5 Mar 2012

Best Honda CRZ Hybrid Features

The Honda CRZ hybrid is one of the most recent models to be introduced into the automotive industry by the Honda Motor Company. The car has had great success since its release into the world. The small hybrid car starts at just $19,200. We are going to take a look at a few of the best features available on this model.
Our ultimate favorite feature of this car has to be the fact that it is a hybrid model. The hybrid technology helps the driver attain an impressive 35 miles per gallon in the city and 39 miles per gallon on the highway. This fuel efficiency makes this car a great option for those that have a very long daily commute that they will be making; it would make a great commuter car. This also means that you will not only be saving money on gas, but you will also be emitting much fewer emissions than you would be in a less fuel efficient model.
Our next favorite feature is the looks of this new model, it reminds us of the older Honda CRX model. The CRX was very widely known among tuning companies and is a very popular choice for a track car today. The New Honda CRZ is very comparable in size to the old CRX and the styling is very similar. The car has two doors and has a hatchback which allows owners to put very large items in the trunk of the car. I'm hoping that the CRZ will eventually become a popular choice for auto tuners to make a hybrid track car.

The Honda CRZ - A New Car With a Very Unique Design

The Honda CRZ is an impressive car in the line-up of Honda, and the abbreviation CRZ, refers to Compact Renaissance Zero. It is a hybrid gasoline electric automobile, which was planned and developed for production by the Japanese automaker Honda. The body style of the car is hatchback. Initially CRZ was released as a concept car by CEO of Honda Takeo Fukui on 23rd of October, 2007 at the Tokyo Auto Show held in 2007. Later on, Fukui announced that a production model is under progress and the car is meant to be incredibly efficient, cheap and sporty. Honda CRZ was first produced in America at the Detroit North American International Auto Show held in 2008. It uses the Integrated Motor Assist System of Honda.
Two hybrid concept cars were introduced after the production of CRZ. One is Honda Remix, which was released at the Los Angeles Motor Show held in 2006. The other one was the Honda Small Hybrid Sports, which was released at the Geneva Motor Show held in 2007. The CRZ with four seats is considered as the spiritual heir to the second generation of Honda CRX in both design and name.
According to the reports of Automotive News Europe, Honda plans to flatten the production of CRZ in the year 2009 or 2010, initially in Europe, before elaborating the distribution and production to other nations of the world. The approximate cost of the Honda CRZ is 25,000 Euros and primarily pitched to the markets of Europe. The cost of the car will be 28,000 Euros along with higher trim models. Due to the importance of Honda CRZ on the continent of Europe, Mark Turner of Honda UK says that there will be a lot of influence by Europe on the final stage of design of the car.
Many reports made by Edmunds inside-line suggest that the arrival of Honda CRZ in North America will be after the launch of Honda Insight in the early times of 2009, which is a hybrid vehicle with five doors. Confirmation about the production of Honda CRZ was granted at the 2008 end of the year speech, which was given by Takeo Fukui. From the speech the production of CRZ will be started by the end of the year 2010. After the production of the car, it will become a model which provides a new value of the joy of driving, which can be provided only by a hybrid vehicle.

25 Jan 2012

How to Winterize Your Motorcycle

Taking care of your bike--even when you're not able to use it--is key to ensuring years of riding the open road with minimal problems and fixes. When the temps start to drop and the snow starts to fall, it's time to winterize your motorcycle and store it until spring arrives. Storing your motorcycle over the winter requires certain steps to be taken to help take care of it, even when it is not in use. Here are some tips to help you properly get your bike ready for winter and keep it in great condition until it's time to ride again!
Battery
First, you will want to make sure that you take care of the bike's battery. Batteries will typically self-discharge over time, so when you are storing your motorcycle, you will want to make sure it stays charged. By using a smart motorcycle battery charger, you will be able to maintain the battery's charge, even if you left it be for several years. This is a great way to store your bike long-term and not have to worry about a discharged battery come springtime.
Anti-freeze
You will want to make sure that your system doesn't freeze if you live where it gets extremely cold during the winter months. Unlike cars that utilize freeze plugs, bikes need special care. Make sure that you have anti-freeze in the coolant for winter.
Protect Tailpipe
Next, be sure to protect against rodents that may end up nesting in your tailpipes. You can purchase special rubber plugs to keep rodents and bugs out from the tailpipes while you have your motorcycle in storage. This is a simple way to make sure you're not cleaning up a mess from your tailpipe when spring arrives.
Rust Protection
Over the months, your motorcycle's fuel tank may be more susceptible to rusting, so it is essential that you fill the fuel tank with fuel that has an integrated fuel stabilizer. This ensures that the inside of the tank doesn't rust, even with the changes in moisture while in storage.
Clean
Before throwing a tarp over the top of your motorcycle and letting it sit unattended for a few months, you will want to make sure that you give the entire motorcycle a thorough cleaning. Anything left on the bike will be harder to clean off in the spring, and certain things can actually damage your bike's chrome and paint. Make sure to remove any mud, bird droppings, bugs, and dirt from the bike, and care for the chrome with some polish. By giving your bike a good cleaning before storing it, you can look forward to a clean bike when you unveil it as the weather warms up!
Lift
Make sure that you don't allow your bike to rest on concrete. You will want to either lift the bike up off the ground or utilize a carpet remnant to roll your bike on top. This is to help protect the tires. Tires can develop flat spots if they are left sitting for too long, so protect your investment and store your bike accordingly. Also, make sure your tires are inflated properly since the air inside will condense over the colder months.
Cover
Cover the motorcycle with a bike tarp or motorcycle cover. This will make sure that it is not exposed to damaging environments that may include extreme temperatures, sunlight and excessive moisture. Make sure you get a cover that is made with a mildew-resistant material to make sure mildew doesn't accumulate and your bike is not susceptible to rust.

Does Scooter Voltage Stabilizers Can Increase Power And Torque

If ever there was ever a mysterious area of vehicle functionality, it's a scooter's electrical system. Scooter clutch, variator, CVT belts, even changing scooter brake pads are easy to understand because we can feel, observe, and visualize what's going on. Big Bore kits and carbuerator implementation; we know that more displacement equals the combustion of more air and fuel for more power. Lowering your scooter level means; less body roll and a lower center of gravity bring better handling. Racing brake rotors mean more surface area to distribute heat and less brake fade. Pre-ignition alongside elevated exhaust gas temperatures? Add more fuel. Simple.
But this is not the case in the world of electronics, where everything happens at the speed of light, by subatomic particles that announce their presence only when shorting things out, or wires catching on fire. Or aftermarket products promising to do wonders for your scooter electrical system. After all, if you can't tell how well something is working, you can't say for sure whether product actually makes a difference on your scooter performance. But that's why we're here. We learn from each others mistakes. Scooters have been around for a while, I'm quite sure you know that. But what you don't know is that scooter aftermarket parts continue to be in development. So the question still stands; Can a voltage stabilizer increase power and torque?
Well, we read so much on the topic. I know for a fact that every high-tech motorcycle and high-end scooter companies that are building aftermarket racing parts seem to be manufacturing voltage stabilizers. But no one really explains how they work, just that installing them will make your motorcycle, or high scooter (not to mention ATV) perform better. But everyone online seem to talk about them as they don't know. Do they work? How do they work? And are they worth their price?
Voltage Stabilizers Installed On Racing Motorcycles and High End Scooters. A few weeks ago, I read four articles of the market's most popular Japanese racing motorcycle/ high-end scooter voltage stabilizers were put to the test. But wait, let us first take a moment to understand not be confused with grounding systems that supplement a motorcycles battery and frame grounds. Voltage stabilizers-sometimes called "condensers"-attach directly to a motorcycle battery at the positive and negative terminals, and purport to regulate the flow of electricity running from a motorcycle battery to its electrical components, smoothing idle, improving output from headlights, HID Lights, LED Lights and audio equipment (if any), increasing battery life, and improving combustion efficiency for increased power/torque and decreased emissions.
The first thing to remember is that some performance batteries act like a big voltage stabilizer already. Electricity generated from the stator is sent to the battery and electrical devices as needed. During periods of low electrical draw (headlights, audio, for example), excess electricity generated by the alternator charges the battery rather than passing through the system. But when the demand of a racing motorcycle or high-end scooter electrical system outweighs what the stator (or alternator) can generate (during low idle, and/or high electrical draw, for example), electricity is discharged from the battery in the amounts needed to pick up the slack. The problem is that a traditional lead-acid battery can't switch from charge to discharge rapidly enough to quell small-scale voltage fluctuations or electrical "noise" that can adversely affect a motorcycle or high-end scooter electrical components. There are only a few advanced (expensive) batteries that can do a near-perfect job of stabilizing rouge current, but in any event-say the makers of voltage stabilizer kits-there's a lot to be gained by adding an aftermarket system of capacitors to the mix.

Health Benefits of Motorcycle Riding



Motorcycle enthusiasts will tell you, the thrill and adrenaline rush you get when riding a motor bike down the road is amazing. The exhilarating feeling will get you out of any low points in your life, as least momentarily. Whether you just have time to go for a quick run, or actually plan a road trip with your buddies, there's no comparison. Some people love the sound and feel of a powerful engine's vibration as they ride down the road. Driving a car just doesn't give the same thrill it seems. With this said, even though there is great risk involved in riding a motorcycle, can it actually improve your health and general well being? Read on to find out!
Some people will swear that motorcycle riding promotes healthy brain development. Furthermore, some people in their 50's and 60's credit their love for bike riding and other activities with their bike for helping them keep their brains functioning at a peak level. Riding a motorcycle pushes you to stay alert at all times and to multi-task. This helps people develop their cognitive skills at peak performance. For example, since motorcycle riders must watch out for many other dangers and to avoid potential hazards around them, they must process information quickly and respond accordingly.
In a research environment, motorcycle riders scored higher on the tests than the non-riding participants. Also it was shown that people who had their motorcycle licenses for longer periods of time, at least ten years, also performed the best in terms of cognitive ability. The health benefit of motorcycle riding doesn't end there though. It's no surprise that riding a bike takes a lot of effort and energy in comparison to driving a four passenger car. Controlling the bike takes almost every muscle in your body to balance, steer, and avoid obstacles in the road. Muscle tone and definition is something that frequent riders will tell you - motorcycle riding allows them to get their daily dose of exercise. You can even cut down on so many trips to the gym.
People value companionship these days, and sometimes you can't really do that in a four passenger car. Whether you ride a Harley or a Yamaha, almost all bikers will wave to each other when passing, and you can join many groups of people and organizations who get together to ride like a family. This creates a tight network of long lasting friendships, if you let it. Most other bikers are friendly and want to join you along the way if you are traveling in the same direction as they are. Companionship can raise your morale and mental wellbeing, which definitely plays a large part in your health.
Along that same note, riding improves your mood. Without a doubt, any motorcycle junkie and owner will tell you that they feel happier when riding. Happiness takes down our stress levels and prolongs our life span. It even helps us counter anxiety, depression, and general illnesses. If something lifts your mood, your health will definitely improve. So a joy ride with your bike could actually give you a healthier lifestyle.

19 Jan 2012

What Happens When a Child Is Abused


What Happens When a Child Is Abused

Abuse occurs whenever anyone dominates, exploits or injures another. Abuse can be verbal, emotional, physical and sexual. It is a potent means which makes another feel demeaned, worthless, and hopeless. Survivors often feel to blame and can struggle for a lifetime. The effects of abuse include confused thinking, disrupted memory, regressive behavior, and inability to relate to others. Abuse could lead to chronic depression, anxiety, panic, anger, cutting or self-abuse, with lifetime social and sexual repercussions along with other disorders. Abuse is also linked to chronic addiction and medical issues.
When sexual activity or suggestion is involved, it is extremely harmful, particularly when it involves a trusted relationship. Sexual abuse involves inappropriate or obsessive questions, or controlling behavior, with or without actual physical contact. When confronted, perpetrators may try to explain away their actions. The process of "grooming" by a perpetrator gradually desensitizes a child to sexual misconduct, while offering some sort of incentive to the child that the child and maybe even the parents notice and appreciate without realizing it. During this process the perpetrator tests whether the child will make a complaint. At this point, complaints may not be identified as abuse because they do not meet a definition of sexual misconduct. Many kids won't tell but will try to avoid perpetrator. Meanwhile academic work may take a downturn, or parents may see a withdrawal from friends and activities along with increased irritability.
The following describes what an abused child may be feeling both as a child and as an adult:
Do You Know What It's Like?
This is me... for real:
I have trouble going to sleep
I get anxious in the evening
Most days - waking up overwhelms me
I want to help my children become healthy, real, safe adults
I rarely feel real and safe
I love being active, exercising, sports
I have become increasingly stressed about my body size/type - which is not like me
I am rather obsessive about normal bodily functions
I am easily drawn to do things hurtful to my body (or destructive)
If I feel body sensations - hunger, being full, needing to go to the bathroom, cold, hot, sexual attraction or sensations, loving feelings, anger, sadness, hyper-ness, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, sweaty, wet, tired or sick - I feel very stressed and a great deal of anger or anxiety wells up in me.
When I think someone expects or wants something from me, I detach from my body
When I get angry, especially at a person, I feel like I should be dead
I think about other people dying every day
I think about my own death several times a day
I sometimes feel like my hair and scars are moving or "calling" me to "hurt" them
I like the feeling of barely breathing, especially in sexual involvement - like being under the weight of a man
I am drawn to rough sex, "forbidden" sex, force, pain and extreme amounts of orgasms
I have a knee jerk like response to stress - causing me to desire or feel blunt pressure in my [private parts]
When someone hugs me I think of sex (almost always, but not always - thankfully)
I feel like I am not human and I fear that people will notice
I am both in and out of my body when I'm with a group of people or especially something new or stressful
I love nature, I notice small details
I hate the feeling of clothes - but especially the getting dressed or undressed part
I hate the feeling of food in my stomach
I love how I feel when I haven't eaten in a long time (just a day, that's not THAT long)
I feel more real when I am curled up or on the floor
I can "hear" peoples' hearts
I want to be really cared for by my husband
I would probably do better in some ways not married
I think "nice" sex is gross and a lie
I need a safe and stable environment to help me stay sane
I feel like I'm moments away from insanity - more than I'd like
I'm afraid sometimes that I will split apart again
I would like to be done
I'm amazed and in awe that I have lived this long
I'm thankful to God for what He has done in and through me
I long to speak God's Word and write and sing
I love to show kids respect
I like to be alone
I long to be taken care of
I don't know what's true
I lie, but I don't mean to, I just don't trust myself to have the "right" answer
I've worked really hard to have my life be good. It's an amazing life and I'm ashamed that I am so unhappy
Most days I long to sleep, just sleep. No food, no getting dressed, no people (not because life isn't amazing - it is, and not because I'm depressed - I love being active) It's just hard to be me. By: "drejs"
A boy or girl may feel ashamed and confused, even to the point of self-loathing, which also may discourage them from alerting a trusted adult. Kids are often afraid to tell. Talk to a parent, counselor, school administration or other trusted adult. Seeing a counselor does not mean there is something wrong with you.

Top 5 Reasons to Wear Your Baby in a Sling


Top 5 Reasons to Wear Your Baby in a Sling

New parents can easily get overwhelmed with all the baby products and gadgets out on the market that making decisions on what baby necessities are needed is almost impossible. Parents are always concerned about products that are safe, affordable and stimulating for their little one. Not only can I recommend a must-have product that meets those needs but also creates a lasting bond between baby and parent. It is the baby sling.
Baby slings have been around for quite some time and have not much evolved. They are easy to wear, easy to care for and easy to transport. Provided are the top 5 reasons to wear your baby in a sling:
1. Building Communication - with the act of holding your baby close, a parent is more equipped to pick up on their baby's cues an become attuned to their baby's gestures. Being able to read your baby's signals without them having to cry builds their trust in you, as well as increase their confidence and learning experiences. This creates a positive interaction and enhances the bond between baby and parent.
2. Convenience - baby slings allow you to move freely while holding your baby close. You are able to do your daily activities such as shopping, cooking, walking and completing errands all while holding your child. The sling fits nicely and comfortably on your shoulders. It eliminates any discomfort or awkward feelings. It also allows you to discreetly breastfeed your child while blocking stimuli. The sling can also be used as a blanket, pillow or changing pad.
3. Promoting Development - carrying your baby in a sling can promote physical development. While you carry your child, they observe your movements, breathing and heartbeat which in turn helps regulate the child's own physical responses.
4. Affordable - baby slings are cost effective when compared to other baby carrying or transporting devices. The average cost of a sling can range from $30 to $85 dollars and easily lasts for up to two years. You can also make your own sling for the ambitious parents.
5. Happier Baby - some studies have shown that babies who are held in baby slings cry less than those who are not. Instead they feel the comfort and security of their parent and are able to observe their environments and entertain themselves while being calmly stimulated.
As said before, there are many baby gadgets out there but the baby sling will surely be up there with must-have items for new parents.
Heather Umphrey is the author and the proud owner of mybabybuddy.com. We are an online baby store that sells an assortment of baby gifts whether for a newborn, first birthday or baby shower.
As a Nanny for over a decade, I got to experience an assortment of must have baby products. I have seen first hand what products have soothed, calmed, educated, secured and entertained children of all ages.
Mybabybuddy.com offers wonderful, natural, organic and stylish products for babies and moms including baby slings, baby robes and clothes, gift baskets, unique hand crafted toys and personalized gift items. Our products meet our personal standards and know that you will love them as much as we do.