The Advantages of an Air Suspension

If you're searching for a new or used truck and trailer, it's likely you've seen air suspension on the standard or optional features list. It's also likely you've heard negative remarks about the feature especially concerning its long-term reliability. Of course, winter is here, which means freezing temperatures, muddy roads and some slipping and sliding on your morning commute. If you are on the fence about whether or not to get an air suspension system for your trucks, here are a few advantages to help you decide.

• It increases driving comfort.

• It has better drivability.

• It offers the driver a safer feeling.

• It automatically adjusts the ride height according to vehicle speed.

• It reduces wind resistance effectively.

• It reduces fuel consumption.

• Vehicles with air suspension are often said to glide over bumps.

• It increases firmness and improved towing capabilities.

• Provides a smooth and constant ride quality.

• It is often adjustable.

• Most truck models feature height adjustable suspension which is controlled by the driver. It thus makes it easier to enter the vehicle, clear bumps or clear rough terrain.

• Drivers (this applies more to cars than to trucks) can select a gentle ride if they're on a rough road or a harsh ride if they want to improve handling.

• It is specially designed to moderate shock and minimize vibration.

• Your truck has a constant driving height, which is even lower as the original driving height of the unloaded vehicle.

• It offers better road handling and stability of the truck and trailer.

• The air suspension system filters the unevenness of the road which increases comfort.

• It has a raising or kneeling facility for easy loading and unloading the vehicle.

Air suspension systems essentially replace a vehicle's coil springs with air springs. The air springs are simply tough rubber and plastic bags inflated to a certain pressure and height to mimic the coil springs. Performing simple maintenance tasks on your truck and trailer parts can ensure the longest life and best results of the air suspension.

The country's cargo shipments ride on air, and your truck can too. Air suspension systems have long been used, but they've moved into the commercial world over recent years. In addition to trucks and trailers, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, custom cars, performance cars and everyday commuter cars are using these suspension systems. And it's about time, as the truck and trailer's suspension system is an often overlooked area.

TSE Big Max cc manufactures a number of products such as trailer axles and trailer suspensions. Our engineering workshop also manufactures custom-made components related to the trailer industry.

Trucking Company Lease Purchase Programs

Trucking Company Lease Purchase Programs appear to offer a tremendous benefit to truck drivers. New truck drivers in particular are targeted. The offer of a driver being able to own their own truck oftentimes with zero down payment and no credit check can be extremely tempting to many drivers. Undoubtedly, some drivers benefits from these programs. However, many more have been ruined both financially and professionally.

A typical lease purchase agreement through a trucking company requires you to work solely for them. Consequently, if the trucking company doesn't actually want you to own the truck they can simply cut down the number of loads they offer you. You cannot take that truck and go to a different trucking company. If your budget was based on you having a certain number of loads each week and you don't get them you can quickly find yourself short of the required funds to make the payments.

Another consideration is the quality of the truck. If you are purchasing a brand new truck the truck should be in good mechanical condition and under warranty. If you are buying a used truck that may not be the case. You could find yourself having to pay thousands of dollars for repairs before you can even drive the truck.

Some trucking companies don't allow you to select your truck. Once they've talked you into the deal they tell you what truck is yours. You might not even be able to see the truck prior to signing the contract. This can happen even if the truck is located right at the terminal where you are.

What may happen is that once you sign the contract you may be directed to the location of the truck which may right on their lot. Imagine, you locate the truck and discover that it's not even drivable. You inform the trucking company representative assuming they will make the necessary repairs. Instead, you are informed that it's your truck now and you are responsible for all repairs.

Your truck may be located in a different state. Typically, the trucking company will give you a bus ticket to enable you to get to the location of the truck. You might be in for a surprise to get to the location and discover that the truck is not even driveable. Again, you will be informed that the truck is yours and any repairs needed are your responsibility. You can argue all you want but it will be to no avail. Consequently, if you don't have available funds for repairs you are certainly getting off to a bad start.

This is the typical situation many drivers find themselves in. They soon discover that the lease purchase agreement has put them in worst financial shape than they were initially in.

I suggest that if you want to do a lease purchase program you do so through a bank or finance company. That way you will not be dependent upon a trucking company to give you sufficient miles to succeed. You will be in control of your own success. You can drive as an independent driver or work with another company of your choice. Independent financing gives you more options and chances for success.

Calling All Technophobes - With Determination and Persistence You Can Beat the Challenges

It's funny how we are all so different and how our mental wiring makes us better at certain things. Some types of challenges have us foxed whilst others we sail through without a hitch. Is it something to do with past experiences? Or is it the subconscious memory of finding similar things difficult in the past and our memory of things we can do well.

Practical challenges, I have no problem with, such as sorting out a mess, organising removals, and arranging schedules. Whereas learning a technical task by watching a video can take me hours to master.

Is it because I didn't grow up in the technological age, with computers, mobile phones and every other device you can think of. These devices don't faze youngsters today they thrive on technology; any knowledge I have gained is self-taught in later life. I associate everything technological with difficulties. As soon as I begin a technical task I feel a knot in the pit of my stomach and my understanding and memory turn to blancmange and frustration takes over.

Recently on attempting a technical task I had a brain-wave, I would create screen shots first from the video. I find working from pages of a book simpler. Great idea but the printer wouldn't work so then I had two problems!

I moved to plan B I would use two laptops, one to watch the other to process the actions. With two mice to contend with I couldn't stop the video every few seconds precisely enough to catch the finer points demonstrated. So that was no help!

On to plan C with 4 screens open on my laptop pausing and clicking I eventually made progress.

I find it is easier to break the task down into segments and work with a small section at a sitting, that way I don't feel so overwhelmed, as I would working through the complete complicated video, it gives me the opportunity to learn a small part at a time.

The other action I find helps to overcome procrastination and putting a task off until another day, is to concentrate on the outcome and all the benefits it will bring to the point it becomes more important to continue than to put it off. This helps to override the fear of the unknown and the apprehension too.

It's a great feeling when you override the challenges, and achieve the desired outcome you get a wonderful buzz of satisfaction. Never think you cannot do something, just allow a little more time and break the actions down to bite sized sections! So stick with your demons and conquer them! Every time you succeed with a challenge you get stronger and more confident. So to all technophobes out there you can do it, if I can build a business online so can you!

Affiliate marketing is the simplest online system for starting a home based business. Find yourself a good mentor with a proven successful business method and follow the plan. Enjoy watching your fledgling hobby business grow, enjoy the satisfaction and feel proud of your success. Every part you learn to conquer is another victory.

The Rudiments Of Water Chemistry

Most aquarists will happily debate water quality to the point of being obsessive. Water is, after all, the atmosphere on which your pets depend.

It isn't necessary to have a degree in chemistry to maintain a healthy aquarium, but you will need to do some water testing.

Axolotls are extremely sensitive to water quality. You must be prepared to test the water in your tank on a weekly basis to ensure your pet's continued good health.

With that in mind, there are some basic measurements you need to at least understand to some degree.

Acidity or Per Hydrogen (pH)

The "pH" sign for most people signals an assessment of acidity. When viewed as a scale, low numbers mean greater acidity and higher numbers indicate "basic" or alkaline water.

The actual measurement is the balance in the water between hydrogen (H+) and hydroxide (OH) ions. Axolotls are freshwater creatures, so they need a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5.

Carbonate Hardness (KH)

With this measurement, it's easy to confuse terms. KH refers to alkalinity, which is not the same thing as "alkaline."

Alkalinity is a description of the water's ability to neutralize and absorb acid, thereby acting as a "buffer." If the KH level in water is high, there won't be many changes in the pH level, and the water will be more stable.

Specific Gravity (sg)

In its most simple terms, specific gravity measures the salinity of water. It is taken with a hydrometer or a refractometer. Since axolotl are freshwater creatures, the specific gravity of their water should be around 1.0000.

Hard vs. Soft Water

Axolotls prefer slightly hard water. If you have limescale in your cookware or around your pipes, you have hard water.

If your axolotl is living in water that is too soft, its color will fade, especially the shade of the gills. This indicates your pet is suffering from temporary anemia. You will need to add salts to the water to increase the hardness.

Since these equations can be confusing, it's best to find out in advance if the water in your area is hard or soft and consult with an experienced aquarist about the best corrective measures to test.

The variance in water quality in this regard can be so extensive, there is no one set formula to "fix" the measurement. In general, however, soft water tends to be more acidic and hard water is more alkaline in terms of pH.

Pierre the Squirrel

There are some things that I never imagined would happen in my life, and one of them, was that I would share our home with a one-eyed, one-ear, hat wearing, taxidermy squirrel named Pierre. Always in sympathy for animal rights, the mere thought of a dead one being stuffed, and used as decoration, really turned my stomach. But, as I got older, I realized that, like people, they all have different stories, and not all arrived through improper means.

Years ago, we weren't so concerned with protecting the lives of animals, and they truly were used for sport and food. I won't get into the politics of it, because we all know, but thankfully we have become wiser to the impact that our hunting pleasure had on the world, and there are rules about what can and can not become a trophy or an over-sized ash-tray.

What once seemed like a very macabre hobby to me, is now an art, and has become a powerful way to remember the past, and examine animals that may soon (or already are) almost extinct. However, my experience with taxidermy is less than exotic, and definitely doesn't involve a loved and protected species.

Several years ago, my daughter and I used to watch Oddities, a show about a small shop in New York City called Obscura. Each week, they would introduce a few customers, and take the viewers on a tour of their bizarre collectibles; everything from a shrunken head to a medical device that made you wince just to hear the name. It was an education into the (often) less desirable side of history; a place filled with curiosities and questions.

So, for her birthday one year, I decided to take my daughter to the store, as a surprise. She was thrilled, and, thankfully, the store was exactly how it appeared on television (even the misshapen, wooden mannequin was propped up crookedly outside, sweetly enabling the Obscura sign).

With all her money in her hand, I told her she could buy anything she wanted (while keeping my fingers crossed that it wouldn't be anything too horrible). Not everything was expensive, but condition mattered, and the more unique, pristine pieces were definitely out of her league. Many didn't have prices on them, which made it difficult for a young girl with birthday money. Still, it was a wonderful place to look around, and the questions just poured out of us. The shop was empty, so we spent over an hour in there.

Every now and again, she would go back to the squirrel's on the shelf. There were two; one was very nice looking, with a shiny coat, and the other was very old, and very scraggy. We were told he was from the 1950's, had been used as a teaching aid in schools, and had just returned to the shop recently. I have no idea what they were teaching, but he was obviously well loved. One ear was missing, and a glass eye had popped out, but he was holding a nut, and the wooden mount had a lovely age to it. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of bringing him home, but it could have been something much worse, and I understood why she wanted him.

She felt sorry for him, and hoped he wasn't too much money when she asked for the price. It took every dollar that she had, but she was so happy that she could afford the broken squirrel in her favorite shop. They put him in a paper bag, and she immediately took him out, wandering down the street with a dead, stuffed squirrel in her hands.

I cringed as she carried him through the front door, wondering how on earth he would fit into our home, what type of crazy mother was I, and did it even matter? But, he had a kind face, and his past was unknown. He just needed somewhere to be. So, we found him a shelf to sit on, we gave him a small, blue hat to make him feel less injured, and then, with what seemed like perfect timing, his tail fell off...

If you loved this article, please feel free to contact me (wendy@thebluegiraffe.com) or, visit my blog and website, for more observations on life, style and decorating.

Miniature Pigs And What You Need to Know Before Getting One As a Pet

If you have heard of miniature pigs, then you should know that they can be affectionate and fun pets to keep around the home. Learn a bit about these furless animals and why you might want one as your next pet.

What are they?

Miniature pigs, micro pigs or teacup pigs, as they are also called, are a small breed of pigs which will normally not reach more than 30 lbs. in weight. They are very intelligent and sociable animals, and the best thing about them is that you can keep a pig and make fun without having to keep a 400 lb. animal in your home. Most of them are sold by respected breeders, and you could get one for a decent price.

Training your teacup pig

One of the main reasons why miniature pigs are popular as pets is that they can be trained just like dogs or cats. You can potty train your micro pig so as to not have to clean your home every time someone has had too much too eat. These small animals are also easy to teach commands to, and they can sit, walk with you on a leash or even play dead if you wish to see a pig in that posture.

These small pigs are not fussy when it comes to food, so you could feed your favorite pet almost anything you have in mind as long as you try to keep its diet reasonably balanced.

Keeping a trusted friend for years

These pigs will easily get attached to you, and another thing which distinguishes them from other types of pets is that they are very smart. Just make sure you train your micro pig if you don't want to have dominant display when trying to peacefully watch a ballgame.

These funny little pigs can live for 15 to 20 years, making them some if the most long lived pets of this type. What this means is that you don't have to worry about becoming too attached, as you will likely share many years in the company of your teacup pig.

Careful when buying your teacup pig

One of the things you should be careful about is where you get your miniature pigs from. There are many unscrupulous breeders which may sell you an animal which is named a micro pig only to discover in a year that the small cuddly animal has reached over 300 lbs. You wouldn't want a huge pig wondering around the home, asking for food, would you?

Your best bet would be to search online for a reputable teacup pig breeder, and a good idea would be to also see the parents of the pig before you buy it. These are also sold above 1,000 dollars, so if the breeder is asking anything less than that, you should make sure you are buying an actual miniature pig and not a pig that is now small but who will reach several hundred pounds.

So get one of these cuddly miniature pigs from a trusted breeder and enjoy the company of one of the funniest pets around.

My name is O'Reilly and I hope you enjoyed my article on Miniature Pigs. To get much more information on raising one of these lovable pets and what to expect from birth to old age please feel free to visit our website HERE.

Bed Bug Management in Four Steps

Bed bug management is labour intensive, time-consuming and it requires lots of knowledge and expertise to eliminate the pests. It is important that you visually and thoroughly inspect the site, correctly identify the pest and determine the source and extent of the infestation.

The integrated approach to bed bug management has four steps: visual inspection, prepare the room for treatment, treatment and follow-up procedures.

Visual inspection: Step 1 in Bed Bug Management

Inspection tools

a. A strong flashlight

b. Magnifying glass

c. Plastic zipper bag

d. Crevice tool

e. Compressed air

f. Screwdriver

g. Small tool kit

h. Alcohol, cotton swabs/baby wipes

i. Sticky traps

j. Gloves, soapy water, cloth and sponge

k. Mirror with handle

l. A notepad

m. A camera

n. Adjustable spanner

o. Hammer

What to look for

a. Blood stains

b. Dark faecal spots

c. Eggs, eggs shells, cast off skin

d. Bed bugs (adult and nymphs)

e. A pungent mouldy shoes or sickening sweet odour from an oily liquid discharged from the glands in the thorax

Where to look

a. Inspect the areas where you spend most of your resting (e.g. the bed, couch and chair).

b. Inspect the bedding, pillows and pillow cases.

c. Inspect along the seam and in tufts and folds of the mattress and underneath labels.

d. Inspect the box spring and bed frame.

e. Inspect the perimeter of the room including floor boards, walls, baseboards, windows, doors and carpet edges.

f. Inspect all furniture inside the room.

g. Inspect magazines, books, files and newspapers on shelves and on the floor.

h. Inspect all wall hangings (paintings, pictures frames, mirrors etc.)

i. Inspect cracks and crevices in furniture, in the box spring, bed frame and on the floor and in screw holes.

j. Inspect wall voids and outlets, electrical switch plates, wall sockets, ceiling light fixtures and ducts.

Prepare the room for treatment: Step 2 in Bed Bug Management

a. Remove bedding, pillow cases and pillows from the bed and store them in seal plastic bags for laundering and drying.

b. Store all other personal items in sealed plastic bin bags.

c. Dismantle headboard and bed frame to examine cracks and crevices.

d. Empty all drawers in closets, desks, tables, chest and cabinets inside the room and store contents in sealed plastic bin bags.

e. Use a screwdriver to remove electrical switch plates, outlet covers and wall sockets.

f. Remove all clutter from off the floor and underneath the bed.

Application of Treatment: Step 3 in Bed Bug Management

a. Vacuum the mattress, carpet, drawers, closets and all surfaces infested with bed bugs.

b. Read and follow instructions on labels before the application of insecticide.

c. Remove the vacuum bag, seal it in a plastic bag and discard it in the outside garbage bin.

d. Treat the mattress with appropriate treatments (e.g. steam treatment) and use mattress encasement.

e. Apply appropriate treatment to furniture, closets, dresser, wall hangings and all other infested items.

f. Apply residual dust chemical to cracks and crevices in furniture, the floor, windows, outlets and other harbourages.

Types of treatments

Desiccant dust, insecticide sprays, heat treatment, steam treatment, freezing with Cryonite, fumigation or insect growth regulator

Surface applications

a. Liquid insecticide is used to treat carpet edges, mouldings and sometime cracks and crevices to flush bed bugs from the harbourage.

b. Treat flat surfaces of upholstered furniture with dust pesticide. Read instructions on pesticide labels before applying it to other furniture.

c. Dismantle guide tracks in wardrobe and treat it with liquid pesticide.

d. Apply spray insecticide to walls, carpet edges, underneath baseboard and where the carpet meets the baseboard.

e. Treat the bed frame and headboard including joints, grooves and screw holes with direct contact spray. Use dust insecticide in cracks and crevices.

f. Use mattress encasement after treating the mattress.

Follow-up procedures: Step 4 in Bed Bug Management

After about 10 days, use monitoring devices to observe bed bug activity. Inspect and treat all the harbourages once more. Repeat the process until all the pests are eliminated.

Bed bug management requires focus, patience and time. It is best to hire a pest management firm to do the job if you are not willing to dedicate yourself to the task. If the harbourages are not treated thoroughly you won't get rid of the pests.