions per minutes), that is about how many times this cycle of combustion happens in one minute. There you go this is the very basics of how an engine produces power. If this is still a little confusing to you, well try to envision it as much as possible. Now on the next article we will talk about how we can improve this combustion cycle to produce the best possible combustion which in turn produces more horsepower from your engine. Check out: How Can an Engine Produce More Horsepower? Part II The Intake

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Hotels: How to Get Free Gifts

Planning to visit Las Vegas or any other vacational resort where casinos are a major portion of their business? I have just the thing for you. Here, I will show you how to pass off as a High Roller and collect many complimentary items and gifts. What is the Secret? The Secret is that you have to make them believe you are rich and love gambling. In short you have to impersonate a High Roller. Why? Hotels love high rollers because these players leave behind thousands of dollars each visit. And the real cool part about this is that if you act the role, casinos will lavish you with the same gifts and complimentary items that a real High Roller would receive. How ? It is not that difficult to fool the hotel and resorts with some finesse and true self-confidence. It can be done. 1) The Way you Dress: Elegant and smart is the way to go. Opt out of the baseball cap, t-shirt and jeans. Try and wear a suit or at least a regular buttoned shirt with an elegant dark jacket. It was Shakespeare who said that the clothes maketh a man, and so too, when going to a hotel resort. They judge you according to how you dress, so dress according to the role. 2) A Large Pad of Notes: Yes. Just like in the movies. Carry a large bundle of notes with you and keep them in plain sight. You do not have to really take with you that much. Instead, take a few notes and place them at the top and at the bottom of real note-size paper cuttings. Just remember to never expose this while you are in the casino. Use other notes you’re your wallet instead. But do it nonchalantly so that none of the casino personnel will notice. 3) Always Flash Your Notes Around: No matter where you go, whether its to the hotel restaurant for lunch or for to the bar. They will be watching. From time to time, use that money to play at a range of table games or video game and bet some of that money. Remember you must use some of your money to play but just do not use all of it. 4) Play Complicated Games: This is one of the more problematic things to do and requires some training at home. Learn on your own how to lay and how to bet on the high rolling games such as roulette, baccarat and craps. You could also play poker or Texas holdem in one of the larger ante tables, but in any case stick to your plan and you will soon reap the flowers. Conclusion: Above, I have outlined some of the more practical methods by which one can save money by receiving gifts from the casino. These gifts range from casino comps (free money to play), room deals that can get nearly free and many others such as free drinks, clothes, coupon to stores in Las Vegas and many more. Note that what you are doing here is completely legal provided you don't take up a false name or falsify your passport card.

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Hot Weather Affects the London Tube

The soaring temperatures on the London Tube over the summer months have been a problem for some years now. A London Underground team has attempted to come up with some engineering solutions to the problem by creating a groundwater cooling system. The trial, which starts this summer, aims to make it cooler for passengers on platforms and will be tested at Victoria station which is so deep that it is effectively under water and pumps out 35 litres (eight gallons) a second, to stop it coming through the walls. The idea of the new system is to push the water through a network of pipes into heat exchange units on the platforms, which will suck in warm air and pump out cooler air. The heat could be used to power homes and offices above and this way the temperature will be brought down. But this is only a trial to be tested this year and it is far from being put into work as well as new trains with air cooling systems that are promised for Circle, District, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines. Meanwhile the temperatures in the deepest tunnels, reach 30C (86F) in summer. These changes might affect the London Tube in a drastic way. Some of the Tube lines might be closed especially on the hot summer days. London Underground assures that there are no plans to close any Tube Lines during the summer but in the future years it might get to the point "where the underground will become literally intolerable and you could face the prospect of loss of life" as Mr Livingstone from LU advised. About 1,000 London Tube passengers were trapped for nearly two hours when three trains were held up in a tunnel. The Central Line closed after signal failures stopped the trains between Marble Arch and Lancaster Gate. The trains have been evacuated and three people were treated for the effects of heat.

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Hot Tips To Ace Your Driving Test

Undergoing the driving test is the most important criterion to getting your license. This test is usually conducted by Department of Transport of your country. Usually the test consists of two sections, namely the theory and the practical. If you’d like to get “high score” in the driving test to beat the test taking game, you should go through the driver’s license test guide written by actual driving experts before appearing for the test. You should study those books on road rules to get maximum marks in your driving test. You can easily grab a copy of the book by visiting the http://www.amazon.com and obtain it within 3-4 days. Before taking your written driving test, practice answering the example questions available in test booklets and guidebooks. You can also enroll yourself in Driving Knowledge Tutorials, which are readily available in on-line. This is a good way to get a good grasp of the written test. While doing practical driving training sessions, it is highly recommended to drive your car on roads of different standards. You can also attempt to go for hill driving. This will boost up your confidence while doing your driving tests. The vehicle, which you are going to use for your test, should be roadworthy and all tires should have a minimum depth of 1.6mm. Everything should be in perfect working order, e.g., mirrors, indicators, windscreen wipers, etc. The interior and exterior of your car should be clean. Do remember to display L-plates on your car on the day of your test drive. The driving test authorities can ask you to do a technical check of your vehicle. Sometimes they will ask you to remove a tire by using a jockey. So you should be well versed in this aspect. On the test day, you should arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes prior to your turn. When your name is called and you are brought in, your test officially begins. Good luck!

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Hot rods and their relation to American culture

For a good half-century now, the hobby of hot-rodding typically meant taking a cheap car, taking out any body part that didn’t matter (i.e. roofs, hoods, bumpers, fenders, seats, and other such nonsense), modifying the engine and/or dropping in a bigger one for greater performance (often protruding upwards from the hood), and fattening up the tires for extra traction. The term is still as accurate as ever. In fact, not even the cars in question have necessarily changed: one very typical image of a Hot Rod is a Muscle Car straight from the 1960s (the so-called muscle car golden age), restored to all its glory and then some. It’s not uncommon to take the great ancestors of cars we know today (Mustang, GTO) or ones forgotten by all but a few (Plymouth Barracuda), and send the output of its V8 soaring to 600 horsepower and above. Hot rods can be just as much about customizing as weight-saving (think of flaming paintjobs), and price isn’t necessarily an object: one notable Barracuda (“Hemi Cuda” in hot rod speak) on the cover of a major-name Hot Rod Magazine had every body panel and interior item customized to its owner’s desire. For $340,000. As for hot rods’ relation to American culture, the link is quite strong. Nearly all hot rods are American and almost always rear-wheel-drive. In our culture, quarter-mile times make the man. Enthusiasts who spend as much time in the present as the past also pay close attention to modern-day production cars like the new Mustang, and the upcoming 2009 Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger are currently headline news. Of course, no rule ever said it had to be a car, per se. Muscular + American seems to add up to enough; Jeep’s Grand Cherokee SRT-8 seems to be a hot commodity, no doubt due to the street cred of its 425-horsepower modern-day Hemi V8. Even the new Chevy Tahoe gets attention. But some define the genre on their own terms, creating the occasional aberration. One individual dropped a turbocharged-and-NOSed Buick V6 right under the hood of a Geo Metro, for crying out loud. If you can burn through the quarter-mile in 9.3 seconds at 147 MPH, who cares how you get there? If hot rods are to be defined as speed on the cheap, count on it being a part of our culture as long as Planet Earth has fuel.

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Hot rod car clubs, what they’re doing, current events

All special-interest hobbies have their followings, and Hot Rod devotees are no exception. Every week in every major metropolitan area across America, you can count on at least a few enthusiast-run clubs meeting up to do what gearheads of all tastes do: race, swap parts, cruise around on lazy weekend afternoons, fill a major venue with its very own auto show, or simply hang out and eat. Some Street Rodsclubs are dedicated to a certain cars, others to cars of a certain make, others still care not at all. Many have restrictions on age – that is, of cars that are too young. “Young” is an elastic term, and in some cases can stretch to mean anything produced before 1948. Banned, just like that. Speaking of age, enthusiasm for transportation of decades past tends to be shared by those who can remember them. Most members of these clubs belong to certain generations, and X and Y aren’t among them. The west coast (especially the south end) has supposedly always been the center of car culture in general and hot rodding specifically. Here are some of the many organizations in Southern California alone, whose very names often paint a telling picture of what to expect: - Classic Cruisers - Roam’n Relics - Sultans of Long Beach - Ventura Vintage Rods - Bean Bandits - FoMoCoMofos For a full directory encompassing all like-minded clubs as well as those for Mustangs, Camaros, Thunderbirds, Chryslers, Cadillacs, and the rest, visit www.SoCalCarCulture.com.

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Hooray For Colder Air!

Don’t you just love the first burst of autumnal cold each year? After a long, hot summer a fall chill can certainly change your perspective. No longer are you concerned with trying to find ways to stay cool, instead your thoughts are now redirected toward changing leaves, pumpkin picking, apple harvesting, and gathering enough wood before the first deep winter chill settles in. Somehow the cool air makes your feel better…more invigorated and less lethargic. You aren’t the only person or object that likes colder, denser air. Yes, your car thrives on it but only if it could get enough of it. Let’s take a look at what makes any vehicle a true lover of cold air. Your engine wants cold air and it wants it now! Say again?! Well, your engine can run on hot air, but it is the colder, denser air that helps your engine achieve maximum levels of horsepower and thrust. A special device, a cold air intake, is designed to help bring this needed “food” to your engine. The current configuration of your engine plumbing actually works as a drag on engine power. How so? The stock air box and paper air filter that were placed in your vehicle on the production line actually causes your engine to “leak” horsepower. With a cold air intake installed, your engine works more efficiently as the intake plumbing is directed away from the hot areas underneath your hood to send air through an unrestricted air filter and all the way through an efficient intake channel. With a cold air intake installed, cooler and denser air is sent in greater amounts and at higher speeds to your throttle body tapping energy that had previously been lost. How much more power should a cold air intake produce? Well, that depends on the make and model of your vehicle. Typically, quite a few imports with crowded engine bays benefit the most including Scions, Mitsubishis, and Hondas. When you order your cold air intake estimates of horsepower gains are usually supplied by the manufacturer including AEM cold air intake and K&N cold air intake. In addition to the freed up power your now efficiently working engine will gobble up less gas. With a cold air intake installed you save on fuel and get more power. Cold air intakes come in a variety of colors and some have paintable surfaces for further customization. All cold air intakes yield a “throaty” intake note, so you not only have a part that looks good, but it sounds awesome too! You can install a cold air intake in well under one hour and no special tools are needed. Order one today and soon your car will “happily” be cruising down the highway sipping in the food that it loves the most: colder and denser air.

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Honda Bumpers Prove To Be Great

Most people do not realise how effective your Honda bumper can be. And you probably do not even think twice about them. However it would be beneficial to you if knew how great they were. Why? So that you can appreciate them more. You might think they do not have much of a purpose, but you are wrong my friend. The Honda bumper provides you with a lot more than you think. Honda bumpers are shock absorbers. If and when you ever have any kind of accident, collision or crash, they can help save your life. You may not think they are an important part of the vehicle, but they are. They can decrease the amount of damage to your car during an accident. The bumpers shield the front and rear areas of your vehicle. And as great and interesting as that sounds, your bumpers are not actually considered safety devices. How weird is that? The Honda bumpers are manufactured in many types of materials. Some of these materials include aluminum, steel, plastic and rubber. Don’t forget you can always have custom built bumpers if that is what you wish. Having your Honda painted, designed and what not can drastically change the look of your car. Whatever you desire can be yours. So you can be styling and be more safe at the same time. If you want to purchase some bumpers you can always check out Auto Parts Online. They have many parts and products for every thing your Honda needs. They can even give you great deals on the bumpers and any of your future purchases. So go check them out, they can save you bundles. And they will help keep you safe at the same time. Who ever knew that something like bumpers could do all that?

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History of Go Carts

What started out as a way for airmen in the 1950s to pass the time has turned into a popular worldwide sport for many. Go carts have quickly become a phenomenon all over the globe. With most historians giving Art Ingels the credit for inventing the go cart, he built his very first one back in 1956. But that first go cart was nothing compared to the models we have today. Newer more modern go carts can now travel 160 mph or faster. Now that's amazing. This miniature Formula One racing machine is referred to by a lot of names including go carts, go karts, go-carts, shifter carts, gocarts, gokarts, enduro carts, and a number of other ways. But one thing is for sure, getting behind the wheel of one of them is exciting. Go carts are related to open-wheel Formula One or Indy Car racing. If you've ever wanted to know what it feels like to race a Formula 1 or Indy Car, while still being as safe as possible, go carts would be your best bet. And that's probably what Michael Schumacher, Sarah Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Kyle Petty all thought when they were kids. They all started their racing careers in go carts. With speeds as high as 160 mph these little machines can travel as fast as the professional race car drivers do on many of their tracks. There are many different options available today for people that want an exciting vehicle to drive. There are ATVs, dirt bikes, scooters, mopeds, go peds, mini bikes and motorcycles. But go carts are the closest thing you will find to the thrill of Formula 1, NASCAR or Indy Car racing. They are small open-wheeled vehicles with 4 wheels and no suspension. Instead of a suspension they rely on chassis flex. They are basically a smaller version of the professional open wheel race cars. Many hopefuls who dream of one day racing at the pro level will get their start in go carting. Go carts can be a stepping stone to professional Formula One or Indy Car racing. The reason is that there are many different classes in go carting. No matter what level of experience you have there is a class for you. And as you improve you can move up to increasingly higher classes with greater competition. If you can get to the top in a go cart you may have what it takes for Formula 1 or Indy. Professional racing is a very expensive sport. But with go carts drivers can get involved on a shoestring budget. It's a cheaper way to get involved with racing. Find out if you have what it takes without breaking the bank to do it. But go carting is not only for the professionally-minded drivers. Go carts are usually driven by non-professionals, people just like you or me, out for a good time and a lot of excitement. Because anyone can drive one, regardless of their experience level, go carts have become extremely popular all over the world. They can be found in just about every large city either in family fun centers or other venues. A go cart is made up of a chassis, motor, transmission, seat and 4 tires and a few other odds and ends. As mentioned earlier they have no suspension. The chassis must provide the stiffness and also enough flexibility to allow the cart to grip the road well on the straightaways as well as in the turns. The chassis can be either open or caged. The caged chassis allows protection for the driver in the event of a rollover while the open chassis does not. The cage performs a similar function as does a roll bar. Engines used in carting are typically either 2-stroke or 4-stroke. They are made by manufacturers such as Honda or Briggs and Stratton among others. You would think that the 4-stroke engines would be more powerful than the 2-stroke engines, but that's not usually the case. If you have ever wondered how fast go carts can travel you will be amazed at the top speeds. Sprint carts can usually get up to about 60 mph while the more powerful enduro carts can reach a top speed of about 90 mph. And if that's not fast enough for you how about the shifter karts that reach top speeds of 160 mph or more. You heard right, that is not a misprint and these are certainly not toys. Transmissions differ from cart to cart, but the shifter carts use a manual transmission with a clutch that allows the driver to get the most out of the motor. It seems as though every part of the go cart has become a separate entity, a specialized piece of equipment with different options available to the purchaser. And with regard to the tires they are certainly no exception. In dry weather slicks are used. They are smooth tires that grip the road well. And as they heat up while driving they get even better traction. During wet weather tires with treads are needed. These are called rain tires. And of course, how could any respectable driver racing on ice do without specialized spiked tires? That's correct, there are even go cart races on ice in some parts of the world. With the many different levels available for drivers today anyone can race at a comfortable level. And the sky is the limit to a talented driver. With a lot of practice, a bunch of talent and a little luck you might find yourself racing alongside Tony Stewart someday. It's certainly possible.

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History of Gas Scooters

The first patents for scooters go back as far as 1921. The Razor scooter was later developed by Gino Tsai in Shanghai, Taiwan and became an instant hit with the public. It didn't take long for motor scooter popularity to expand all over the globe. Even before 1950 there were as many as 110,000 scooters on the road in Italy alone. It has been just a little over 50 years since the Vespa-Douglas Corporation in the UK sold their first gas scooters. The Douglas corporation was on the verge of bankruptcy when they first began selling their gas scooters. It was a big hit at the 1950 Motorcycle Show and saved the company from possible financial ruin. From 1950 to 1958 Vespa sold over 125,000 of their gas powered scooters in the UK. Why the great success? During this period the European countries didn't have a great deal of money and there was not much gas available to the public. Due to the scarcity of gasoline and the high gas mileage of the gas motor scooter it's popularity quickly escalated. It didn't take long for the Italian models (the Piaggio from Vespa and the Lambretta from Innocenti) to branch out to other countries. In France they became so popular the French tried to get in on the boom by manufacturing their own. By the early to mid 1950s the sale of gas scooters climbed to about 1 million a year in France alone. Other countries wanted to profit from the newest craze and tried to climb on the band wagon. While some were successful others were not. Germany began to manufacture larger touring models, but this did not satisfy the public in the way the smaller, cheaper and more fuel-efficient models from Italy and France did. These smaller models were extremely popular in the European market. Tourist Scooters Manufacturers in Germany built some very strong and powerful versions and were the first to install electric starters. These larger versions were great for traveling, touring and even racing, but were not as popular as the smaller, cheaper, more efficient models used for traveling shorter distances around town. Vespa began marketing a couple of very popular gas powered scooters from Piaggio, the GS 125cc and the GS 150cc. These were improved versions of the earlier models for several reasons. The biggest reason is probably because the heavy gear mechanism rods were replaced by smaller and lighter cables. France's Roussey Scooters tried to one-up the Italian competition by coming out with a 175cc model. These were very nice vehicles and included the first water-cooled engines along with other new features, but because it had a pull-start it could not compete with the newer models from Italy that were already offering versions with electric starts. As these wonderful vehicles have evolved over the years they have become increasingly more popular all over the world. Today they are everywhere. They are cheap to purchase, economical to operate, and are very handy and functional. These are not toys and are genuinely a lot of fun to ride. There are electric, gas powered, foldable, mobility and utility scooters. The electric types are often used by kids and teens, but are also popular with the elderly and handicapped. Models for the handicapped are usually called mobility scooters. Folding varieties can be folded up and conveniently stored under desks, in closets or in other tiny areas and utility types are used for many different purposes. They are more popular than go karts, mini bikes or go carts. Scooters, sometimes called mopeds or go peds, are very functional, convenient and are here to stay.

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Hiring A Limousine

You can ride in just about any type of stretch limo for a lot less than you'd expect-- if you know how to drive a hard bargain. Steps: 1. Assess your finances. A standard limousine (four to six passengers) will set you back about $40 to $80 per hour; a stretch limo (six to eight passengers) runs slightly more--about $60 to $100 per hour. Both have an hourly minimum of four to five hours (although this is usually negotiable). For specialty limos such as a Mercedes, a Hummer or a superstretch (up to 22 passengers), costs can top out at $3,000 for the night. 2. Research, research, research. Be sure the limo operator is licensed and insured. Decide what type of limo you want (standard, stretch, superstretch or specialty) and for how long, based on the event and the number of people in your party. What are you looking for, whether it's a bar, stereo, TV and DVD player, video-gaming system, intercom, sunroof, Jacuzzi, or all of that and a bag of chips. Prices may or may not be posted online. You'll need to do some phone work to get the best deal. 3. Find out the year and make of the limo you'll be hiring, its condition, and the complimentary amenities before you give a deposit. Be sure the deposit is refundable if the limo doesn't meet with your satisfaction. Many limo companies will advertise one type of car and show up at your door with something entirely different. Most list photos of their limos on their Web sites. If quality is a top priority, plan a visit to the limo company and reserve the exact limo that suits your needs. 4. Hire a quality driver. This is crucial--a bad driver can ruin your evening. Make sure the drivers are experienced, professional and know the area. Provide an itinerary to the company beforehand so the driver knows where he or she is going and what to expect. When the driver shows up, be sure to communicate any special needs you have. 5. Ask whose responsibility it is to stock the limo with any necessary party favors ahead of time. Some companies will provide everything you need; others expect you to bring your own. Sometimes you can negotiate a lower rate if you offer to stock the bar yourself. 6. Find out if gratuities are included in the rate; regardless, you'll be expected to tip your driver, so try to keep it separate. Overall Tips: Make sure your limo is ample enough to fit everyone comfortably. If you have six passengers, get a car that accommodates eight. If you want premium liquor, negotiate that up front, or plan to bring your own. Ask if smoking (or other activities) is allowed. Even if it's not, most drivers will look the other way if the price is right. If it's truly a special occasion, don't be cheap. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for: Most higher-end limo companies have superior drivers, vehicles and accoutrements. Try to clear everything with your driver in advance. He or she is your captain for the evening and can be your best friend or worst nightmare. Overall Warnings: Make sure the limo company and their drivers are properly licensed and insured when making your reservation. This will ensure you are dealing with a reputable company.

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Highlights Of Hummer H3

Since 1992, a civilian model of the Army’s High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) – also known as the HUMVEE – was created, and the HUMMER M998 was born. After a decade of production, the HUMMER H2 was introduced in 2001 as the next stage of evolution of the first HUMMER or H1. And in the second quarter of 2005, the HUMMER evolved again, as the H3. You may wonder what the differences are between HUMMER H3 and its first two incarnations. For starters, the H3 is has a Vortec 3.5L inline cylinder engine that can give 220 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 225 lb.-ft. of torque at 2800 rpm. The HUMMER H3 gets approximately 20 MPG and comes with either a manual or an automatic transmission -- the first time buyers have had a choice. The HUMMER H3 also has 4-wheel drive with a fully locking rear differential. Underbody shielding, traction control, and GM’s StabiliTrak vehicle-stability enhancement system make it even more reliable and safe. The new HUMMER H3 can make it through 16 inches of water that’s flowing at 20 mph, or 24 inches of water running 5 mph. GM also claims the HUMMER H3 will climb 16-inch steps and rocks, and offers two kinds of tires – a Bridgestone 33-inch tire or a Goodyear 32-inch, all-terrain tire. Then there are the optional interior features – heated leather seats, front bucket seats and 60/40 split rear seats, an electric sliding sunroof, DVD-based navigation radio, four audio systems compatible with GM’s OnStar system and the XM satellite radio, power windows and door locks with lockout protection, an electric rear window defogger, outside power-adjustable manual folding rearview mirrors, a self-dimming rearview mirror with compass and outside temperature indicator, and three 12-volt, covered auxiliary power outlets, two located in front and one in the cargo area. HUMMER H3’s 4-wheel drive system is the Borg-Warner two-speed, electrically controlled, full-time 4-wheel drive system with a 2.64:1 ratio of low-range gear reduction; there's also an alternate version with a 4.03:1 ratio for the ultimate control on obstacle-climbing. Both versions have many operating modes for all driving situations. The HUMMER H3 has more off-road capabilities than the H1 and H2, with a 37-foot turning cycle, 9.1-inch ground clearance, a 25-degree maximum breakover angle when 33-inch tires are used, a maximum approach angle of 40 degrees and a maximum departure angle of 37 degrees. When it comes to frame and suspension, the HUMMER H3 has a modular three-piece frame for enhanced strength. The front is an independent torsion bar suspension, same as the rear, which uses semi-elliptical leaf springs. Standard equipment includes skid plates for protection of the steering links, and HUMMER offers optional chassis-bottled rocker panel protectors. The H3 features ABS traction control and breaking systems, and pinion steering with 17:1 ratio. Its anti-lock breaking system uses Dynamic Rear Proportioning to aid in controlling the rear breaking in panic-stop situations. Traction and controls of the H3 work in combination with the engine controls and breaking system to provide maximum traction with minimum wheel spin regardless of the conditions. The exterior highlights of the HUMMER H3; include a rear swing gate with fixed glass, plus a standard rear wiper and defogger. And, first ever from HUMMER, the H3 features a swing gate-mounted spare to maximize interior cargo space. The H3 also offers stamped-steel front and rear bumper bars, standard front tow hooks and welded-on rear bumper recovery hooks. The new HUMMER H3 is also loaded with safety features, including a reinforced passenger compartment safety cage; a fully welded, ladder-type frame to enhance crash performance and off-road capabilities; a standard front dual airbag system, optional rail-mounted, side-curtain air bags, daytime running lamps, remote keyless entry, battery rundown protection, an electronic tire pressure monitoring system and an anti-theft vehicle security system. The new HUMMER H3 may not create the same splash as the H1 and H2, but it's a vehicle that lets you maneuver in heavy city traffic and still has promising off-road capabilities.

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High Performance Doesn’t Mean High Price

When comparing high performance vs. standard replacement parts, it is of extreme importance to weigh performance and durability against value and cost. Long term costs of replacing OEM items with low-priced “budget” items or after-market replacement parts can, in many cases lead to higher consumer long-term costs. It can also lead to irreversible damage to primary and connected related systems. Obviously, if a replacement part is of lower quality and of shorter durability, it will need to be replaced more often. There are costs associated with the labor to replace these parts more often, as well as time lost for actually doing the work of replacing an automotive component. There are other "hidden" costs as well associated with this practice. They may not be costs in cold, hard cash out of pocket, but they are costly, nonetheless. A good example of this is simply shopping around for spark plug wires for my old Buick. I got in the habit of replacing the wires at least once a year, sometimes more if a problem arose. I go to the Internet and find several varieties of options online and I read the descriptions of what my choices are. They look like this: Description: Taylor Cable 69.95 8mm Street, Ignition Wire Set, Custom Fit, SST, Blue, Tin Coated Copper Braid, Non RFI, Blue Double Spring Locking Spark Plug Boots, High Temperature Rated To 550 Degrees, Competition Looks, GROUND SHIPPING ONLY Description: OEM 37.41 Premium Wire Set, Spark Plug Wire Set, OEM Fit And Quality 37.41 Description: Taylor Cable 29.95 8mm High Energy, Ignition Wire Set, Custom Fit, Blue, High Temperature, Oil Resistant, RFI Suppression, 100% Silicone Boot Ends, Double Spring Locks At Plugs, GROUND SHIPPING ONLY The first thing I notice is the huge difference in price, and like any good spendthrift, I am drawn to the cheapest spark plug wires available. Ignoring the statements about temperature ratings and RFI, I immediately think to myself, without any further research, I may want to buy the bargain set of wires. But then I think I want good wires, and the OEM brand is only eight dollars more. These are the spark plug wires that came with my vehicle, so they must be what I need. I buy them online for $37.41, have them shipped to my house and install them on my vehicle. I take my old car for a ride, to see how much better it is going to run with the new wires on it. I notice it doesn’t run any better, as a matter of fact, it now has a slight miss in the engine. So I turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and make sure everything is connected properly. The miss isn’t there anymore when I start the vehicle back up, so I am happy. I turn the radio on to listen to some tunes on the way back to the house, and I can hear the sound of my engine “running” on the radio, like a whining sound, drowning out a portion of the music. I get back to the house and look at the old wires I took off in favor of the new “original equipment” wires. They don’t look the same. The old ones look heavier and bigger. The next day, I start the car up and the “miss” is back, and the engine “whine” is still on the radio. Frustrated, I put the old wires back on the car and the problems go away. So I go back to my computer and look at custom and high performance plug wires for my old Buick, and here’s what I see: Spark Plug Wires Brand: Taylor Cable $108.95 8mm Street, Ignition Wire Set, Custom Fit, Full Metal Jacket, Black, RFI Suppression, Braided Stainless Covering To Polished Aluminum Covers Over Silicone Plug Boots, High Performance, Custom Appearance Spark Plug Wires Brand: Taylor Cable $25.95 8mm High Energy, Ignition Wire Set, Custom Fit, Blue, High Temperature, Oil Resistant, RFI Suppression, 100% Silicone Boot Ends, Double Spring Locks At Plugs Spark Plug Wires Brand: Accel $99.57 Custom Fit 300+ Race, Stainless Spark Plug Terminals, Complete EMI/RFI Suppression, 600F Temperature Resistance, More Spark Energy, More Power, Spark Plug Wire Set, 8.8mm, Wires Routed Over Valve Cover, Black This time, I do a little research to find out what I do not understand about the sales descriptions offered. Here is what I find out about the difference in spark plug wires: OEM wires generally rely on carbon conduction and are also used in the majority of stock replacement wires. This form of ignition wire is cheap to manufacture and generally provides adequate initial suppression for both RFI (radio frequency interference) and EMI (electromagnetic interference). The conduction portion is generally made of fiberglass or kevlar over which resistance conductive latex or sometimes silicone is layered over top. This reduces spark current to provide suppression. This works well while the conductor lasts, but it has a limited life. This type of conductor quickly fails if a high-powered ignition system is used. Temperature resistance is generally in the 550 degree F range. I also find out that EMI from OEM spark plug wires can cause incorrect signals to be sent to engine management systems and on-board electronic devices. This is why suppression is so important. It works the same way that RFI can cause unwanted signals to be heard on my radio receiver. Engine running problems like intermittent misses to a major loss in power loss can be the result. I also find out that the problem can get worse with age due to corrosion of the sensors and connectors. Also, high performance wires can protect in temperatures as high as 1000 degrees F. I went back to my Buick and looked at the ignition system. It had not been replaced by a high-powered ignition system. I ordered the Taylor custom 8.8-mm wires with RFI suppression for $25.57. $11.84 less than I paid for the OEM ignition wires. I installed them a few days later when they arrived and have had no problems at all. In fact, my gas mileage has increased and my responsive acceleration increased. I have had them on my Buick for two years now and they still perform as well as the day I put them on. Replacing with high performance automotive parts are generally considered upgrades and higher costs are associated with better quality and higher performance. As this exercise taught me, this is not always the case. Higher performance means value-added in the long-term. This relates to better customer satisfaction, better performance and durability, sometimes even less expense, but always a better value and a lot less hassle.

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High Gas Prices Inspire Con Artists

The high price of gasoline brings out the worst in some people. It also brings out the gullibility in others. A spate of rip-offs have been uncovered recently, all designed to take advantage of people's desperation to lower their fuel bills. Texas based company BioPerformance, Inc., was shut down in May for being an illegal pyramid scheme and marketing a "magic gas pill" that wasn't magic at all--unless moth balls are magic. Drawing on the desire for cheap gas at a time when gas prices are at record heights, BioPerformance claimed to have a "magic gas pill" that would increase fuel efficiency by 30% and reduce harmful emissions by half. In independent laboratory tests at the University of Texas and a university in Florida, the gas pills were discovered to be nothing but moth balls! Moth balls not only won't improve gas mileage, they can actually hurt your car's engine instead of helping it. Moth balls are also deadly to people, although the Bioperformance bottle claimed the pills were non-toxic. "These claims are bogus," said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. "The pill does absolutely nothing to improve gas mileage. The company is merely a smokescreen to trigger the recruitment of more and more paying members into what appears to be an illegal pyramid scheme.” Along with promoting a product that is dangerous, BioPerformance was found to be an illegal pyramid scheme masquerading under the disguise of a multi-level marketing company. In legitimate multi-level marketing, profit comes from how much product a person sells; in illegal pyramid schemes, profit comes from recruiting more people into the program. According to the BioPerformance website, at the time the company was shut down, it had 4,500 members in Texas and $25 million in sales. All that was built in just five months, which goes to show how desperate people are to save money at the gas pump. You must be careful, there are very few product on the market today that will help you get better gas mileage. Bioperformance is one of the worst cases and fortunately, they've been put out of business and their owners are in serious legal trouble.

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High Gas Prices Bring Flood Of Bad Products

Title: High Gas Prices Bring Flood Of Bad Products Word Count: 338 Summary: In a world where gas prices are at record heights, there are lying scumbags who will take advantage of your desire to get more miles to the gallon. Lately there have been a flood of products on the market claiming to boost gas mileage, but very few of them actually work. First, there are fuel additives like the Platinum Gas Save and the BioPerformance pill. Neither works, and the BioPerformance pill has been proven to be nothing but moth balls, which are toxic. Then the... Keywords: fuel costs, gas prices, cheap gas, save money on gas Article Body: In a world where gas prices are at record heights, there are lying scumbags who will take advantage of your desire to get more miles to the gallon. Lately there have been a flood of products on the market claiming to boost gas mileage, but very few of them actually work. First, there are fuel additives like the Platinum Gas Save and the BioPerformance pill. Neither works, and the BioPerformance pill has been proven to be nothing but moth balls, which are toxic. Then there are the Fuel Genie and Tornado, which are mounted in the air flow meter of your car. They are supposed to affect the way air is sucked into the car, but have yet to be proven effective in improving mileage. However, altering the air flow of your car can make it overheat, possibly causing permanent damage. There is also the Predator and many similar knock-off products. The predator costs a hefty $400 and reprograms your car to ignite the fuel earlier, which makes the fuel burn longer. Though the initial aim is to increase horsepower, customers have reported getting better gas mileage as a happy side effect. And these products DO work like they say. But, they're risky. When the engine burns less fuel by this method, there is the risk of overheating it. Since the car is using less gas, it doesn't have the ability to cool itself properly. Again, this can cause your engine to overheat and perhaps even ruin it completely. No one want to save a few bucks on gas just to blow their engine! Many mechanics are wary of all these additives and gizmos. "Yeah, you might get a little better gas mileage out of it, but you might have just taken 50,000 miles of life off the motor by trying to do it," said Larry Perry, the Magic Mechanic radio host. The Environmental Protection Agency has been looking for and testing gas-saving products for over thirty years and has found very few that meet its standards. So be careful. In a world where gas prices are at record heights, there are lying scumbags who will take advantage of your desire to get more miles to the gallon. Lately there have been a flood of products on the market claiming to boost gas mileage, but very few of them actually work. First, there are fuel additives like the Platinum Gas Save and the BioPerformance pill. Neither works, and the BioPerformance pill has been proven to be nothing but moth balls, which are toxic. Then there are the Fuel Genie and Tornado, which are mounted in the air flow meter of your car. They are supposed to affect the way air is sucked into the car, but have yet to be proven effective in improving mileage. However, altering the air flow of your car can make it overheat, possibly causing permanent damage. There is also the Predator and many similar knock-off products. The predator costs a hefty $400 and reprograms your car to ignite the fuel earlier, which makes the fuel burn longer. Though the initial aim is to increase horsepower, customers have reported getting better gas mileage as a happy side effect. And these products DO work like they say. But, they're risky. When the engine burns less fuel by this method, there is the risk of overheating it. Since the car is using less gas, it doesn't have the ability to cool itself properly. Again, this can cause your engine to overheat and perhaps even ruin it completely. No one want to save a few bucks on gas just to blow their engine! Many mechanics are wary of all these additives and gizmos. "Yeah, you might get a little better gas mileage out of it, but you might have just taken 50,000 miles of life off the motor by trying to do it," said Larry Perry, the Magic Mechanic radio host. The Environmental Protection Agency has been looking for and testing gas-saving products for over thirty years and has found very few that meet its standards. So be careful.

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High Fuel Cost And What It Means To Our Everyday Lives

According to our recent poll, the rising cost of fuel has caused many families and individuals to restrain from driving habits that we've been so accustomed to. Before the fuel cost skyrocketed we wouldn't think twice about hopping in our car for a 50 or 60-mile trip, perhaps to a zoo or other recreational area for a leisurely Sunday outing with our families. But by the statements of those who responded to our poll, it appears that these leisurely drives are being limited or in some cases, families are simply staying home more. In order to combat his high fuel expense, M. Cooper from Saint Louis Mo, a consultant that drives 20,000 mile plus per year recently traded in his Ford Taurus for a new Honda Civic that gets 41mpg. Another consumer stated the fuel prices have drastically changed their life style, they've quit going out to dinner, going to the movies and even cancelled their vacation plans. What once cost him 42.00 to fill up his truck, now cost $110.00. We have a lot less money than we did before this all started. We've drastically reduced the amount of driving, only when necessary and have attempted to combine trips, we do not do any extra driving unless it is for school or work, so we stay home much more and do not have extra money NOW! Matt Downer from Downers Grove, Illinois seems to have at lease somewhat of a positive spin on the situation. I've become a lot more in shape because I walk everywhere or bike, I think it's a blessing in disguise, America is the most obese country in the world and maybe this will slim it down a bit, also a lot fewer fuel emissions if people don't drive the earth won't die. What ever your thoughts and opinions are for the recent climb in prices, I think it's clear that until the prices come down, the majority of the everyday working class people will be forced to continue to deprive themselves of even the most basic luxuries. While we can't control the price per gallon, we can at least follow a few basic guidelines and reduce our cost, albeit a minimum amount, but at $3.00 per gallon, even a minimum amount will help our pocketbooks. Listed below are UsedCarWise.Com's Top 10 tips for increasing your fuel mileage. 1. Set the tire pressure to the recommend psi as per the tire placard or label of your vehicle. (Always adjust tire pressure with cold tires) 2. Avoid excessive idling times, such as warming your car up in the mornings (It serves no purpose anyway) 3. Instead of going thru the drive thru at fast food chains, go inside to order. This will of course avoid excess idling while in line. 4. Remove any excessive weight from the trunk or bed of your truck (This doesn't include over weight spouses either) 5. Remove luggage racks for aerodynamic reasons. 6. Make sure the steering and suspension system end is aligned properly, a mis-aligned steering system will cause excessive drag and reduce fuel mileage. 7. Use Cruise Control while driving at highway speeds. 8. Reduce your speed by 5mph, this may be the biggest saver of all, and if you think about it, 5mph will not get you to your destination much quicker. (Just be prepared for 1 finger hello's and horn honkers) 9. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained, especially the air filter. If your check engine light is on, have it corrected as soon as possible, it could be a defective sensor or other mechanical fault that will severely impact fuel mileage. Always use the proper grade of engine oil as well, the wrong grade can impact fuel mileage by 1% or more. 10. Avoid jackrabbit starts and aggressive driving habits. While the above tips may not be new, they certainly bear not just repeating, but adhering to as well. And with the cost of fuel at record highs, we need all the help we can muster.

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Helpful Tips For Buying A New Car

Buying a new car can be fun and exciting, but it can also be very stressful. After all, it is a very big decision. If you are organized, armed with knowledge, and understand the game, you’ll find the experience a lot more enjoyable so here are some tips for buying a new car. Start with the basics. Decide what type, size, and price range meets your needs; then move on to the details of the deal. The invoice price is what the dealer paid for the car, not including any incentives from the vehicle manufacturer. The sticker price is the price the dealer wants you to pay for that car, including any optional packages that may be on that particular vehicle. Find out the invoice cost of the car. This is the key to what type of deal you can get. Once you know what the dealer paid, you can better negotiate with the dealer. The dealer typically isn’t going to give you this information, so you’ll have to play detective and round it up yourself. You can easily get this information by spending less than $20 and calling the Consumer Reports New Car Price Service. It’s a good investment because it usually results in about a $1,200 savings. Now it’s time to get ready to bargain. Ask the salesperson to deal on their base markup over cost. Never bargain off the sticker price. You’ve got the invoice price and that’s what you bargain off of. What type of deal you can get depends a lot on supply and demand. If the car you are looking at is in high demand, but there aren’t a lot of them available you could end up paying the full sticker price. On other models, you could land up paying just $500 over invoice and that would be a good deal! Be wary of the “for just a few” game. It’s a game of up-selling for services and items you often don’t need – undercoating, fabric protection, rust proofing, windshield etching, extra warranties, etc. Some of these services are nice; but most aren’t needed. Be careful because they can very quickly add a couple thousand dollars to your costs. So don’t get caught up in the “for just a few dollars more you can have…” If you have a vehicle you are going to trade in, don’t disclose this information to the salesperson until the price of the new car has been established and agreed upon. That way the price you are given for your trade is the true amount that is being offered rather than some inflated figure on paper. Then you can decide if you really want to trade your vehicle in. Often, selling privately is a better choice. Keep your stress down by knowing what you want before you begin. When it comes time to get your financing in place know what size payment you are comfortable with and then work your terms to meet that payment size. Again, don’t get caught in the up-sell game. These tips for buying a new car will have you smiling and relaxed through the entire buying process.

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