Monday, January 31, 2011

Memphis, Tennessee - The Home of Elvis Presley

Often seen as the founding father of pop and the rock and roll music movement, Elvis Aaron Presley was a legend in his lifetime and his death left one pair of unfilled blue suede shoes. Famous for his dark quiff, lip curl and hip gyrations, the King of modern music spent much of his life living in Memphis.

His family first moved to Memphis when Presley was just 13, having been born in Tupelo, Mississippi. It was here where he was first exposed to African American music - an important formative experience for this young budding musician. In November 1948, Elvis moved in to the Courts housing complex in Memphis and enrolled at the Humes High School. Beale Street in downtown Memphis was a growing blues scene where Elvis would take much of his inspiration. Stretching along the Mississippi River to East Street, the area is still a hotspot for tourists with regular festivals and outdoor concerts. Presley would hang out and listen to rhythm and blues, getting a taste for the musical talents of artists like Sister Rosetta, Arthur Crudup and Rufus Thomas.

If you're lucky enough to have a Memphis office or live in the area, then you are in the heart of Elvis land! Elvis himself took a few jobs in the area when he was a teenager growing up there, working shifts at Loew's State Theater, MARL Metal Products and Precision Tool.

But perhaps the most famous Elvis legacy is the Graceland mansion on 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard on Highway 51 South. Standing out in the crowd with tall white pillars and 13.8 acres of estate, the mansion has since been made into a museum to commemorate the singer. In March 2006 it was declared a National Historic Landmark and only the White House can boast more visitors to an American attraction. Elvis lived here from 1957 with his mother Gladys and father Vernon Presley.

Sadly, it was in Graceland where Elvis died on August 16, 1977, leaving behind a host of unforgettable songs. From Heartbreak Hotel to Hound Dog, Elvis had hit after hit and legions of screaming fans who were greatly saddened by the loss of this icon. His most popular tunes included All Shook Up, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Blue Suede Shoes, Can't Help Falling in Love, I Can't Stop Loving You, Jailhouse Rock, It's Now or Never, A Little Less Conversation and Love Me Tender. However, his musical legacy lives on, with millions across the world still hailing to the King.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Three Six Mafia - Kings of Memphis

Three Six Mafia is a rap group formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1991. At that time they consisted of brothers DJ Paul, Lord Infamous and Juicy J. The number of members changed throughout the years. At one time Three 6 Mafia had as many as six members including Crunchy Black, DJ Paul, Gangsta Boo, Juicy J, Koopsta Knicca and Lord Infamous. Three 6 Mafia was originally called "Backyard Posse" and released a number of EPs and mixtapes through Prophet Entertainment. They sold their music throughout Memphis and the Mid-South. Soon everyone in Memphis seemed to own a Three Six Mafia mixtape or EP. DJ Paul and Juicy J eventually formed Hypnotize Minds Records where they promoted underground rappers such as Mystic Stylez, Gangsta Boo, and Crunchy Black all of whom made guest appearances on Three Six Mafia albums.

The groups first album Mystic Stylez was released in 1995 through Prophet Entertainment. Since their inception, the group has seen several changes of group members. Today, Three 6 Mafia consists of original members Juicy J and DJ Paul. Because of their large cult following, the demand for original Three Six Mafia mixtapes has grown. Their two platinum albums- When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 and Most Known Unknown, are two of the most sought Three Six Mafia albums. Many Three Six Mafia mixtapes feature collaborations with artist such as Jim Jones, Paul Wall and Ludacris.

DJ Paul released a solo album entitled Scale-A-Ton May 5, 2009. Juicy J's solo CD Hustle Till I Die was released in June 16, 2009. Today most fans download the groups music using iTunes and mp3s. Original recordings of Three Six Mafias classic dark and grungy beats are collectable items that can still be enjoyed by hip hop fans. Their latest album entitled Laws of Power was delayed for several months. Because the members of the group changed so many times over 15 years, Each Three Six Mafia mixtape features different collaborations with different rappers. Mixtapes of the group's tenth album Laws of Power are not available, though they can be purchased in the form of CD, mp3, and streaming download.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Daily Car Insurance

Looking for daily car insurance, it is very easy because there are many offering not just in their offices but on the internet as well. Comparing the prices of short-term car insurance is made easier by just looking in the internet than by walking into their handsome but distant offices or calling them on the phone one-by-one (you can only walk-in up to 5 in a day, call twenty in a day, but you can inquire into a hundred in the internet).

The numbers of insurance companies working online is increasing because of lower operating costs and more viewing of audiences. The internet has enabled more companies to save money, and they are likely to pass their savings to their customers by reducing and improving rates. It also enables them to reach out and give insurance to other people.

A short-term insurance is useful for driving a vehicle for a short length of time, 30 days to as short as a day. It also enables a vehicle without long-term insurance to be used legally. It is also useful when you are just looking for long-term insurance quotes for a time and you need to drive a car.

Another practical use of it is to insure another driver using your car. Most insurance companies refuse coverage to their insured car when driven by another person not specified in the contract. Having a short-term insurance to it can still provide cover in a legal way.

Temporary car insurance is useful when you are taking a car for spin and test drive. Many of them are offered in the internet and have online quotes that are faster, and you can look for other quotes in your research. It can also be purchased online that proves to be handy, fast and easy.

Friday, January 28, 2011

One Day Car Insurance - For emergencies

Do you have an emergency? If yes, you may want to drive a car to a neighboring town. You may have borrowed your friend's or neighbor's car. Get your self one day car insurance right away. Temporary car insurance is a great idea if you have an emergency as you are covered the same day you arrange the policy. No more long waits unlike traditional car insurance policies. Cut down on the cost of insurance premiums, with a short term insurance policy. You no more have to wait for long to get an insurance policy approved. You don't have to obligate yourself for a whole year as you can now drive away the same day you set up the policy.

You can take out a short term insurance for a day or you can cover yourself to drive for up to 28 days. This insurance policy helps you drive a car that does not belong to you. You might have borrowed it from your friend or relative as your car is under repair or you don't own a car. In UK, thousands of drivers get caught for not having a proper insurance. It is considered illegal to drive a car in UK without an appropriate car insurance. Such an insurance policy allows you to legally drive a borrowed car and get suitable compensation for any damages caused due to accident, theft, fire or other natural calamity etc.

It is ideal for an emergency situation as You can get insurance cover immediately by completing a short online form and you can be insured to drive the same day.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Memphis BBQ - Seven Restaurants in Seven Days.

I am a huge Barbecue Fanatic. So one of my favorite places to visit on Earth is Memphis, Tennessee. The home of the Blues is also the home of some delicious Memphis Barbecue.

There is nothing else quite like sinking your teeth into the smokey goodness of the just right ribs at Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous or enjoying the Blues-backed tangy sauces on Beale Street. If you live for good barbecue it's hard to go wrong in Memphis because there is a great joint on almost every corner. Your biggest problems you will have will be deciding were to begin, where to go next and not wanting to leave.

Here are my can't-miss choices for Memphis Barbecue Heaven if you have a week to eat in the Home of the Blues.

I'd suggest beginning at the most storied of all of Memphis barbecue restaurants, Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous. You enter the restaurant from an alley that's full of heavenly smells of smoking pork and customers waiting to get a seat. How can you not love a world famous barbecue joint that's in an alley? The 'Vous is known for it's "dry ribs" that use only a spicy barbecue rub and no sauce. Not to worry if you love barbecue sauce -- a cold drink of beer with each bite will work just nicely.

The Rendezvous is in midtown near the world famous Peabody Hotel. Head a couple of blocks south to "The Home of the Blues", Beale Street, and you will find several more excellent restaurants to try. Sitting right across the street from each other at the entrance to Beale are B B King's and Blues City Cafe. Both serve tangy sweet, sauce covered ribs and pulled pork with a backdrop of some of the best blues music you'll ever hear. Both restaurants feature full menus, ranging from gumbo to crab. But who cares -- we're here to eat barbecue!

East a bit on Beale, past the Elvis stores, the Blues bars and Fed-Ex Forum, you'll find Silky O'Sullivan's. Don't let the Irish name fool you. Mr. O'Sullivan knows his barbecue. Start your meal with a plate of BBQ Nachos then get down to serious eating with a rack of the ribs. Just be careful with the "Diver!"

Getting out of the downtown area, don't miss Corky's and Interstate. Even though both places have gone "chain" and are apt to be full of tourists, both have excellent barbecue and you can pick up a bottle or two of their sauce to take home with you.

On the last night of your stay treat yourself with a trip to the place where the locals go when they want barbecue, Cozy Corner. Michael Stern of "Roadfood" says, "If you have time for just one barbecue meal in Memphis (or anywhere on earth), go to Cozy Corner." The specialties of this down-home joint are barbecued cornish game hens, barbecued spaghetti and barbecued baloney. All three have to be tried to be believed.

That's seven day's worth of Memphis barbecue for a normal person to try or about a day and a half's worth for the true barbecue Nut. But even if You eat barbecue for lunch and dinner, you can get your fill in Memphis.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Why the drama, even in the current economic Sells.

In any market, there are three things that helps a home sell faster: the right location, the right price and the right feeling for the individual that is looking to buy. Two of these are controllable; and the latter....well there is hardly anything that can be done about the property's location.

Even in this economy and the current real estate market , people are still buying homes. Job transfers into and out of Memphis are still taking place, both civilian and military. There are still individuals retiring and transitioning from one home to the next. And as few as they may be, in a large city like Memphis, some people are in great financial situations and are taking advantage of low interest rates and these individuals are looking to make a major home purchase. So the bottom line is although the real estate market has seen a dramatic down turn, homes are still selling which is why it is so important that home sellers make their home memorable! Any Memphis real estate agent will tell you that the market is indeed saturated with enough homes. You can see for yourself by taking a look at a site like Realtor.com. If your home doesn't stand out and make potential buyers remember your great room or the wonderful master suite with the cozy sitting area, you can forget it.

This brings me to the most important thing that can be done to help sell a house; and that is marketing the home effectively both internally and externally. Internal marketing is doing everything possible to prepare the actually property for resale, also called "home staging". Staging involves decluttering, deodorizing (or cleaning) and depersonalizing the property. De-cluttering is giving rid of more than half of a rooms furnishings, collections or "what-nots" (as we called them back home), etc. As connected as we can become to these items over the years, they are considered big distractions to potential buyers-- get rid of them! Deodorizing or cleaning may involve hiring a professional cleaning company to come into the home to ensure the carpet and other surface is spotless and to rid the the house of any other odors. Your home is competing with the brand new homes that are also on the real estate market. You must try to convince a potential buyer that there is little difference between your home and the brand new one; in fact yours is better! Lastly, depersonalizing is many times neutralizing the space as much as possible. As much as I enjoy the color red, not everyone does, especially on the walls. Bold colors are fine to accessorize with but should be avoided at all cost on large surfaces like walls, floors, furnishings. Also get rid of all photos, including those of adorable children, grandchildren and cocker spaniels! You want to help potential buyers imagine themselves living in the house-- this is very difficult to do when your personal touches are at every turn.

Much of this work can be done by the home seller; however it should be noted that under 10% of individuals can objectively view their home in order to do the job well. Most certified home stagers are specially trained in what appeals most to potential home buyers; they will have an eye for creating special emotional points throughout the home that will connect will the widest range of buyers. The cost of home staging services in Memphis will range anywhere from $150 to $1000K depending on what needs to be done to prepare the home for the market. Home staging has to make financial sense; otherwise you have surely wasted your money. If you are putting money into an upgrade or service for a resale property, you definitely should know what your return on investment will be. If the thought of putting additional costs toward a home you are trying to sale turns you off right away, I would suggest that you try to remember that the cost of staging is much much less than the first price reduction of your home. This is where external marketing comes in. External marketing is what the agents does to help sell the home. This could include open house showings, real estate publication submission, and the internet. According to 2007 research done by the National Association of Realtors, 84% of homeowners used the internet to search for homes even before contacting their agent. This is why it so important that homes are properly staged so that good photos are taken and posted on all the real estate websites.

The The aim is to bring a potential buyer to your door as much as possible and we hope to wow with the "reception areas" ?????????????????????!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Automated Benefits

One of main concerns for car owners who want to insure their car's safety is the price that they have to pay. What some people fail to realize is that what is more important are the benefits that they will get from their car insurance and not the amount that they will spend. Safety and convenience should be the top priority.

Car insurance benefits widely differ depending on your insurance provider, the type of car insurance you want and the benefits you want to include.

The most important car insurance benefit is the rebate or the back payment which you can claim from the insurance company if in case you got involved in an incident. If your car or vehicle is insured you do not have to worry about the costs of repair or payment for damages. You are sure that even if you do not have enough money in your pocket, you would not get into bigger trouble because of the repair and damage expenses.

Another important thing is the medical benefit which will cover for all the medical expenses. This includes laboratory fees and payment even for every single needle or pill that you will need. This applies to you as the driver, if in case you got injured. Or it can even cover for the medication expenses of the other party who was involved in the collision, in case you also have to shoulder this.

There is also the property damage benefit. Most of the time, it is not only the car that is damaged from the accident. It sometimes includes damage to properties like maybe a broken fence. Most insurance companies offer property damage benefit which will lessen your worries if in case you damage another person's property.

Comprehensive coverage is also another benefit you can avail from your car insurance. Comprehensive coverage covers all the natural calamity damages and even theft. So, the amount needed for the repair of the vehicle or replacement of the vehicle's parts will be covered.

With a reliable car insurance, you do not need to worry so much if you get involved in an unwanted incident. This will save you from a major headache. That is why car insurance is a must for all car owners and drivers.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Financial assistance for single mothers.

Financial aid for single mothers is available either through federal welfare services or through private organizations.

Who is qualified?

Not all single mothers can take advantage of special financial help packages. Only those whose earnings fall below a certain level are considered low-income individuals and qualify for welfare benefits. To find out if you qualify for and may avail yourself of federal welfare services, you must complete the application form available at your local welfare office.

Each program has its own income limits. Whether or not your income falls within the limit depends on the type of income you have, your family's expenses, and any other special circumstances your family may have. Each program also has resource limits. Things that can be converted to cash (bank accounts, stocks, and other properties) are considered to be resources. Only certain non-U.S. citizens may receive welfare benefits. Check with your local office for details.

What happens if you are not qualified?

If you do not qualify for welfare benefits, or if your needs are not covered by any specific welfare program, you may take advantage of grants offered by the U.S. government to single mothers. In exchange for the grant, you must perform some service or task required by the grant terms. There are 900 grant programs offered by 26 federal grant-making agencies. Some grant categories are agriculture, art, and education. You may visit http://www.grants.gov and http://www.neh.gov for details on grant application.

Other sources

Many schools offer scholarships specifically to single mothers. In order to find out about these, you may visit the financial aid office of the school you are currently attending or wish to attend.

There are also some private organizations that give grants and financial assistance to single mothers. Singlemom.com has a "financial gifting program." It awards cash grants to deserving Single mothers every month. Many other similar business information and financial assistance to the Internet.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

How to get the best deal at Pottery Barn Kids Outlet.

Pottery Barn Kids outlet storesare now open in Dawsonville in Georgia, Birch Run in Michigan, Riverhead in New York, Jeffersonville in Ohio, Gaffney in South Carolina, Memphis in Tennessee, San Marcos in texas and Leesburg in Virginia. The Company recommends that customers call the store to confirm their location and hours before making a trip to one of the outlets.

By far the best deal available in a Pottery Barn outlet for kids is that of kid furniture. Items over here are a cool 40 percent less than the retail price. However, there is more to getting a good deal than more people actually know. What most people are hardly aware of is that they can get up to 75 percent off the normal price on certain merchandise available here. All they have to do is wait for a clearance sale. There are clearance sales that take place semi annually.

To know when a sale is happening here is very simple. All it requires is a regular watch of the Pottery Barn website. Over here, click on the link for Sale and then click on Clearance. Of course, the risk here in waiting for an item to go on sale is that it may be sold out before it can come up for sale. Unfortunately, when that happens, it is the end of the story for that particular item. Because if an item is gone at Pottery Barn, that is the end, it is gone forever.

Another great way of getting merchandise for kids at reduced rates is by buying a Pottery Barn credit card and earning merchandise credit and Coupons from time to time. Les programmes d'incitation qui fournissent des services li�s aux marchands de carte de cr�dit entre eux. A discount of 5 per cent on the first purchase. In addition, after the card reward points and will be presented to any account holder on the store, Pottery Barn Kids.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Why is auto insurance for people over;

You're 18. You've just passed your driving test. You've got your dad's old car and the keys. Still though, there's one more thing you need before you get on the road for the first time - insurance.

Unfortunately, young people's car insurance is a little unfair. Often - well, always - it's substantially more than what an average driver would expect to pay. There are a few reasons for this. You may not agree with them but your only available form of protest would be to not buy insurance. Which would be illegal, get you arrested and get your car taken off you. So probably not a good idea.

Anyway, moving on; one big reason that young people's car insurance is more expensive is because you don't have an established driving history. However, as mentioned, if you pass your driving test at 25 you'll still get a cheaper insurance than an 18 year old. Why? Because of statistics.

Insurance is, for the most part, based on your risk as a statistic, rather than as an individual. Newly qualified drivers get charged more because the statistics say that in the first two years of passing your test, you're far more likely to have an accident. One in five will have one in their first year on the road.

Of course this doesn't explain why younger people have to pay more than older people. Again, the answer is statistics.

According to statistics published by the Association of British Insurers in 2008, 18 year old drivers caused an average of 50 collisions a day. The ABI claim that an 18 year old driver with a year of experience (so someone who was pretty quick off the draw on getting their license) is still twice as likely to make a claim on insurance than a 30 year old driver with the same length of experience.

Then there's the fact that nearly a third of fatalities on UK roads are caused by young drivers between the age of 17 and 25. Without dwelling too much on that morbid figure - and without being too callous over it either - it's worth considering that fatal accidents tend to be very expensive ones. Beyond the cost in human life, an insurance company will generally have to pay for compensation, repairs/replacements, as well as possibly legal costs.

On a less tragic note, young drivers are also statistically more likely to experience theft, fire and vandalism on their vehicles. Why, no one knows - but the figures are there and they equate to more claims on insurance in the end.

One of the reasons that's often put forward for the statistics is that teenagers and other young drivers are more likely to have passengers when driving than older drivers. It's not a huge stretch of the imagination to assume that most people who pass their driving test at 18 - and have a car - will end up giving lifts to their younger or less mobile friends.

Anyway those are the reasons. It may seem unfair if you're a boy 18, sober, sensible driver and you never have a claim on your life. The only thing you really need to do is get a policy in which you can begin to build a non-bonus as soon as possible.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Temporary Auto

Temporary Car Insurance can be purchased for several reasons. If an individual buys a car and only needs insurance to get it home and find other insurance, they can purchase a temporary car insurance policy. If a group of friends are going on vacation together and will trade off driving responsibilities, temporary car insurance can be purchased to cover all of the drivers for the length of the vacation. If an individual does not have an established relationship with the insurer, temporary car insurance can be very expensive. And, in some states there are no provisions for temporary auto insurance.

If you live in a state that does not allow temporary car insurance, have a vehicle that you only want to insure for an extremely short time and you have an established policy with an insurer for another vehicle, you can add the new car onto your established policy and then cancel the coverage when you don't need it any more. If you do not have insurance with an insurance company, your options become more limited. You will need to purchase a term policy, usually a 6 month minimum then cancel when you no longer need the coverage. This solution for temporary auto insurance can be very expensive since most insurance companies charge a cancellation fee when a person who has not history with the company cancels early.

When traveling by car to another country, such as Mexico, it is important to know that American liability insurance will not cover accidents that you may have in Mexico. You will need to get Mexican Liability Insurance. Most insurance in Mexico is issued as a standard policy and costs around $150 for six months of coverage. You can get temporary auto insurance for driving through Mexico on the internet or at road-side stations when you enter Mexico. It is also important to know that if you rent a car in Mexico you will still need to purchase Mexican Liability Insurance for that car. Your credit card will only pay for the rental and not for the insurance you will need while you are there.

Temporary car insurance is very important if you are traveling with friends, making a new vehicle purchase and don't have your established insurance policy information with you, or you're traveling to another country. your car insurance will provide a provisional guarantee should not drive without problems.

Monday, January 17, 2011

An easy way to lose weight.

In a lot of things, there is a simple solution and a hard solution. Many people, with little knowledge, do the hard solution. They do not pick that solution because they want to do the hard solution. They pick it because they do not know of a simpler solution. For example, with weight loss, many people try to lose weight the hard way. Examples of the "hard way" include diet pills and all those other products featured on television. People trust their bodies and their life to those products because they think those products will work. However, they soon find out the HARD way that those things do not work. So what exactly works?

The first thing that will help anybody lose weight is the proper diet. Eating the right food will not only help you lose weight, but it will help you regulate it and keep it off forever. If you currently eat lots of fatty foods or foods filled with sugar, you are not eating the proper food. Eliminate all those foods that are high in fat and high in sugar and you will see yourself losing more weight. Foods like fruits and vegetables are very important to anybody's diet. If you eat two servings of fruit daily, and two or three servings of vegetables daily you will be healthy. Also drink enough water every day because water is important to our diets.

The other thing you must do in order to lose weight is exercise. Many people think that exercise is hard. That is true, but only if you are not used to it. If you have been sitting on the couch every day just watching TV, of course you cannot just go to the gym and start lifting weights straight away. You must first get your body used to physical exercise. One great way of getting your body used to physical exercise is walking. Go outside every day when you have free time. Walk around the block and let your heart pump some blood in your body. The blood circulation is good for you and your body will begin to burn some fat and calories. Once you are used to physical exercise, you can then begin doing tougher exercises. The choice of what exercise you do is up to you.

Proper diet and exercise are the simple ways of losing weight. Notice I did not say easy ways, because they are certainly not easy things to do. However, they are simple, in that, they give you the results that you want and if you keep doing them you will keep the weight off forever.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The overall approach of the insurance policy.

When we think of life insurance, people generally take the shotgun approach and randomly pick an amount of insurance they believe to be sufficient to support their dependents in the event of their death. However, choosing the correct amount of insurance requires an approach that determines exactly what needs should be met. By understanding what our needs are and how insurance can fill those needs, we can better determine how much insurance is coverage is sufficient.

When shopping for life insurance, the majority of people only consider their earnings and look to life insurance to replace their income should they die unexpectedly. In order to calculate the necessary life insurance required, a person should approach the life insurance selection process from a total needs approach. By utilizing the total needs application, the primary income provider in the household meets the needs of the family immediately upon death and needs in the future.

Immediate needs are those needs required to meet daily expenses such as the monthly mortgage, car payments, clothing and food. Transitional need are funds made available to beneficiaries for life changes in the absence of the breadwinner such as moving expenses should the family need to move to another location. The amount of debt owed is another consideration when determining the amount of life insurance needed. Debt elimination in many cases will be a major concern for a the remaining spouse and life insurance should provide a way to eliminate all or a large portion of outstanding debt.

One of the most important applications of life insurance is spousal income over the life of the remaining spouse. In many cases one spouse earns many times more than the other spouse and maintaining their level of daily living is a considerable concern. Life insurance can be utilized as income replacement, however careful consideration is needed when determining how much insurance is required to meet this individual need along with other needs and what is affordable to the family budget.

If a primary breadwinner has children, educational issues are another need to be considered when determining the total amount of life insurance needed. A college education is important and expensive. In this area when approaching needs, some people consider purchasing a separate life

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Avoid companies that do not have a license on your way to repair the roof.

Recently a survey was performed by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) that identified the top ten roofing client complaints. A large majority of the complaints were based on the roofing company having bad operation standards and failing to start or complete the job. In addition, National Magazine conducted an exclusive survey that ended up having astonishing results. Believe it or not, 50% of the people surveyed would not recommend the roofing company they used to a friend.

When picking out a roofing company, make sure they can supply you with all the following things. First off, make sure they are a licensed company. Far too many times in the roofing industry, companies are not licensed end up hurting themselves on site and suing the customer! The bad part is that unlicensed companies are unlikely to be carrying the proper insurance, so it all falls back on you if anyone gets hurt (they could actually win the lawsuit). Generally speaking, any roofing company that's listed with the Better Business Bureau and has good reviews is likely to be your best bet. If a roofing company is not affiliated with any associations, there's a good chance that they are unlicensed, uninsured or just plain inexperienced. Another great place to look for an experienced roofing company is your local chamber of commerce.

The company you end up hiring should be knowledgeable about the many diverse products and options that are available for your home. After all, do you really want a company that you're not comfortable with working on your biggest investment? Keep in mind that the sales person you spoke with over the phone might be nice, but what about the problem that you're actually going to be dealing with? Make sure to voice any questions, comments, or concerns that you might have while speaking to the roofing company on your initial phone call.

So who can you trust to take care of your roof in Memphis? Well, luckily the majority of companies are going to be safe, but once again make sure they provide you with a valid license. The most important thing is making sure your roof is safe and secured using only the best materials available. You may end up paying extra for high quality service, but I think we both agree that you want your roof to last a long time.

Good luck getting your new roof installed.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Car Insurance Quote Comparisons in Illinois

Do you know how to interpret car insurance quote comparisons in Illinois? Insurance quotes are not always easy to understand, and quotes for car insurance are no exception. Taking the time to examine the comparisons in detail will help you make the right choice for your situation.

Consider The Average Price For Illinois Car Insurance

In 2004, the average driver in Illinois paid $760 per year for insurance coverage. Taking this amount as a baseline, you can compare the amount you are being quoted by the insurance companies you have approached. This figure should be used as a guideline only; you may qualify for a better rate than the average driver in IL, or you may be charged a higher rate because of your driving history, make of vehicle you drive, or some other factor.

Compare Apples To Apples

This means you should get quotes for the same type and level of coverage from several insurance companies. Make sure that the deductible levels are the same for each policy you are considering as well. Changing the level of your deductible means that your premium rates will drop, but you need to keep in mind that you are responsible for paying this amount out of your own pocket before your insurance company will pay anything toward your claim if you have a loss.

If it helps to put the figures and terms of the different policies on a piece of paper or a spreadsheet, then by all means do so. After a while, the premium rates and the coverage you are getting from each company will all start to run together. You won't be able to remember which company offers what terms, and you may end up getting so frustrated that you just pick one and hope for the best.

This is not the way to get the best type of coverage for your needs. Take the time to examine your car insurance quote comparisons in Illinois carefully; you will be glad that you did.

Compare Illinois Auto Insurance Quotes Online Carefully

With all of the time that you can save by comparing quotes online instead of traveling all over town meeting with agents you can afford to devote a little bit more time to understanding your policy and the other IL car insurance policies that you are comparing as potential options.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Series Insurance: Auto Insurance Made Easy

Car insurance is very important, nowadays it is a basic requirement of every car. In fact, there is a new law, which states that if the car is not insured, then you cannot drive it on the road. There was a time when you had to search the insurance companies on the pages of telephone directories to be able to find one reliable company in the neighborhood. In addition, if you compare it with today's time, the story is completely different. With just a click, you can get many reliable and trustable companies for the best automobile insurance for you. One of the main reasons is that people are aware of the importance of car insurance.

The market of insurance is competitive and is expanding day-by-day. You can take complete advantage of the market and get the best quotes and best deals for yourself. You can compare the different quotes of various companies and you should go with whichever company that suits your budget best. There are many online sites and many companies that have their own websites. By browsing through them, you will get a brief idea about the quotes and you can compare the quotes of different companies. You can do all this by sitting at your home and automobile insurance company will contact you and provide you all the services that you need.

You have to keep in mind some basic conditions while getting automobile insurance. You can get various discounts if you have not received anything from the insurance company. At the same time if you have a safe and clean history, then you will get auto insurance with low premiums. If you want insurance on-line, then make sure that the company is licensed and get a fair deal.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Unemployed? Save money on car insurance

If you are unemployed, it can be difficult to adjust your finances to avoid burning through all of your savings or going into debt. However, there are several easy steps you can take to reduce your expenses during your job search. A quick examination of your monthly spending habits and bills may reveal some simple ways to save money.

One of the best ways to save money is to switch your auto insurance policy to a new, cheaper provider. If you've recently lost your job, it is likely that the number of miles you are putting on your car everyday has gone down dramatically. You don't have to keep paying an expensive premium if you are no longer a daily commuter. The amount of driving that you do is a significant factor in the price of your auto insurance policy. If you are driving less, compare auto insurance quotes and save money.

If you are still driving frequently, make sure that you are doing everything you can to use less gas. The initial investment of a tune-up will quickly pay for itself at the pump. Even the simple task of checking your tire pressure can improve both miles per gallon and prevent excessive tire-wear. Also, consider reducing the number of cars in your household. If you can share a car with your significant other or get rid of a car that you don't need, you will have less maintenance, fewer car payments, and cheaper car insurance.

Most importantly, take stock of your finances and set a reasonable monthly budget to help you get through the rough spot. Once you have itemized your spending, it is easy to single out expenses that can be temporarily (or permanently) reduced or eliminated. Luxuries like eating out and expensive shopping trips are usually the first thing to go. Some easy ideas: movie night at home instead of the theater, picnics in the park instead of eating out, and buses or bike trips instead of cab rides.

It is no secret that unemployment spells is frustrating and difficult. prudent spending habits is an essential part of any job search. Ready to compare quotes? Quotes Compare Auto Insurance Quote guide today.

Monday, January 10, 2011

International Rental Car Insurance

If you are making a trip for a few days to another state or country, you may want to rent a car to either make the trip with or to use when you get there. You can rent a car as soon as you get off the plane: Just find the right desk and wait in line. When you get to the front of the line, you will be able to talk to someone about renting a car and make payment arrangements right there.

How Rental Cars Work

Rental Cars are fast and easy to obtain and you can get almost any car you'd like, depending on how much you'd like to spend. The rent is added up by a total service charge, a daily fee, gas, mileage, and the type of car it is. Generally a few days shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred dollars total.

Insurance

While you're setting everything up for your rental car, they will ask you if you would like to purchase the insurance. This insurance will usually be around $100 and will cover anything. You can pretty much total the car and they will still tell you to have a nice day when you bring it back to them. You can find a good rental service either in the airport after you land or on the Internet before you leave. Just search on the for rental cars insurance or rental service car insurance. Once you find one that looks good, run another search for reviews.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Repair Car Insurance

Most people know about insurance for their cars or auto insurance, but repair car insurance is not that widely known to people. Repair car insurance provides the insurance to cars which is left our by the usual car insurance policy. You can think of repair car insurance as an extended warranty on your car. Usually, the car makers give maximum of 3 to 4 years of warranty and that too within 40,000 miles. But mostly, the problems start creeping into your car only after 3 years and 40,000 miles.

Unfortunately, by that time your car warranty has been expired and car insurance policies do not cover the cost of maintenance and normal wear and tear. Your insurance policy will cover only damages done during an accident, theft or similar situations. This is where car repair insurance may come to your rescue. It will take care of your maintenance of car, normal wear and tear as well as car repair costs in case it breaks down on you. As you can see, it can be a real benefit to have this kind of policy.

There are a few types of car repair insurance available. The basic policy will cover only the normal maintenance of your car including wear and tear costs. While bumper to bumper policy will include any cost which you would incur to get your car repaired.

While taking car repair insurance, you should take care of a few things. Firstly, you need to decide what kind of coverage you want on this policy. Needless to say, more coverage will need more premium amount. Then there is deductible. You may want to keep the deductible a bit high to lower the premium amount. Also check whether the policy is transferable or not. It is a good idea to get a transferable policy which will get you a good price in case you want to sell your car.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

What Does Auto Insurance Cover

Auto insurance is an extremely important if you operate a vehicle. Auto insurance is used to protect you the individual or a business or organization from financial loss in regards to a motor vehicle. Financial loss can happen due to many reasons, and having auto insurance can cover your losses in a variety of ways. There are six major types of coverage's available through auto insurance companies, they are:

Liability for Property Damage

Liability for property damage is coverage against damage you or a person driving your vehicle with your permission does to someone else's property. Damages can include the other vehicle, utility poles, fences, buildings, homes, businesses, or almost any type of structure your vehicle comes into contact with.

Liability for Bodily Injury

Liability coverage for bodily injury is to pay for damages that you or someone given permission to operate your vehicle causes to another person. Because, bodily injury can be quite expensive, it is important to make sure that you and your family has enough of this type of coverage.

Collision

Collision coverage protects your vehicle from damages resulting from an accident (collision with another car, pot hole, car flipping over, etc). Collision coverage will pay for repairing your vehicle, or if your vehicle was totaled in the accident it will reimburse you for the value of the vehicle (subtracting deductible and in many cases other costs).

Comprehensive

Comprehensive coverage will protect you against losses from theft or other types of damages that are other than a collision, including fire, hail, vandalism, contact with animals, and acts of god (such as hurricanes, flooding, etc)

Medical/Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Medical/PIP coverage pays for treatment when you are injured in a motor vehicle accident either when you are driving a vehicle or are a passenger in your own vehicle. Some policies include broader coverage such as rehabilitation costs, lost wages and even funeral costs.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist

Uninsured coverage will protect you from damages when a driver without insurance or a hit an run driver causes an accident with you, your family members or your vehicle.

Underinsured coverage can be useful in covering damages by an at fault driver that is underinsured or doesn't have sufficient resources to pay for your damages. For instance, this coverage can protect you if you are hit by a vehicle as a pedestrian.

It is important to note that the above types of coverage's can require separate fees and each type of coverage can have different deductibles.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Michigan Cheap Car Insurance

To get cheap car insurance in Michigan, you must first start with Michigan's minimum car insurance requirements. After all, there is no reason to purchase cheap car insurance if it is not going to be deemed a legal amount of coverage.

With the exception of motorcycles and commercial motor vehicles, all cars in Michigan must carry no-fault insurance. You can not register your car in Michigan without first having no-fault car insurance. In a nutshell, no-fault insurance provides car insurance coverage for you, the policyholder. The other party involved is covered by his or her own car insurance company.

There are three kinds of car insurance coverage required by Michigan: personal injury protection (PIP), bodily and property damage (BI/PD) and property protection insurance (PPI). A car insurance policy in Michigan covering these three components is a basic car insurance policy.

None of these car insurance requirements provide insurance coverage in the event your car is damaged or stolen. In Michigan, you must purchase collision insurance coverage and comprehensive insurance coverage in order to insure your car in the event of damage or theft. Collision car insurance coverage provides coverage for damages to your car, while comprehensive car insurance coverage provides coverage for theft of your car or its components and contents.

Michigan drivers are able to get cheap car insurance when they opt to purchase only the PIP, BIPD, and PPI car insurance coverage requirements. Collision car insurance coverage and comprehensive car insurance coverage is not normally required of Michigan drivers unless they have borrowed money to purchase their cars and their lenders require those coverages.

Of course, there are many other ways to get cheap car insurance in Michigan without simply purchasing the minimum car insurance coverage requirements. Ask your car insurance company or agent about the various discounts for good drivers, good students, driver education course completion, and multi-line policies that they offer and whether you are eligible.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

What Different Types of Car Insurance Are Available?

Car insurance is a surprisingly diverse field. You might just think that it's all just the same thing - you go online, fill in your details and get covered - but there are actually a number of individual options available to the modern motorist. Here we'll take a look at a few of those options and find which one will work best for you.

Car Insurance for Student Drivers

When you're a student, money is often difficult to come by. Running a car as we all know isn't cheap. There's tax, fuel and of course the insurance to cover. Due to the age of most students and their subsequent inexperience in driving, students are often subject to significantly higher policy charges. This in turn can make driving a financial impossibility.

However, with student car insurance you can enjoy beneficial rates that will make covering your vehicle far less prohibitive. Specialist insurers have recognised that many young people are being priced out of the market and have now decided to offer this special kind of insurance to help keep them motoring.

Eco Car Insurance

Whilst driving might not be the most environmentally pursuit around, there's plenty that you can do to improve your green credentials. Eco car insurance for instance is a great way to get full cover for your vehicle and give something back to the environment.

These policies will generally be run by carbon neutral companies and will include a charitable donation to an environmental charity or an offer to offset your vehicle's carbon emissions. They may be a little more expensive than most standard insurance policies, but it will provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have done a little to help mother earth.

Over 50 Car Insurance

With age comes experience. So when you reach 50 it is only right that your years on the road are rewarded with an insurance policy that is cheaper. Many providers offer specialist insurance cover for drivers over 50 that should help you to save money. Look out for the best deals online.

Third Party Insurance

If you want to get the most basic form of legal cover for your car then may I suggest third party insurance. It will only cover you in the event that you are involved in a collision, therefore if it were to be stolen, unexpectedly combust or be damaged overnight, you'd not see a penny.

This is usually only recommended for young drivers or those who have vehicles of a low value. If you have a brand new high-end sports car you would certainly not want to have insurance that won't cover even the most basic damage. But if you want to save money on your annual policy, then third party insurance is perfect.

Fully Comprehensive Insurance

For those who want to have coverage for every eventuality fully comprehensive car insurance is a must. You will have to pay a fair amount for the privilege, particularly in relation to just third party cover, but that extra cost brings with it peace of mind.

Policies can vary a great deal from insurer to insurer, but fully comprehensive insurance should include legal cover, accidental damage and even breakdown cover if you are very lucky. It may also allow you to drive other vehicles and be fully insured.

New/Young Driver Cover

As mentioned previously in the student insurance section, new drivers get something of a bad deal when trying to buy insurance. Companies don't know whether they can be trusted as they have no discernable driving history and are part of an age group that is considered to be the most risky.

This risk then transfers to higher premiums and young drivers have to foot the bill. But insurance companies are aware that many new drivers aren't all boy racers and are able to provide specialist third party cover for younger motorists. It's well worth taking a look around and seeing what is available and getting a few quotes to see how low you can get your insurance.

Female Driver Cover

Female motorists are statistically safer than their male counterparts. This added safety significantly reduces their risk-factor in the eyes of insurance providers and therefore ladies are able to get a much better deal when it comes to getting covered. So if you're a woman looking for insurance, keep an eye out for those who offer it specifically for female drivers. They won't necessarily always be cheaper though, so don't be afraid to go elsewhere to get a better deal.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Best Car Insurance Rates and Plans

Rising fuel prices are making it more expensive to run a car. While I cannot reduce the price you pay for gasoline, I may be able to help you cut costs on another major bill. You may not be getting the best possible price on your auto insurance because you may not be taking advantage of all of the discounts that you are entitled to.

Your rates are based upon an insurer's judgment about your risk factors. If an auto insurance company thinks that you are a larger risk, your premium will be higher than a person who is considered a lower risk. How do these companies decide who is a bigger risk? Well, a number of factors go into that decision, and not every company gives the same weight to each of these factors. That's why it is important to do a bit of shopping around.

Your age and driving history matter quite a bit. However, some companies may forgive a recent ticket or accident, while some will automatically assign a substantial rate increase to each incident. If you are a new driver, and you lack a driving history, expect a higher rate than an experienced driver who has not had any accidents. But again, student or teenage drivers can get credit with some insurers for taking an approved driver safety course and keeping up a good grade point average.

These days, many large companies consider an applicant's credit report when the assign rates. So a driver with no recent claims may have a higher premium than a driver with a recent claim, if the first driver has a poor credit score. If you are surprised by a high premium quote, make sure you understand why. If the company is penalizing you for a poor credit report, look for a company that does not consider this factor.

You can also get sizable discounts for auto safety features and anti-theft devices. The type of car that you drive can also affect rates. For instance, a high horsepower sports car will usually cost much more to insure than a sedan. Sometimes newer cars will have higher premiums because of their value, but this is not always true. Newer cars come with built in safety features and anti-theft devices that car insurance companies will encourage with a big discount. I have seen a 30% credit for some safety features.

You need to understand that different companies will have different formulas to calculate an individual's premiums, and you need to compare different policies in order to find the best deal for you.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Car Insurance Calculator

When you buy a car insurance policy, you can use an online utility called a car insurance calculator. This utility is used to calculate the premium of your car. This is devised by online insurance companies. The main purpose of the calculator is to get a rough estimate of the cost of an insurance plan.

A insurance policy calculator also enables people to compare quotes from several insurers. Other benefits of using it are:


The whole process of filling the calculator and obtaining the quotes does not require more than ten minutes. However, the use of this online device saves you substantial time in the long run.

It will supply quotes from various companies based on the information provided by you. Through this method, you can easily compare insurance quotes from numerous companies.

It acts as a guide in selecting the coverage that is right for you.

Working of a Car Insurance Calculator

It is possible to easily search for a quotes calculator over sites like carinsurance.com. Once you have found it, you can use it in the following way:


Enter your personal details in the calculator. You may be asked to input information such as age, marital status, children and whether or not you rent or own a home. You will also be asked information related to education obtained and whether you have health insurance.

Specify some critical details regarding your car.

Select from the discount options may be available on the calculator depending on certain categories, such as the membership of a car owner's community.

Submit the online form for results after completely filling in the details.

Once you select an insurance company on the basis of the results from the car insurance calculator, you can approach the company and ask for the exact cost.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Egypt - ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!

Egypt - I expect the very name conjures up romantic images of camels, deserts & ancient monuments, as it did to us before we went. 

Unfortunately, although the Pyramids, Sphinx, Karnak, etc were interesting we felt Egypt was the pits.  We had been warned that Cairo was very polluted and that was certainly the case, but the rest of the country was about as bad. It was quite the filthiest country I have ever visited and that does not refer to the ever present dust that one expects to find in a predominately desert country.  

Rubbish was everywhere, even built into the banks of some canals and pushed down the banks of the Nile.  The attitude to litter seemed to be, if you empty a packet of food or cigarettes in the car, just chuck the rubbish out the window.  If you have household rubbish in a bag, leave it in an empty allotment nearby, or sweep it down an embankment.  If you use a tissue on the street, just dump it in the gutter or on the pavement.  The people in the tourist areas were greedy, grasping pests, service was poor & the food was pretty ordinary too - not a patch on Thailand or Turkey (see my earlier articles). 

It was very obvious that graft was a way of life, with those at the top of the food chain getting the biggest slice of the action, so everyone was keen to fight their way up the ladder.  

Tourists were at the very bottom of the food chain and aggressively targeted.  

The star system of grading hotels & tourist boats reflected either a very low standard compared to the rest of the world, or that stars could be purchased, probably both.  We stayed in a 5 star hotel, which would probably rate 3.5 star elsewhere & only 2 for service.  The Nile cruise boat was graded 5 star and although it would again probably rate 3.5 star, I would grade it a bit more for the fact that the toilet was, thankfully, near the bed!  The 3 day cruise itself from Luxor to Aswan was OK, but nothing to write home about. 

The name of the game throughout was RIPOFF; eg at the Egyptian Museum which you paid to enter, you had to pay extra to get into the section containing the mummies of the kings.  A sign at the museum of Alexandria said it all: 'Foreigners LE35 , Foreign Students LE20, Egyptians LE2, Egyptian Students LE1'.  In other tours we have taken in India & Turkey, the tour guide doubled as the tour leader as well.  It was obvious that in Egypt the system was set up to ensure extraction of tips to the maximum number of people with a tour leader & then guides at every location visited.

General comments on the tour organised through a company I will not bother to name are:

- The Al Kalili market/bazaar was nowhere near as good as the one in Istanbul we had just visited, or that in Tehran that I visited in 1968 & we were constantly pestered, which put us off completely.  Egyptians just do not have the pleasant way of enticing tourists to part with their cash that the Thais have.

- The Citadel museum was a joke with most of the interesting bits closed off.

- The tour didn't cover the Step Pyramid & museum, which I did on my own later & which I found most interesting.  But avoid Memphis which is usually part of that option in a tour, where the only interesting thing was the great statue of Ramses II which was certainly not worth the LE35 entry fee (rip off).

- We did an overnight train trip from Cairo to Luxor (& returned the same way) on which we were advised dinner & breakfast would be served as part of the so called first class service.  Don't use the train!  If you must do it, make sure you take adequate food with you as that served on the train is inedible, (which our tour leader admitted when we caught him buying his own rations at a nearby stall!)

- The optional Nubian Dinner of the tour suddenly increased from the advertised LE40 because we had to pay the driver to take us from the out of the way hotel we were dumped in to the river, then the boat trip, then the tour of the village, then tips on top.  Also, we were too far out of the town to visit the Nubian museum without paying for a taxi. Another rip off!

- Because my partner was sick we visited the Gayer-Anderson museum in Cairo on our own after the tour, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip for us.  It contained some lovely items & was a time capsule of a bygone era in an old style house no longer existing in any areas we saw in Cairo, to that city's detriment.

- One of the things I look forward to on any trip to foreign destinations is experiencing the food of the country.  In Egypt the food was pretty awful, especially after Turkey.  The bread was generally stale, choice & flavour were poor.  One of the best meals we had was at the Nubian village with freshly baked bread & home cooked servings of vegetables and meat.

- Naturally, the tour leader did not refund us the cost of entry to places that were included in the price of the tour, but which we had missed because of sickness.

We were both sick on the trip, my partner quite badly, despite taking every precaution.  This was the first time either of us have been sick on any of our trips in Europe, India or the Far East and we were not alone - all our tour group were either sick or feeling off at one time or the other.

My advice to anyone contemplating a trip to Egypt to see the ancient monuments is to visit your local library, borrow a book & DVD & enjoy them in the comfort of your own home. 

If you must visit the country, make sure you allow plenty of extra cash for the ripoffs you will encounter, ensure you have plenty of medication with you for stomach upsets, and make sure your travel insurance has good accident and health cover!  

Also, research where you want to go thoroughly, plan the shortest & quickest route between points & be very careful what you eat, so you are in & out of the country in the shortest possible time.  That way you may avoid being pestered too much & getting too sick, (although I wouldn't bet on the last).

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Launching A Maternity Clothing Business In Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee, is a major manufacturing center of auto and truck parts, textiles, and heating equipment and is the home of several Fortune 500 companies. It has been acknowledged as one of the 50 best metros to start and grow businesses.

Tips for Starting a Maternity Clothing Business:

One business that can never go out of fashion is a maternity clothing business. It will require much hard work, perhaps 14-hour days to start, and establish your store. Aptitude and a keen sense to pick up latest trends are necessary.

It will be necessary to give your business a proper legal structure and to register its name. An attorney can be hired to help you determine the licenses and permits that are necessary. Insurance, EIN, sales tax registration, workers compensation registration, and unemployment insurance have to be taken care of.

Estimate start-up costs, making sure you are accurate, and arrange for finances if necessary. Have a good business plan and implement it carefully. Do research and competitive analysis and find out if there is a demand for your business. Devise a competitive advantage to have an impact on your target market on being launched.

Select an appropriate storefront, perhaps 1000 sq. ft. up to 1500 sq. ft. in a busy commercial area such as a shopping mall. You can determine if you will provide other stuff like newborn apparel, toys, and other necessities. Carefully design the store layout, display racks, graphic designs and signs. Make sure there are no zoning restrictions. The shop has to be visible with easy access and ample parking space. Carefully study the lease agreement to ensure it is in your favor with no hidden clauses. A long-term gross lease could be perfect.

Establish contacts with wholesale distributors in your area, and perhaps hire an in-house designer to add an exclusive range. Determine the prices, the types of material used, and the variety. Ensure that you will have a good supply of inventory.

Hire qualified, experienced help and check their credentials. Monitor them to ensure that they are polite. Treat the customers right and check work performance periodically. Keep studying the market trends to capitalize and improve your inventory.

Advertising and marketing need extra attention because they have a significant impact on the business. Hire professional help to frame your advertisements, making sure they convey the right message. Consistent, well-placed advertisements could be effective. You could opt to start a virtual store, ensuring the site is easy to navigate with SSL security. Advertisements in newspapers, TV, radio, and magazines can be effective.

You could use the services and products designed to help new entrepreneurs run a successful business. A desire plus a will to succeed will be effective in contributing to success.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

You Can't Guess Response Rates

"What percentage of a response rate should I expect from my mailing?"

If someone ever gives you a definitive answer to our industry's most frequently answer, don't do business with them.

Why? Because your situation is different from anyone else's. Even if you are comparing two identical non-profits, the circumstances may be different: how one promotes planned giving on their website; season of mailing; different donor stories being used; CEO's handle on things; different opinion in the public media; how many clouds are in the sky that day; and so on.

There are always different forces at play. When it comes to measuring the impact of marketing campaigns, almost all evaluations are based on some type of attitudinal analysis. This approach assumes that attitudes and opinions lead directly to desired behaviors. There's only one problem: No one has ever proven that "changing attitudes" actually contributes to a bottom line impact.

The problem with most fundraisers in our industry is that we do not know how much is costs to move a prospect from point A to point B. Many do not take the time to calculate their ROI on mailings, etc. And this is a difficult topic to write since there are different standards for different outcomes. For example, a 1% response rate for one non-profit may be excellent, whereas another may not even survive on 10%.

Bottom line: compare response rates against your own over time. Even though there are still forces at play, it is the best measure of improvement you can use.