Category Archive : Auto

As we continue to diligently review the 1,000-plus pages of the stimulus bill (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), there is one provision that is not getting much attention, but could be very helpful for small businesses. Business. If you have a small business and have received an SBA loan from your local banker, but are having trouble making payments, you may be able to get a “stabilization loan.” That’s how it is; eventually, some of the bailout money goes into the hands of the small business owner, instead of sinking into the proverbial deep well of the stock market or the big banks. But don’t get too excited. It is limited to very specific instances and is not available to the vast majority of business owners.

There are some news articles that boldly state that the SBA will now provide relief if you have an existing business loan and are having trouble making payments. This is not a true statement and needs to be clarified. As seen in more detail in this article, this is incorrect because it applies to problem loans made in the future, not existing ones.

Is that how it works. Suppose you were one of the lucky few who found a bank to make an SBA loan. He continues on his merry way but runs into tough financial times and finds it difficult to pay. Remember that these are not conventional loans, but loans from an SBA-licensed lender that are guaranteed against default by the US government through the SBA (depending on the loan, between 50% and 90%) . Under the new stimulus bill, the SBA could come to your rescue. You’ll be able to get a new loan that will pay off your existing balance on extremely favorable terms, giving you more time to revitalize your business and get back on track. It sounds too good to be true? Well, you are the judge. Here are some of the features:

1. Does not apply to SBA loans obtained before the stimulus bill. As for non-SBA loans, they can be pre- or post-enactment of the bill.

2. Does it also apply to SBA guaranteed loans or conventional non-SBA loans? We don’t know for sure. This statute simply says that it applies to a “small business that meets the eligibility standards and section 7(a) of the Small Business Act” (Section 506(c) of the new Act). It contains pages and pages of requirements that could apply to both types of loans. Based on some of the preliminary SBA reports, it appears to apply to both SBA and non-SBA loans.

3. These monies are subject to availability in Congress funding. Some think that the way we go with our federal bailout, we’ll run out of money sooner than the economy we’re trying to save.

4. You do not receive these funds unless you are a viable business. Boy, you can drive a truck through that sentence. Our friends at the SBA will determine if you are “viable” (imagine how inferior you will be when you have to tell your friends that the federal government has determined your business is “non-viable” and you are on life support).

5. You have to suffer “immediate financial hardship.” Too much to delay payments because you prefer to use the money for other expansion needs. How many months delinquent he has to be, or how close his foot is to the banana peel of complete business failure, is anyone’s guess.

6. It is not certain, and commentators disagree, whether the federal government through the SBA will make the loan with taxpayer dollars or through private banks authorized by the SBA. In my opinion it is the latter. It is 100% guaranteed by the SBA and would not make sense if the government itself made the loan.

7. The loan cannot exceed $35,000. Presumably, the new loan will “repay” or refinance the entire balance of the old one. So if you had a $100,000 loan that you’ve been paying on time for several years but now have a $35,000 balance and you’re in trouble, we have a program for you. Or maybe you have a loan for less than $15,000 and after a short time you need help. The law doesn’t say you have to wait any particular length of time, so my guess is that you could be in default after the first few months.

8. You can use it to offset no more than six months of monthly delinquency.

9. The loan will be for a maximum term of five years.

10 The borrower will pay absolutely no interest for the duration of the loan. Interest may be charged, but will be subsidized by the federal government.

eleven Here’s the big part. If you get one of these loans, you don’t have to make any payments for the first year.

12 Absolutely no upfront charges are allowed. Obtaining such a loan is 100% free (of course, you have to pay the principal and interest after the one-year moratorium).

13. The SBA will decide whether or not a guarantee is required. In other words, if you have to put liens on your property or residence. I assume they will relax on this requirement.

14 You can get these loans until September 30, 2010.

15. Because this is emergency legislation, within 15 days after the bill is signed, the SBA has to make the regulations.

Here is a summary of the actual legislative language if you are having trouble falling asleep:

DRY. 506. BUSINESS STABILIZATION PROGRAM. (a) IN GENERAL- Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration will carry out a program to grant loans on a deferred basis to feasible (as such term is determined pursuant to the regulation of the Small Business Administrator) . Administration) small businesses that have a qualifying small business loan and are experiencing immediate financial hardship.

(b) ELIGIBLE BORROWER: A small business as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 USC 632).

(c) QUALIFYING SMALL BUSINESS LOAN- A loan made to a small business that meets the eligibility standards in section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 USC 636(a)) but will not include collateral. loans (or guarantee of committed loans) by the Administrator prior to the date of promulgation of this Law.

(d) SIZE OF LOAN- Loans secured under this section may not exceed $35,000.

(e) PURPOSE: Loans secured under this program will be used to make periodic payments of principal and interest, either in whole or in part, on an existing qualifying small business business loan for a period of time do not exceed 6 months.

(f) TERMS OF THE LOAN – Loans made under this section must:

(1) have a 100 percent guarantee; Y

(2) have fully subsidized interest during the repayment period.

(g) REIMBURSEMENT- Repayment of loans made under this section shall–

(1) amortized over a period of time not to exceed 5 years; Y

(2) will not start until 12 months after the last disbursement of funds.

(h) COLLATERAL- The Administrator of the Small Business Administration may accept any available collateral, including subordinated liens, to secure loans made under this section.

(i) FEES: The Small Business Administration Administrator is prohibited from charging processing fees, origination fees, application fees, points, brokerage fees, bonus points, prepayment penalties, and other fees that might be charged to a loan applicant for loans under this section.

(j) SUNSET- The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall not issue loan guarantees under this section after September 30, 2010.

(k) EMERGENCY REGULATION AUTHORITY: The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall issue regulations pursuant to this section within 15 days after the date of enactment of this section. The notification requirements of section 553(b) of title 5 of the United States Code shall not apply to the promulgation of such regulations.

The real question is whether a private bank will lend under this program. Unfortunately, few will because the statute makes it very clear that no fees of any kind can be charged, and how can a bank make money lending under those circumstances. Sure, they can make money on the secondary market, but that dries up, so they’re basically being asked to make a loan out of the goodness of their heart. On the other hand, it carries a 100% government guarantee for the first time so that the banks know that they will receive interest and have no chance of losing a single penny. Maybe this will work after all.

But there is something else that would be of interest to a bank. In a way, this is a form of federal bailout that goes directly to small community banks. They have non-performing loans on their books and could easily take advantage of the opportunity to bail them out with this program. Especially if they hadn’t been the recipients of the first TARP funds. Contrary to public sentiment, most of them did not receive any money. But again, this might not apply to that community bank. Since they typically package and sell their loans within three to six months, you probably wouldn’t even be in default at that point. It would be in the hands of the secondary market investor.

So is this good or bad for small businesses? Frankly, it’s good to see some of the bailout money going to small businesses, but most of them would rather have a loan in the first place than get help when they’re in default. Unfortunately, this will have limited application.

Wouldn’t it be better if we just expanded our small business programs so more businesses could get loans? What if the SBA creates a secondary market for small business loans? I have a novel idea: For now, forget about defaults and focus on making business loans available to new or existing businesses looking to expand.

How about having a program that can pay off high-interest credit card balances? There’s hardly a business that hasn’t financed itself lately through credit cards, simply because banks aren’t making loans. It’s not unusual for people to have over $50,000 on their credit cards, just to stay afloat. Talk about high interest savings. You can imagine how much cash flow this would give a small business.

We should applaud Congress for going to great lengths on short notice to introduce this plan. Sure, this is a welcome form of bailout for small businesses, but I think it misses the mark for most of the 27 million business owners who are simply looking for a loan they can afford, rather than a handout.

Do you have ideas for a business you want to start but don’t have the startup capital to get your business idea off the ground? Tired of being turned down for small business loans because of your credit or financial status? There is a way to generate enough startup capital to start your own business and even generate substantial income. If a sixteen year old can do it with his lawn mower in a month, so can you!

One summer day I watched my neighbor’s teenage son as he went door to door with his lawn mower offering to mow the lawn in our neighborhood. I asked him how many lawns he had mowed that week and he said four and he needed two more to make $120. I admired the young man’s determination and ambition and asked if he was saving for anything in particular. He told me that he wanted to buy a car that cost $1200 dollars that he hoped to have saved by the end of the summer.

My neighbor’s son did not realize that what he was doing was similar to the concept of compounding money. If he repeated mowing the lawns of the neighbors who paid him weekly and added one more lawn per day each week, his money would grow exponentially. Your $120 the first week of mowing a lawn a day would double the second week to $240; adding one more per day the third week to $360 dollars and by the fourth week he would earn $480 dollars for his week’s work. His earnings for four weeks would have totaled $1,200. If he thought he could earn enough to buy his car by adding a lawn a day, six days a week, for four weeks, I’m sure he would have done it with no problem. Otherwise, it would take him all summer at $120 a week to make his $1,200 to buy his car.

This is how compounding your money works. The goal is to take the initial investment and increase it by 30% or more. Using this example, the first $120 never came out of the young man’s pocket; his investment object (which was his physical labor) increased his investment tenfold by increasing his weekly earnings. He would have earned ten times his initial goal of $120 a week in just four weeks, a 1,000% return!

Imagine if this was your $120 dollars that you started with as your initial investment. The difference is that instead of doing laborious work to grow his money, he used the Internet to find investment items with intrinsic value that he could buy. You would have enough built-in markup to locate buyers to buy your investment object that would give you a return on investment (ROI) of 30% or more. The key to this method of compounding money is to repeat this process by reinvesting your profits in buying higher market value items and reselling them for a higher ROI.

The great thing about compounding is that you can start with any amount of money you have to work with. You can start with $100 dollars and generate enough startup capital to start two or three businesses. Use the Internet to find investment opportunities that you can invest in and take advantage of. If a sixteen-year-old can do it with his lawnmower, you have a much greater advantage; he doesn’t need a lawnmower as a tool, he just needs the knowledge and then the skill. Knowledge can be acquired, and skill will come through experience. So get your starting capital together and get started!

Some people believe that hybrid vehicles began in the early 20th century. In fact, hybrid vehicles have been around longer than you think. The beginning of hybrid technology was believed to be in 1665, when Ferdinand Veriest and the Jesuit priest began working on a plan to create a simple four-wheeled vehicle that could be powered by steam or pulled by a horse. Then in 1769, when the steam carriage was invented. Although this carriage has a speed of six miles per hour, it is still difficult to maintain enough steam for a long-distance journey. It was then improved when gold-worthy British inventor Gurney built a steam-powered car that successfully completed an 85-mile round trip in times of ten hours. Then, in 1893, Moritz Von Jacobi sailed an electric boat on the Neva, using a one-horsepower electromagnetic motor. And in or around that year is when Robert Anderson of Aberdeen, Scotland built the first electric vehicle. However, the vehicle brought many problems such as limited range and a battery that was difficult to recharge. It was later improved upon in 1870 by David Salomon when he developed an electric car with a light electric motor, but he still faced problems in creating a battery that could be easily recharged.

Then, in 1879, Dr. Werner Von Siemens built the first electric railway. The vehicle’s wheels were powered by an electric motor that drew its electricity from rails that were isolated from the ground and connected to a generator. And also in that decade, year 1886, commercial investors in London became interested in developing an electric taxi. The design was powered by a 28-cell mass system that would drive a small electric motor. Even so, this did not come into regular use. Then came the year 1888, a company built a four-passenger carriage for the sultan of the Ottoman Empire. It is powered by a one horsepower motor and a 24 cell battery. And that same year, Manus Vol in Brighton, England, made a three-wheeled electric car.

Then, in 1897, the London Electric cab Company began providing regular service to the city, using a cab powered by a 40-cell battery and a three-horsepower electric motor. It was named the “Betsey Cab” after its inventor, Walter Betsey. The cab can travel up to fifty miles before the battery needs to be recharged. Come the year 1897, where the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut built around electric cars over a two-year period.

Then after that year came 1898, the year the world’s first hybrid car was produced, the “mixed” gasoline-electric Porsche Loonier, which was built by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche of Germany. Porsche gave the nickname “Aunt Eulalie” to the first series of hybrids, but officially they were called Simper Viv-us, which means “always alive.” The first hybrid car can travel a distance of forty miles on battery power alone. The car used a gasoline engine that rotated at a constant speed to drive a dynamo, which charged a bank of accumulators. The accumulators then powered the electric motors contained within the front wheel hubs. Thus, there was no need for driveshafts, transmission, gears, belts, chains, or clutch. And due to the rapid success of the hybrid car, companies like Kroger, Lonee Porsche, and Auto Mixtec produced thousands of hybrid cars in the year between 1902 and 1920.

The 1900s saw the creation of gas-electric hybrid cars in Belgium. It was developed by Pieper, a Belgian car manufacturer. He introduced a three-and-a-half-horsepower engine that coupled the small gasoline engine with an electric motor that sits under the seat. The electric motor was, in effect, a generator that recharged the batteries while driving. However, when the car needed some extra power to go up a steep incline, the electric motor kicked in and provided a boost to the petrol engine. And because of the popularity of hybrid electric cars, the Electric Vehicle Company built 2,000 taxis, trucks, and buses, and established a subsidiary of taxi and rental car companies from New York to Chicago in early 1904. In 1905, an American engineer named H. Piper filed a patent for a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. His idea was to use an electric motor to assist an internal combustion engine, mainly to add the ICE to allow the vehicle to accelerate to 25 miles per hour in 10 seconds, instead of the usual 30 miles per hour. Then, after three and a half years, the patent was issued. By this time, the engines had become powerful enough to achieve this kind of performance of their own.

In 1910, a company by the name of Commercial Built Truck, which used a four-cylinder gasoline engine to power a generator, eliminated the need for a transmission and battery park. This hybrid was built by a company in Philadelphia until 1918. Steam cars and hybrid electric cars almost completely disappeared by 1913. Sales of electric cars dropped to 6,000 vehicles, while more than 180,000 gasoline cars were sold. Many automakers who still believe in the hybrid car idea are still doing their best to get hybrid cars back into production. Like Baker of Cleveland and Woods of Chicago, two prominent electric vehicle manufacturers have offered hybrid cars that can reach a top speed of 35 mph and achieve fuel efficiency of 48 mph. And the Woods Dual Power was more expensive and less powerful than its gas-powered competition, and therefore sold poorly.

And then he considered that the year 1920 to 1965 became the dormant period for mass-produced electric and hybrid cars. However, hybrid vehicle technology has not disappeared and its development continues. Many people still believe in hybrid technology. Hybrid vehicle technology becomes the answer for most of the global problems. As in 1966; The United States Congress introduced the first bills recommending the use of electric vehicles as a means of reducing air pollution. After a long period of quiet, hybrid cars make a comeback in 1969. That same year the General Motors 512 was designed, running entirely on electric power at a speed of less than ten miles per hour. The vehicle ran on a combination of electric power and gas combustion at 10 to 13 miles per hour. The Arab oil embargo became a big deal in 1973. Gas prices skyrocketed, sparking new interest in electric vehicles. The US Department of Energy conducted a test on many electric and hybrid vehicles produced by various manufacturers, including the hybrid known as the Volkswagen Taxi, which was produced by Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, West Germany. The Volkswagen Taxi was shown at car shows in the United States and Europe. It used a parallel hybrid setup that allowed for flexible switching between the gas engine and electric motor and logged more than 8,000 highway miles. Volkswagen Taxi is considered to have the highest efficiency rating of any hybrid it has exhibited up to that point. In 1974, engineers Victor Wok and Charlie Ros-en became part of the federal Clean Car Incentive Program and created a prototype gasoline-powered hybrid electric vehicle with a Buick Skylark body. The vehicle was tested and certified to meet the strict guidelines of an EPA automotive clean air program by the US Environmental Protection Agency, but was later rejected. American Motors developed a fleet of electric vans and delivered 352 electric vans to the US Postal Service, which they tested extensively. Unfortunately, the project did not have the level of success that everyone expected.

The years 1976 to 1980 were the year that hybrid technology has been of great help. The Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976 and Public Law 94-413 enacted by the US Congress were among the law’s goals to work with industry to improve batteries, motors, controllers and other hybrid electrical components. And General Electric was chosen to build a parallel hybrid sedan. And Toyota built a small sports car with a gas turbine generator supplying power to an electric motor, making it Toyota’s first hybrid car. Audi introduced the first generation of the Audi Duo experimental vehicle in 1989. It is based on the Audi 100 Av-anti Quarto. It has a 12.6-horsepower electric motor, which drove the rear wheel instead of the propeller shaft. And also use nickel cadmium battery to supply power. Two years later, Audi introduced the second generation Duo, which is also based on the Audi 100 Av-anti Quarto. Toyota made a comeback by introducing the Pris in 1997, which is exclusive to its Japanese market. That year, the Pris sold 18,000 cars and appeared to be the world’s first mass-marketed hybrid vehicle. Honda then introduced the Insight, a two-door mild-hybrid model that burst onto the US market in 1999. The vehicle could demonstrate a rating of 61 miles per gallon in the city and 70 miles per gallon on the highway.

Then came 2000 the door of the new century is open for hybrid technology. Many car companies and manufacturers introduce and launch many new and improved their own hybrid vehicles. Toyota launched the first available four-door hybrid sedans in the United States in 2000. And Honda introduces Honda Civic Hybrids, its second available gasoline hybrid electric car. The appearance and demonstrability of the car was and remains identical to that of the conventional Civic. And in 2004, Toyota launched the Toyota Pris II, which won the 2004 Car of the Year awards from Motor Trend magazine and the North American Auto Show. Demand for the Toyota Pris II was surprising, inflating production from 36,000 to 47,000 for the US market. Many interested buyers waited up to six months to purchase the 2004 Pris. Also, in September of that year, Ford launched the Escape Hybrid, the first American hybrid and the first hybrid SUV.

The surge in oil output in 2007 had been a major crisis around the world. And so the production of hybrid cars and vehicles had increased. Many car companies and car manufacturers around the world created many different types of hybrid vehicles. Some even convert their ordinary cars into hybrid cars. Many taxis in the Philippines have now a day been using Auto-gas, used as automotive transportation fuel or LP gas as an alternative to gasoline gas. The development of this type of hybrid car helps many people who are having problems with rising oil price and become the answer to rising oil price and air pollution problem.

Do you find it difficult to pack your things to be able to move to your new house? If so, we suggest you follow the advice given below. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to pack your items, since you don’t want to break anything fragile or valuable. Without wasting any more time, let’s look at some essential tips.

1. Use the correct boxes

As for the packing of the books, we suggest you choose small boxes for them. On the other hand, you can opt for large boxes to pack lightweight items such as pillows and bedding. After all, you don’t want to end up breaking heavy items when packing them in small boxes.

2. Use the correct techniques for placing lighter and heavier items

Another essential tip is to place heavier items at the bottom of desired boxes. You can then place lighter items on top of these heavy items. This step is critically important if you are going to load the truck yourself. And the items must be in front of the truck to create a balance.

3. Fill in the empty spaces with the right type of clothing

If you want to fill in the blanks, we suggest you use packing paper, towels, and clothing. Often, if you pack this box incorrectly, it will be difficult for the mover to move these items. Aside from this, not packing properly can put your items at greater risk of damage.

4. Don’t mix items from different rooms

We suggest that you choose different boxes to place items in different rooms. This will make it easier for you to pack your boxes and place items in separate rooms.

5. Label each box

Now, this tip is extremely important as it will help you avoid a lot of frustration once you have unpacked everything. What you need to do is label each and every package or box. In other words, you must number each box and maintain an inventory list. This will help you keep track of everything.

6. Tape your moving boxes together

We suggest that you use high quality masking tape to seal all boxes at the top and bottom. You can also wrap the boxes with the tape. You can get this tape at a store near you for a few dollars. Therefore, you do not need to worry about the availability aspect.

7. Frame your photos

We suggest that you apply the best techniques for packaging works of art. Using plain paper to wrap oil paintings is a big mistake. Similarly, if you want to take pictures, you need to wrap them with tape properly. It is better that you frame these images for safety.

In summary, we suggest you use these 7 tips if you want to pack your things before moving day. If you don’t follow these steps, you could end up making costly mistakes, like breaking your fragile or valuable items.

That’s right, I’m tired… tired of free-bee’s for free and irresponsible people in this country. Why did the government pressure banks to make loans to high-risk applicants? If they’re high risk, that means they’re likely to default on their mortgage payment…in short! But the government thought this was a great idea to let low-income people with no credit, bad credit and past bad loans turn a new page.

Are you starting to read my mind? Come on… I thought this only happened in “Happy Sam’s Used Cars… Bad Credit, No Credit, No Problem!” Well guess what? (this is going to be a surprise) people who have bad credit and a history of not paying bills on time…should not be able to get a home loan. Can’t make a cable bill payment or car payment, but can make a 30-year mortgage payment? No problem. That makes sense to me if I was in an opium bar in Dublin! But guess that? I wasn’t… I was working my butt off, paying bills and building up my savings and not sitting on my mailbox waiting for my food stamps to come through.

WHERE IS MY CHECK?

So, for being a responsible person, paying my bills on time, being responsible for not spending more than I can afford, and not charging credit cards on a suicidal financial anchor… where is my reward? And you? Are you getting a check for being financially stable and not being a part of this mess? Sorry my friends… YOU are going to have to pay for the irresponsibility of the irresponsible. It gives you that sense of warning and comfort, doesn’t it?

Every day I hear how my hard-earned, tax-paying dollars are being spent on people who are irresponsible while trying to do the right thing day in and day out. Lessons are not learned when we reward people who do not want to improve in the hope that they will change.

If you give someone something forever, they never have to work for it.

Wow… that was pretty profound… nap time!

DBaaS allows you to try multiple solutions and buy only the licenses and hardware you need to be successful.

Almost every business these days is data-centric. Whether the data is for internal applications and systems, or for other services offered, let’s face it…

Data management is the key to success.

Before we list the pros and cons of DBaaS, we need to explore some decisions that businesses need to make.

These include numerous quick data handling decisions that can set you down a path that, if wrong, is difficult and costly to correct. Those decisions are:

What type of database to use, SQL or NoSQL?

What are the data storage and query needs? transactional? Big data?

What database system to use? Some SQL options can be Oracle, MySQL, MSSQL and Sybase. Some options without SQL can be MongoDB or Cassandra.

· Do we have DBA (database administrator) talent or do we have to hire?

· What kind of server or resources are needed? What are my power, server, disk, compute, network, and I/O requirements?

How do I maintain, backup, manage and own the database framework?

What is my cost of ownership?

Let’s first explore what type of database to use, SQL or NoSQL.

Traditional database types classified as SQL have an important place in business and are a mainstay for business options. However, as companies begin to build applications that make decisions based on meaningful database analysis of vast, almost unfathomable amounts of data, they migrate to NoSQL solutions like MongoDB or Cassandra.

NoSQL’s architecture makes it a good choice for big data solutions, while the built-in protections of a transaction-based system like Oracle make it a better choice for banking or similar solutions.

When it comes to choosing a specific system, companies tend to stick with what they know. In other words, if they already have Oracle and Oracle talent, then when management asks them which database system they should use in Project X, it should come as no surprise that they choose Oracle.

Matching a specific database system to a set of business requirements is an arduous task that should always be viewed from a fresh perspective. It should not be based only on the talent that is already employed or the systems that a company is comfortable with.

Let’s face it, if a company chooses correctly, all is well. If they choose incorrectly, they have wasted a lot of resources equivalent to dollars. Enter DBaaS.

Where DBaaS excels is that it gives companies the ability to test the waters a bit, to test before investing heavily.

DBaaS acts as a stepping stone to full ownership, a cost-effective solution to help you determine your needs before making a large investment.

DBaaS has pros and cons.

First of all, it is necessary to distinguish between “hosted database systems” and DBaaS.

There are plenty of cloud-based solutions that “host” a database system, but don’t provide significant help with the configuration, tuning, consulting, and talent needed to use those systems.

True DBaaS provides both the system and the talent to help you use the database and determine how to store, query, and analyze your data. The value of DBaaS goes far beyond hosting.

Advantages of DBaaS include:

· No equipment or software licenses.

· Flexibility. There are several options available to test your applications and choose the right platform for your business requirements.

· Significantly lower staffing requirements. The DBaaS provider handles installation, configuration, and in many cases, development.

· External hosting, providing protection against local power outages or disasters. Many companies design their system with power redundancy in mind, but in reality they rarely meet those goals.

SLA agreements that have redundancy, uptime and backup protections. A DBaaS provider intends to focus on protecting your data.

Meanwhile, the disadvantages of DBaaS include:

Limited access to underlying servers. This can present as a feeling of lack of control.

Very little knowledge of how your data is protected from cybersecurity threats. This can be dangerous for sensitive data.

So how do you decide? Is there a transition from one to the other? Yes, almost always, but by following a few guidelines to get started, DBaaS can be used successfully.

Those who wish to use DBaaS must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Do all development using DBaaS. This is your chance to try out different architectures and features.

2. Unless you have a full disclosure of how DBaaS vendors protect, manage, and secure your data, it is suggested to consult with database architects to host sensitive data internally. Note that this is not usually big data. When we use the terms sensitive data, we mean just that. Data like SSN, account details, finances, personal details, etc. Does this mean you can’t use DBaaS for this? No, it means that you first need to find a DBaaS provider that will show you everything from how your encrypted data enters your system to storage, access and so on.

3. When you’re not sure what your database needs really are, use DBaaS first. This allows you to test SQL or NoSQL. This allows you to explore the encryption capabilities of Oracle versus MySQL. Think of DBaaS like buying a car. You test drive sedans, trucks, and SUVs, testing different manufacturers and features. You can decide to lease or buy.

4. Always monitor and evaluate the cost of ownership. As your system grows, the operational costs may make sense to abandon DBaaS and build an in-house system. By then, however, you will have already decided what you really need.

The goal with DBaaS is to try multiple solutions and buy only the licenses and hardware you need to be successful. You can then hire the right talent to manage your system.

Tourists and history buffs alike love interesting facts about the George Washington Bridge. There is certainly no shortage of fun facts about the George Washington Bridge. Here are five of the most unusual.

1. Radio fans save bridge

Howard Stern fans were called to action on December 7, 1994. A young man called Stern’s radio show and announced that he was about to jump off the George Washington Bridge. Westbound listeners stopped his car and tried to talk him out of it. A Port Authority police officer, who was also listening to Stern, rescued the man and then used the would-be jumper’s cell phone to tell Stern and his listeners that the man was safe.

2. Flight Plan Deviations

Christmas Day 1965 shocked motorists on the George Washington Bridge when a small plane crashed into the westbound lanes. A young pilot had skimped on his previous flight and left his fuel cap open. An old pilots adage is: “A good landing is one where you walk away. A great landing is one where you can use the plane again.” This was a good landing, as the pilot and her passenger came out with minor injuries. However, it did not turn out to be a great landing, as the plane was demolished. He also hit a truck, whose driver must have had fun explaining to his dispatcher why he was late and his equipment was damaged. Motorists received another aviation surprise on January 15, 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 approached them. Pilot Chesley Sullenberger managed to clear the bridge by just 900 feet before splashing down in the Hudson.

3. What’s in a name?

Local newspapers called for a more ingenious name than the original Hudson River Bridge. Among his suggestions were Bistate and the Mother’s Bridge, the Bridge of Prosperity, the Gate of Paradise, and the Pride of the Nation. However, it was New York City school children who managed to push for it to be renamed after George Washington. The name is particularly apt, as the Manhattan end of the bridge is near Fort Washington, from where Washington once withdrew forces from it to Fort Lee, near the New Jersey end of the bridge.

4. The heaviest traffic in the world

The day the George Washington Bridge opened, it welcomed more than 55,000 vehicles, 33,000 pedestrians and a jockey on a horse named Rubio. The bridge now carries approximately 106 million vehicles a year, an average of almost 300,000 per day, the most of any motorized vehicle bridge in the world. Pedestrians, as well as skaters and cyclists, still traverse the upper deck.

5. Unwanted landfill

With all that traffic, mishaps are inevitable. Occasionally, trucks have overturned and spilled their cargo. Among the unscheduled deliveries were beer, frozen chicken pieces and watermelons. A truck released a herd of goats that were trotting along the roads. Another truck showered motorists and bridge employees with free fertilizer when it couldn’t contain its load of manure.

I grew up in the small town of Fort Chambly, Quebec, just south of Montreal. From an early age, my grandfather, who built Canada’s first gasoline-powered car, the Fossmobile, often shared his own interest in automobiles with me, which may have contributed to my fascination with the automobile.

I fondly remember neighbors letting me test drive their MGBs, Triumphs and Minis, but it was getting behind the wheel of a 1972 BMW 2002tii that confirmed my thinking. It felt much smoother and faster than the other cars I had driven. It had more horsepower and felt like it could effortlessly hug the road. Back then I made a promise to myself that one day I would own one of these fabulous vehicles.

While researching these cars in early 2009, I stumbled upon a gem in Calgary, Alberta, and found it to be in surprisingly decent shape. All original, without previous modifications or restoration attempts. I picked it up quickly, based solely on the pictures and my intuitive trust in the person selling it. This guy was only the second owner and only had 45,000 miles on the odometer. The vehicle originated in the US and the original owner was traced to Colorado.

A 2002tii is often worth more and therefore more coveted. Finding one in good condition, without owner modifications, is getting harder and harder. This is especially true considering the mechanical uniqueness of the tii (international touring injection) and the cost of some of those unique parts. The original 2002tii had a mechanical Kugelfischer fuel injection system, a first for BMW. This 2.0-liter engine could produce between 125 and 140 horsepower and between 127 and 145 pound-feet of torque.

I had an antique vehicle hauler pick it up and ship it to Burlington, Ontario. The car had been partially painted once but it was a terrible job and there was evidence of excess putty, cracked paint and some visible rust. That was at least what I could see. Other surprises awaited me.

When the car arrived from Calgary, it was delivered to the local BMW dealer. I checked it with the help of the mechanics. We just wanted to see if it worked. We found that very little was required to meet safety and certification requirements. Engine compression was near factory and very even. The fuel tank was cleaned and all fluids were flushed out. We changed the oil, oil filter and spark plugs. Finally, they completed an extensive brake inspection. Once everything looked good, I hit the road and drove the car for a few weeks, learning everything I could about it.

For the most part, it worked fine, but some parts were worn, weathered, and required an update. It was slow, had certain vibrations and did not handle potholes very well. My plan was to use all original equipment manufactured (OEM) parts.

I started the restoration with everything mechanical. The entire fuel supply system needed cleaning and all three fuel filters (fuel pump, fuel injection and in-line filter) were replaced. The water pump was partially seized, so that was next. I was concerned about the mechanical fuel injection system, but it seemed fine.

All rubber items were my next inspection and replacement project. The seals, belts, motor mounts and frame bushings required an overhaul. Due to the age of the car, I decided to replace the entire rubber frame and mounting bushings. New hoses and belts were then installed. Front and rear shock absorbers were in poor condition. The two in the back were rusty. All new shocks fitted, complete with new tower mounts. Not surprisingly, the entire exhaust system was rusty. While the exhaust manifold was fine, all pipes and the muffler had to be replaced.

The rotoflex rubber guibo bushing/bearing between the transmission and the front of the driveshaft was the worst of all the parts that required replacement. This is an all rubber mount, with metal sleeves for eight mounting bolts to go through. Its purpose is to dampen vibration and movement between the transmission and the driveshaft. When I took it apart, it completely collapsed in my hands. The rear universal joint on the driveshaft was seized in one direction, which meant replacing the entire driveshaft as it comes as a completely sealed unit.

The clutch slave cylinder was leaking, so that too was headed for the recycling bin. Smaller items like brake cylinders and engine gaskets were replaced. Some items were replaced because they absolutely needed to and others for good measure, like the brake pads, because it was easier to do while they were taken apart, rather than take them apart again later.

The shifter linkage required some attention. When the car arrived, one of the first things I noticed was that the gear lever was very loose and was wobbling in every gear. The shift travel on the 2002tii is long, but this one made constant shifting an unpleasant chore. I found that all the bushings, sleeves and connections were mostly worn out or completely gone. Once replaced, it shifted smoothly through all four gears and just as forcefully as it would have from the factory floor.

The interior of the car was in remarkable condition. Even the telltale clock on the 2002tii’s dashboard was present and working. A little cleanup and a weld job for a seat bracket was all it took.

Completely stripped the vehicle of all chrome: lights, grills, bumpers, etc. All of these were in excellent condition and were now going to be safely stored for the winter as it was the best time to complete the bodywork restoration.

There were obvious rusty areas such as the outer running board panels along with the two rear fenders and the right front fender, but the inner running board sills also looked suspicious. When the old front fenders were removed, reality set in. I discovered what everyone who attempts a project like this fears: more rust than anticipated. The entire right pillar between the fender and the door hinge was almost rusty. It had to be completely rebuilt by grinding and welding on a new part.

The vehicle was completely stripped of old paint. The rear outer fenders were tin filled and new front fenders installed. Some very minor body work to rectify a dent or two and it was ready for a skim coat and sanding. Lots of sanding!

The doors, trunk lid and engine hood were removed and painted separately. The rest was painstakingly wallpapered, glued, and prepared for the paint booth. He then went into the paint booth for six coats of original paint and three coats of clear coat. After that, the vehicle looked like it belonged in the showroom (minus the doors, chrome, lights, bumpers, etc.).

Then, very carefully, it was a lot of effort to reinstall all the chrome: lights, grills and bumpers that had to be put back on. With most of the mechanics fixed, it drove just like I remembered it, way back in the 70’s. I was finally ready to show this vintage 1972 BMW 2002tii to anyone who wanted to look. The car became everything I dreamed it would be. So my passion had been satisfied. He had the vintage BMW 202tii the way he wanted it.

A wide variety of cars and different automobiles are available today. In addition, in each of them the presence of license plates is common. The presence of a license plate stems from the need for ownership records and security measures for your cars and other types of vehicles.

There are several dangers that always loom as possibilities in vehicles. There are different types of cars, from sports cars and sedans to even SUVs, and then there are trucks and heavy utility vehicles. These are useful in commercial areas of transportation and supply of different goods and supplies between regions and countries that are connected by trade.

As a result, of all these movements that include personal and commercial movements of vehicles, proper coding of vehicles is important. There is a need for the authorities to know and identify between cars and vehicles that are of the same type but belong to different owners.

property records

There are vehicles of the same company and brand owned by many people. As a result, there is a need for records of all owners. There are different systems in which the vehicle registration process is carried out for different types and brands of vehicles.

These are displayed on the display plates you see on the front and back of them. These are in a way an identification of a vehicle that is more specific. It is important to detect the vehicle among many others.

ID

A primary and probably the most important use of license plates is the identification of automobiles and vehicles for security purposes. There are times when accidents occur as a result of excess vehicles and cars. As a consequence, the damage caused to property and life on the roads.

It is important for the identification and recognition of vehicles that have been responsible for the same among many others of the same make and manufacture.

A wide variety of exhibition plates used as vehicle registration plates. These are made of metal and plastic and are often available in various styles. There is an additional payment for custom ones. These may include the use of special and personal characters to make the vehicle registration distinct and special.

Various companies are engaged in manufacturing different designs and styles. They are all proficient in providing unique styles and patterns for vehicle owners who prefer custom ones.

However, there is a difference of legal issues between countries. There is a large market in the UK, although there are various legal restrictions that prohibit the personalized registrations that are available in other countries. Furthermore, this makes the job of manufacturers more challenging. Within the registration numbers that are available, they recreate designs and prints that look special and distinguished.

Bonaire is a small island located about 120 miles off the coast of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. It is famous for its great diving. Everyone from beginners to advanced divers will find something to their liking here. Although it has withstood an occasional hurricane in its history, it is generally considered to be outside the hurricane belt, allowing for excellent year-round diving.

Bonaire is considered by many, myself included, to be one of the best diving destinations in the world. In fact, I visited three times in an eighteen month period because I enjoy it so much. There is something to be said for returning to places you are familiar and comfortable with. People are warm. The system to access your tanks for shore diving is very easy to use. Nitrox was not an additional charge as dive shops felt it was important to encourage its use to protect their divers. It is also a very easy island to get around. Rent a truck at the airport and go.

To date, I have gone diving with ‘Buddy Dive’ and ‘Toucan Diving’ dive shops. Both dive shops were very helpful staff wise. However, Toucan Diving had an advantage, as their dive boats are stored in a protected area. You can load your things and organize your equipment before leaving the dock in calm waters. The Buddy Dive boats were on a dock adjacent to the open sea, which was a nice sight, but the boats were constantly hitting the dock as divers tried to board with heavy gear. You have to prepare your gear on the way to the dive site or at the dive site, because you just need to sit back and hang on while the boat bangs while everyone else is loading up. Another reason I prefer Toucan Diving is a particular dive master. His name is Jackson. He is always enthusiastic about the sport despite practicing it for years, and always goes out of his way to show divers the cool stuff, like the frogfish and the air pocket on the 99-foot Hilma Hooker shipwreck. Of the two dive shops, toucan diving has always been my preference.

Bonaire’s sea creatures are abundant. I started my first dive with a beautiful floating spotted eagle ray and saw several more as the week went on. There were also turtles on several dives. These will always be some of my favorites. Bonaire also has several dive sites where seahorses tend to congregate. These are definitely creatures you don’t see often, but I have seen them on every trip to Bonaire. There were also several opportunities to see frogfish as well as many smaller creatures which made for some excellent macro photography. There were many more marine animals that deserve an honorable mention, but too many to include them all here! Let’s just say diving here gets a thumbs up!

Bonaire is well known for its shore diving, and I have tried it many times. Although the freedom of shore diving is wonderful, the entrances at many sites are still quite challenging as they are often rocky and slippery. Make sure to watch your fingers because there are eels everywhere (and gloves are not allowed as Bonaire is considered a marine sanctuary)! There are several dive sites from shore that I prefer, like “Oil Slick” because you can enter via a platform ladder. We also like “Ciudad Ángel” because that place has never let me down. The old coral is a bit of a tricky entrance, but definitely worth it when you jump in and see all the squid that like to hang out here. I will always like boat diving better because I like to jump right into the water without the dangers of twisting my ankle along the way (which happened to a friend of mine before she even got in the water)! Also, if you dive from shore, make sure you don’t leave anything of value in the car, as I’ve heard of theft issues, but never experienced them.

So whether boat diving or land diving suits you, you’ll find it on Bonaire. This small and picturesque island allows for a relaxed and rewarding diving experience. Call your travel agent and pack your gear. Great diving in a tropical paradise awaits you. There is no better formula for a great diving vacation.