Leo

It is best and most advisable to look in the local papers, motorcycle weekly papers and bike magazines for used motorcycles. Used motorcycles are cheaper than new ones, and are the answer for anyone who wants a motorcycle but cannot afford a new one. Sometimes people buy used motorcycles just to get a feel of riding before buying the right motorcycle.

When buying a used motorcycle, it is better to check the body of the bike carefully for signs of rust or poor maintenance. Peeling paintwork with tape on the seat signifies repairs done on the bike, and you should think twice before buying the bike, unless it is got at a real bargain. Make sure that the tires have thread on them, as motorcycle tires cost more than car tires. Check to see if the chain is well oiled, and also check the exhaust for signs of rust on the underside of the muffler. Always take a used motorcycle for a test ride before buying it. If the owner doesn't agree to this, then don't buy the bike because some problems are only apparent when ridden.

If you are new to motorcycles, you should buy a four-stroke engine. It will give you fewer problems. Whenever you purchase a used motorcycle, it is important to check on the registration. Check to see if the engine number, the owner's name and the place the motorcycle were purchased matches the information given for registration. This is to prevent the possibility of buying a stolen bike.

Motorcycles provides detailed information on Motorcycles, Used Motorcycles, Custom Motorcycles, Mini Motorcycles and more. Motorcycles is affiliated with Motorcycle Accident Statistics.

If you are a law student, chances are that you are looking at attending one of the top law schools in the nation. California law schools are some of the best law schools that there are out there, and they have some of the most major law schools out there today all housed in the one Golden state. Many of these law schools are among the top 100 law schools in the United States of America and they have what it takes to provide them with the best education in law that is humanly possible.

Of course, the best California law school education that anybody could have is Stanford Law School. Stanford Law School is one of the best California law schools out there as it is one of the finest Ivy League schools that anybody could ever attend. It is located in Palo Alto, California which is what it makes it one of the best schools in California simply because the area is so beautiful. There is sunshine two thirds of the day of the year, and there is never any snow or ice in Palo Alto. It is a California law school paradise!

The thing about this school is that they have over 4000 applications to fill a class of about 200 students each and every year. This makes it one of the more stiffly competitive of the California law schools out there each and every year, as most of the students who have been admitted have above a 3.8 grade point average and a high LSAT score, usually above 160 points.

U.C. Berkeley also has one of the most esteemed of the California law schools. T is one of the heftiest of the California law schools out there, boasting a lovely campus in the San Francisco Bay area and it is considered to be one of the top ten law schools in the entire United States let alone the state of California. They have all types of fields of law to deal with, from intellectual property laws to environmental laws, to child and family law and other things.

The admissions process to this California law school is such a hefty one that many people don't even submit an application and pays the fee, as it is very difficult to get into the school. All of the applications to this school are hand-read by people, gone over with the intensity that is given to each and every potential student. There are thousands of applications to be read and very few of them are actually admitted into the school, as well as the different letters of recommendation and individual grade point averages and test scores.

Remember that the different California law schools out there are all based on different requirements, and they have a different style of learning than many other schools. Choose your California law school wisely.

You can get into the law school of your choice. Get your FREE newsletter with the secrets to getting into the Top Law Schools. Simply go to http://www.be-a-lawyer.info for your free report.

Dean Novosat has studied the secrets to getting into Law School. He reveals these secrets on his new website http://www.be-a-lawyer.info

To reiterate the myriad reasons to abstain from driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol (DUI) would fill a book. I believe, however, there is a need for devising new strategies in an attempt to curtail the high incidence of DUI, and in the process, lower the high mortality and injury rates because of it. Throughout the United States, variations of paying fines, temporary loss of driver license, DUI school, and increased insurance rates is a slap on the hand for a first offense. Let's examine each of these individually:

Paying a fine, regardless of how much it is, doesn't curtail the behavior at all. The courts allow payments, just like a department store or any credit-giving institution. The conviction, even though DUI is a misdemeanor, it is still a conviction--the convicts will incorporate payments like they do their car or house payments, or anything else they buy on credit. It simply becomes another bill. By no means am I suggesting that we eliminate fines, if anything, we should raise them considerably. Why should we raise the fines if it doesn't curtail the behavior? Because we would be doing it, not for punishment, but for restitution.

Not every DUI involves injury to others, the loss of lives, or the destruction of personal property. However, expecting convicts who have deprived others, can't be expected to compensate the victims alone, so it should be disseminated. This is already being done in many states, but not to the degree that I'm suggesting.

According to MADD (mothers against drunk drivers), first offense fines across the United States range from $200. To $1,000. The statistics for each state can be found at: http://www.whatsdrivingyou.org/laws

I suggest imposing a fine of $10,000.00 for the first offense, and spread the payment plan over a period of years. Part of the proceeds could also be allotted to recovery programs, DUI schools, and drug courts, etc..

Loss of drivers license: This is probably the most debilitating. People need to get to work, so they can make the money to live on, and of course to pay the fines. I don't need to itemize all the reasons we need transportation. However, if DUI is going to be discouraged, we need to stop slapping their hands. According to the above web site, in the United States driver license suspension for a first offense ranges from ten days to six months--the average is three to four months. During that time they get used to it. They incorporate into their lives a way to get by without driving. Either that, or they drive anyway, which isn't uncommon. Many even continue to drink and drive. In 1984, I was arrested on a DUI charge while I was going to court for a DUI charge. I still didn't stop drinking and driving. I was not unique.

Why not revoke their license for five years? If they can get used to a suspension for three to four months, they can get used to it for five years. However, it's doubtful that they could get away with continuing to drive and/or drinking and driving for five years. With first offenses being so devastating, the incidence of repeat offenders would be considerably decreased. In addition to license revocation, the vehicle should also be confiscated, auctioned off, and the proceeds be divided between recovery programs, drug courts, DUI schools, and victim restitution programs, etc..

DUI school: For a first offense, in California for example, the DUI offender must attend nine weeks of DUI school. A second offense is increased to a year. It was my observation as a counselor in a DUI school, that most offenders resist the education provided to them because they view their forced attendance as punishment, so they resent being there; thereby putting up walls to block information that cold save their own lives and the lives of others. By spreading the required attendance to five years for a first offense, it's possible that the extensive education would eventually start sinking in--maybe as long as a couple years. Forced education often works. Having attended 12-step meetings for over 15 years, I witnessed many newcomers resisting everything that was being said at meetings. I have also witnessed several of those newcomers achieving lasting, intrinsic recovery. Many of those members were forced into meetings by the courts, child protective services, employers, and spouses. It was either stop drinking or else. The extrinsic reasons for attendance often turn intrinsic after varying amounts of time. Many of them also come and go, and then finally stay. Then others never come back. With mandatory DUI school for five years, there is plenty of time for the counselors to convert their clients' resistence to a willingness to learn and accept and apply the information that is being offered.

Insurance rates are up to insurance companies. You may be surprised to know that when an insurer does find out about a DUI conviction, it doesn't automatically impose higher premiums. The insurer will look at the insured's history with the company and their claims record. For example, Company X's 's action depends on which subsidiary you're with. If you have a preferred policy with Company X. and receive a DUI, they may move you into Company X's Fire & Casualty, which is a standard-policy company. If you're moved from preferred to a standard status, you'll be paying higher rates already. Company X will also review your motor vehicle and insurance claims history to determine if it needs to raise your rates further. [Source: http://info.insure.com/auto/duiconviction.html].

South Carolina has integrated' insurance laws wherein all convictions MUST be reported to insurance carriers and the rates paid MUST be increased by the carriers, in accordance with a legislated formula designed to penalize high risk drivers. Something similar could be done in California, or better yet, nation wide.

Are fines, loss of driver license, DUI school, and increased insurance rates enough to deter DUI offenders. Some of them, of course, but there are those who won't stop until they are dead. Let's look at what happens to first offenders in other countries. In Queensland, Australia, if a person is convicted of a Drink Driving (that's what they call it there) offense then the magistrate, in addition to imposing a fine or a community service order, must impose a period of disqualification. If a person has been convicted of three major offenses (i.e. where the BAC is equal to or exceeds .15% or the person has failed to provide a specimen) within a five-year period then the Magistrate must impose a term of imprisonment. In Nevada they do the same thing--a third conviction, and the person goes to prison--and a judge can't change it. To see the laws in Queensland, go to http://www.fclawyers.com.au/web/article_1440.htm

In Guam they serve a minimum of 48 hours of imprisonment, a mandatory fine of $1,000.00 not to exceed $5,000.00, and a six-month loss of their driving privilege. This information came from http://www.lawyernet.com/members/jimfesq/DDD.html

In Pakistan drinking alcohol is illegal. In Hong Kong if driving under the influence beyond the legal limit, one can be fined and jailed up to three years. Found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_under_the_influence

Germany has increased its drunken-driving penalties and now people with a blood alcohol level of .05 or more caught operating a vehicle will have their licenses suspended for a month. Furthermore, if the BAC is between .05 and .079, license is suspended for 90 days, between .08 and .099 license is suspended for 180 days, for a BAC level of .1 and above, license can be suspended indefinitely. See http://ww2.pstripes.osd.mil/01/apr01/ed040301e.html

Belgium has strict drunk-driving laws, only allowing 0.25mg/ml of alcohol in the blood. Fines range from 125 on-the-spot to 2,500 (if prosecuted) and up to a maximum of 10,000 (if over 0.8mg/l), a six-month sentence and five-year suspension of your license. This can be found at http://www.shareyourstate.com/worldtravel/belgiumdriving.htm

As you can see, the laws in other countries vary. It is highly unlikely that there is a high incidence of DUI in countries with the harshest laws; therefore, it seems only logical that penalties are such that they actually deter driving under the influence. A slap on the hand is not a deterrent.

After 40 arrests, five formal probations, four country jail sentences, and a prison term (as a result of chemical dependency), I turned my life around. I was released from prison in Dec 1989, and have been clean and sober since. I started at Barstow College in Feb 1990. Received my AA degree in '92 from Barstow College in Barstow, CA; BA in '94 from Chapman University in Orange CA; MHS in 98 from National University in San Diego CA, and finished with a Ph.D. from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA in Feb 2004. I have taught as an adjunct instructor for Park University and Barstow College.

Professional or anglers alike have journeyed far to the north, including Alaska, to hunt for the elusive king salmon. Canada is also a great fishing destination preferred by many fishing enthusiasts from around the globe. But, there is a secret only few people know about. Did you know that most productive king salmon fishing takes place in a small corner in Northern California around the towns of Redding and Anderson?

Well, you better believe it. The Sacramento River, or locally known as the Sac stretches for 384 miles. This makes California salmon fishing perfect. There was a historical account that said theres a time when salmon runs were so think that you could walk on the back of fish to reach the other side of the river. But those were the days, the better days of your grandfathers and grandfathers fathers. However, with the effort of careful conservation and restoration projects, the river regains back its vitality as well as its constant visitors, salmon fish!

The California salmon fishing in Sacramento River resulted to the catch of 88-lb Chinook or king salmon, which is currently a state record breaker. The fall run is the ideal time of the year to angle for these feisty fish. Actually, the Sacramento River, California salmon fishing season begins every mid of July on the lower river and 1st of August for the upper part of the river, for the reason that salmon get there in small numbers. When September approaches, a huge number of salmons start into action, as if preparing for an attack, battling upstream. And by October, the highest peak of fishing season, salmon is in full force and the battles continue. By November and December, the big guys of 40 to 70-lb salmon begin to appear.

By those times, you must have caught your dreamed huge trophy fish and have your picture taken. Any huge fish caught definitely brings smiles to any lips of angles and would not go fishing without a camera on hand, dont you agree? And if the weather permits, the Sacramento River, California salmon fishing season may continue until early January. That would only mean you have enough time to keep on trying your luck and break the state record of 88-lb salmon. Are you up for the challenge?

And since fishing, in general, takes skills and technique to boat an acrobatic salmon, which tend to perform cartwheels when caught, it is much better if you learn from this activity and perfect it before you can dream of holding big salmon with a smile on your face and pose for picture taking, okay? Also, make sure your arms are strong enough just in case you get lucky and have a huge salmon for a catch. You dont want your arms out of their sockets, do you? Know that these preparations are needed if you are after for California salmon fishing.

Milos Pesic is an avid fisherman and owner of popular and comprehensive Salmon Fishing information site. For more articles and resources on Salmon Fishing related topics, Salmon Fishing equipment, tips and trips, visit his site at:

=>http://salmon-fishing.need-to-know.net

Do you want to excel in your course? Be the best you can be? How much do you want it? Think how great it could feel to be on top of your subject, understanding and enjoying everything you have to learn, acing your tests and assignments. As Sean Connery says in The Untouchables, What are you prepared to do?! Do you go to class wanting to get as much as you can from it, or do you see it as a necessary evil to be endured as part of your course? Do you sit passively waiting for the class to finish or do you treat it as a job, and work hard to do the best you can? Your attitude will be determine to a large extent how well you succeed in your course, more than any other factor. But luckily your attitude is under your control; you can choose how its going to be! So, decide to make the most of it, and you will! And, if thats what you want to do, than heres a few pointers about how to go about making the most of your time in class or lectures:

1. Treat it like a job. You are there for a reason; to learn as much as you can, and reach your potential in your chosen subject, excel even! Its your job to do a good job!
2. Be proactive, not passive. Be aware of what you need to learn, and make sure you are learning it. Be conscious of what you understand in class, jot down notes about things you are not clear about and make it your task that day to find out more about them, either by asking questions or doing some further reading. Take responsibility for your own progress, instead of waiting for the teacher to tell you how you are doing.

   Look over your material for that day before the class, if you know what its going to be. See how much you can understand by yourself. Notice the things you have difficulty with. Then, when your teacher or lecturer comes to that part of the text, your mind will focus as soon as you hear it, your attention and concentration will be heightened, and you will absorb the new knowledge much faster. You will also have more time to concentrate on the difficult parts, because it wont be all completely new to you.

   Revise the material then, within a day and make revision notes.

3. Learn to ask questions. Learn how to ask questions. Dont be afraid, there are probably more students in your class who need the same clarification. Just make sure they are specific. Instead of I dont understand, for example, specify as closely as you can where you find yourself getting lost. The very act of composing an intelligent question in your mind will help you find the answer yourself seven times out of ten! The lecturer or teacher will always appreciate the fact that you are thinking for yourself and the class will benefit from the interaction and the discussion which may follow.
4. Pay attention to the obvious things: be punctual; sit in a good seat where you can concentrate, be part of the class and be away from people who are not focussed; keep up with the reading and homework and dont let things slide even if you do, dont give up, get right back into it as soon as you can. Ask for help if you need to get back on track. Your teacher will appreciate your honesty, especially if you come up with a plan to catch up say, an extra chapter a night for a week.
5. Learn how to take good class notes. (See below)
6. Concentrate on the positives. All walks of life have tedious parts. Dont moan, try and get through boring parts by setting yourself a challenge to finish them in a record time. Remember this very important point: you get back what you put in. If you work at your subject honestly, it will be interesting, if you dont, it will be boring.

If you would like to know more, download a free mini ebook on study at www.yourstudymentor.com to get you started.

Process and Survival

On October 30, 2004, I will mark an anniversary of sorts. On this date a year ago, my life changed dramatically. I remember small details like the doctor's matter-of-fact voice discussing major surgery, chemotherapy, losing my hair. I remember the "dear-in-the-headlights" look on my husband's face, a look probably mirrored in my own face. I remember the day was beautiful, warm and sunny. I don't remember much of my drive back out to work or exactly how I told my co-workers that I scheduled for surgery in approximately three weeks for what was, almost certainly, advanced ovarian cancer. I've been asked to share some of the things that I found and did that helped me on this journey that began almost a year ago.

My first reaction was probably pretty standard - DENIAL- "This can't be happening to me. I'm healthy. I eat right. I exercise." Then came -ANGER. I had just had a complete physical with my doctor (which included the OB-Gyn exam) on August 28th. I had been complaining to her for months about bloating, increased waist size, and fullness. But she had assured me that everything was fine and that my exam was normal. (How could she have missed a tumor the size of my fist?) -FEAR followed anger. I have never had surgery. Chemotherapy? A nightmare! I don't want to be sick. I don't want to lose my hair! What about work, my family, my LIFE?

Fear can be a great motivator. It motivated me to learn as much as I could about ovarian cancer, the surgery, the chemotherapy protocols and the newest treatments and clinical studies. Surgery was scheduled for November 24th, two days before Thanksgiving. In the three weeks prior to surgery, I organized my work load in my department in preparation for being gone for 6-8 weeks. I spent hours gleaning information from the internet and library. I turned to friends and family for support and positive energy through prayer and visualization. With the help of my husband and a very dear friend, Sabrina, I started preparing for the surgery. We made pre and post operative tapes for stress relief (anxiety control), relaxation, pain relief, and healing. I practiced visualizing an uneventful, no complications, very successful surgery with minimal post-op discomfort and rapid recovery. My daily meditations included messages of self-healing and images of my powerful immune system already fighting and destroying the cancer cells. I continued to exercise and, in fact, went to my favorite exercise class the day before surgery. Exercise has played a very important part in my recovery from surgery and chemo. I went into surgery feeling stronger, mentally and physically, almost as if I'd been preparing for a marathon. In addition to increased exercise that included walking, step class, and weight training, I increased my vitamin intake to boost my immune system and energy levels. And just like an athlete preparing for an event, I endeavored to prepare myself emotionally and spiritually. "I feel myself strong, healthy and completely cancer free, now and forever," became, and still is, my mantra. I gathered all the good wishes and positive healing energy from friends and family like a cloak around me. I worked very hard at controlling my fears about the surgery, chemo and my future instead of letting the fears control me!

The morning of November 24th dawned clear and cold. Six AM found John and I on our way to UCSF to check in for surgery. I remember feeling somewhat disconnected to what was happening, surrounded by a sense of unreality. "I should be getting ready for work and shopping for Thanksgiving and decorating the house." Instead, we are speeding toward a big unknown. I practiced some "grounding" and "centering" techniques that Sabrina had taught me and kept deep breathing whenever the "nervous butterflies" fluttered around inside of me.

Checking in went smoothly. In my meeting with the anesthesiologist, I requested that he follow a script I had written up for him to use while talking to me during the surgery. The script had messages like: "Everything is going smoothly, Barbara," you'll wake up feeling minimal discomfort," You'll have a speedy recovery and nor complication." He agreed to my request and I was off to surgery.

The next few days are a blur, as I was in and out of sedation and on pain medication. A few memories do stand out- many, many beautiful flowers being delivered, gentle hands and voices taking care of and reassuring me; the faces of my loved ones looking stunned and scared. I must have appeared pretty scary with tubes and IV's everywhere! All seemed to be progressing smoothly until three days before my discharge. I was alert and moving around my room, sitting in the chair, and walking the hallways. And I experienced my worst day! Up until that time and for what seemed like for weeks, I'd been consciously putting on a good, strong, positive front. My theory was that the more positive energy would be reflected back to me in the form of: "It wasn't cancer, but just a benign cyst. Well, it is cancer, but we caught it early. The surgery will go great, and I'll recover quickly. I'll get back to my regular life!" That day started with a visit from my surgeon. She said I had had Stage IIIc ovarian cancer and she did not know if there was lymph node involvement. She was waiting for the report. She said a discharge nurse would be by to discuss chemo, wound care and at home follow-up. In her exam, the doctor found that my left leg was very swollen and she was sending me to have a CT Scan to rule out a blood clot. Also, my wound was infected in one area. She removed a few staples and started me on IV antibiotics. The staple removal procedure was very painful and I cried. Getting in and out of the wheelchair and up and down off the table for the CT scan was painful and I cried. Looking down at my 13 inch abdominal wound which was stapled except for a 3 inch open area and seeing my swollen to "twice it's size" left leg made me cry. And then there was the visit with the discharge nurse. A nice lady with a friendly smile as she spoke about chemo protocols that I'd be starting in three weeks, all of which would cause loss of hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. I cried. I felt so compromised, so vulnerable and SO ANGRY! Picture an armful of IV's shaking a fist at the sky. Looking back, I think finally getting angry and crying was good for me. After all, this wasn't fair, I didn't deserve this and the whole thing was overwhelming!

The next day was a little brighter. I went back to listening to my tapes, practicing my meditation and using the techniques that Sabrina and John had taught me for pain and stress relief. The CT scan was negative. No blood clots. My body was just redistributing fluids. I increased my walks around the halls and the swelling started to dissipate. The pathology report showed, to the surgeon's surprise, that there was no lymph node involvement! I felt like I had gotten an A+. And, after 10 days of hospitalization, I was going home.

That first breath of fresh air was heaven! San Francisco was at it's prettiest-clear blue sky, warm sun on my face and a cool breeze caressing my cheeks and tousling my hair. My brother carefully loaded me and my pillow into his car and I was, thankfully, on my way home.

My husband, sister Nance and my mom welcomed me with a clean house, lots of tasty treats and loving arms. My sister, Laurie, would arrive in a few days. The house would be decorated for Christmas and I was preparing to embark on phase 2, recovery from surgery and starting chemotherapy.

The second part of the story will be published in a future newsletter. It describes the chemotherapy, finding clinical studies, complimentary approaches to beating ovarian cancer that have been work for Barbara.

Ovarian Cancer: a not so silent killer

Ovarian cancer has long been considered difficult to detect with vague symptoms that look like other conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and PMS. I had been experiencing bloating, gas, fullness, and urinary tract problems for several months. I complained to my doctor. She suggested dietary changes but never did any follow up testing on me. A simple blood test called CA-125 would have alerted her to the problem before it had advanced to Stage III. An elevated CA-125 (above 35) is indicative of ovarian cancer, especially in conjunction with the other symptoms I had. New research points to a clear sign of the disease: the presence of three specific symptoms simultaneously- increased waist size, bloating or gas, and the urgent need to urinate. Since my diagnosis, several friends and my sister have requested that their doctors do a baseline CA-125, especially, if they had symptoms of gas or bloating. Fortunately, they are fine. I urge you to do research, get information and if you have any symptoms or concerns, talk to your doctor and be assertive about what you want.

Vitamin and supplements that Barbara researched and used in her fight with ovarian cancer, Phase I.

The following is a list of vitamin and supplements that I took to prepare for surgery and to speed post-operative healing.

Vitamin A: 25,000 IU daily- numerous studies have shown the beneficial effects of Vit.A on healing after surgery.

Vitamin C: 2,000 mg per day- essential for collagen synthesis which is part of normal wound healing.

Zinc, magnesium, B Complex: wound healing

Vitamin E: speeds healing

Homeopathy:

Arnica montana 30x, 3-4 pellets twice per day on the day before surgery and also as soon before surgery as possible. Then take them as soon as possible in the recovery room. Take for 1 week following surgery. Arnica is very good at preventing ill effects from any kind of physical trauma. Refer to: Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christine Northrup, MD for further information about these and other supplements. She also has a script example of four healing statements for the surgeon and anesthesiologist that I requested they say to me during my operation.

I also took Cat's Claw. I found information about this herb on the internet and started taking it as soon as I was diagnosed. I continue to take it daily. Cat's Claw is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas of South and Central America. It has been used for over 2,000 years by indigenous peoples for a variety of conditions including wound healing, cancer, internal cleansing, and "normalizing" the body. It has been used in Europe and Peru since the early 1990's as an adjunctive treatment for cancer and AIDs as well as other diseases that target the immune system.

A good information website for further research: Raintree Nutrition-Tropical Plant Database.

Link to Part II

I used the guided relaxations/visualizations CD's from the Stress Education Center-Dstress.com

1. #209 Stress Management for Pre and Post-op Survival
2. #208 Stress Management for Healing

Reference:
Health Update from SELF Magazine by Jennifer Nelson November, 2004 Ovarian cancer: a not-so-silent killer

"Early diagnosis is crucial. When disease is caught before it spreads, 80 percent of women will survive."

by Barbara Ehlers-Mason, RN and L. John Mason, Ph.D.

Look for Part II .... If you wish more information.

Stress Education Center (707) 795-2228 website: http://www.dstress.com

L. John Mason, Ph.D. is the author of the best selling "Guide to Stress Reduction." Since 1977, he has offered Executive Coaching and Training.

Please visit the Stress Education Center's website at Stress, Stress Management, Coaching, and Training for articles, free ezine signup, and learn about the new telecourses that are available. If you would like information or a targeted proposal for training or coaching, please contact us at (360) 593-3833.

If you are looking to promote your training or coaching career, please investigate the Professional Stress Management Training and Certification Program for a secondary source of income or as career path.

Catherine Kenyeres is a successful author and publisher for http://www.best-4u-fishing-equipment.com. Catherine has written numerous articles for the fishing enthusiast.

Before filing for trademark, it is a good idea to search for information such as Trademark Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services, Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, Design Code for the logos and images. With these guidelines, you can make certain the trademark you are developing is unique. It can also help you avoid any trouble or violations not only on the possible similarities on existing trademark, but on violation of standards that have been set.

When you file for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), there are many considerations you have to make to ensure the uniqueness of your trademark. Conventional things to consider are the name, word or phrase, the logo, symbol, design or images used in your trademark, making sure they are distinct from any of the existing trademarks out there. The main concern of the USPTO is to look for possible copyright infringement that your application may incur and to find ways to reject your trademark. With this risk at hand, it is best to search for trademarks existing and under application. There are free methods available for you to search for trademarks.

The Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) keeps records of patent and trademark materials within the United States of America at your disposal. They are also tasked to disseminate information involving patents and trademarks. You can go to the depository to manually check for whatever details you may need regarding trademarks or patents.

If there are other details, like laws or frequently asked questions you may need, you can visit the USPTO website to retrieve information they have posted. You can search for queries regarding trademarks, patents and copyrights. There are also news and articles related to the matter available , and you can use the Trademark Application and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) to search for the status of applications.

Trademark Search provides detailed information on Trademark Search, Free Trademark Searches, Online Trademark Searches, US Trademark Searches and more. Trademark Search is affiliated with Free Patent Searches.

A recent Tech Tip covered the basics of selecting a computer case and made mention of the various sizes that correspond to motherboards of different form factors. A few people wrote in expressing interest in understanding more about the basics of motherboards, and thats exactly what this Tech Tip intends to address.

A motherboard, also known as a main board, is the primary circuit board inside of a computer, and is where the central processing unit (CPU), memory, expansion slots, drives, and other peripheral devices are connected. The circuitry on a motherboard facilitates the communication between all of the devices in the computer, making them as critical to a systems performance as items such as the CPU or memory.

The core circuitry of a motherboard is referred to as its chipset, and generally the manufacturer of the motherboard is not the manufacturer of the chipset. Intel does produce motherboards with their own chipsets, but buying a motherboard brand such as Gigabyte, Biostar, and ASUS means getting a board with either a VIA, Nvidia, SIS, or Intel brand chipset.

1. Form Factor

The different basic shapes and sizes of motherboards are categorized as form factors. There are several standard form factors available, but some of the more common ones found in desktop computers include: (http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/atx2_2.pdf), ATX (http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/matxspe1.2.pdf), Micro ATX (mATX) (http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/FlexATXaddn1_0.pdf) FlexATX (http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/spearhead/mini-itx/) and Mini-ITX

The basic sizes of each are as follows:

* ATX: 12" x 9.6" (305mm x 244mm)

* Micro ATX: 9.6" x 9.6" (244mm x 244mm)

* FlexATX: 9.0" x 7.5" (229mm x 191mm)

* Mini ITX: 6.7" x 6.7" (170mm x 170mm)

ATX and mATX are by far the most popular motherboard sizes for desktop computers, and as seen in the list above, are also some of the largest. More real estate on a motherboard allows for greater expansion possibilities and extra features, which make the use of these boards more flexible. A Mini-ITX board may feature just one slot for memory and one slot for an expansion card, while a typical ATX board may feature 4 memory slots and six slots for expansion cards.

Each form factor has its own niche that it fits into, from workstations and gaming systems for larger boards to media centers and in-car computers for smaller boards. There is definitely overlap between the potential applications of each form factor, and other features and capabilities will also influence the targeted use.

2. CPU Socket

The major processor manufacturers, AMD and Intel, are constantly waging a battle to offer the fastest, most powerful processors available. Getting more speed and performance out of a relatively small chip generally requires a change to the physical dimensions as each new generation of processor is released. Therefore, motherboards need to evolve at the same pace in order to accept the new CPUs.

Back in the day, AMD and Intel processors shared a common CPU socket, but those days were short lived. AMD and Intel have since been traveling down their own, relatively parallel, paths of performance and speed increases, while using different designs. Selecting a motherboard for a modern AMD processor eliminates the use of any Intel processor, and vice versa.

AMDs current offering for desktop processors includes the Athlon 64, which is available in Socket 939 and Socket 754 formats. The number in the names represents the number of pins present on the backside of the CPU that connect to the motherboards socket. The Socket 939 Athlon 64 therefore has a staggering array of nine hundred and thirty nine tiny pins to match up with the motherboards socket. The Chaintech VNF4 Ultra is an example of a Socket 939 motherboard based on Nvidias NForce4 Ultra chipset technology. In addition to these two sockets, many AMD processors, including Athlon XPs, Semprons, and Durons, share the Socket A format, also known as Socket 462 thanks to it having 462 pins for connecting to a motherboard.Socket adapters

Intels latest offering for their Pentium 4 and Celeron processors, LGA 775, doesnt have pins at all and basically swaps the pins to the motherboard for the socket. Perhaps this design move puts the burden of bent pin warranty claims on someone else, but it is fairly unique. The Biostar P4M80-M7 is an example of an LGA 775 motherboard based on the VIA P4M800 chipset. Other Intel processors still on the market utilize the Socket 478 format for Pentium 4 and Celeron processors.

Although most motherboards support just one CPU socket, some applications benefit from having more than one processor to tackle the tasks at hand. Servers and high end workstations are two examples where a dual processor system, such as could be run on the Tyan Thunder i7500 motherboard, might make light work of more advanced applications.

3. Components

Components is a fairly vague term to describe this section, but the items to be covered are fairly diverse. Computer systems all use memory, storage devices, and power supplies, but among the many differences motherboards have is the type and quantity of connections for these components.

Most modern systems use DDR memory, but DDR-2 memory is becoming more common and will eventually become the standard. Although some boards provide slots for both types of memory, it is generally the case that either one or the other technology is supported. Besides operating differently, the physical difference of DDR having 184 pins and DDR-2 having 240 pins prevents them from being interchangeable. Going forward, users will have to decide whether they want to jump on the new technology bandwagon when selecting a motherboard, or to try to continue using their existing DDR for as long as possible. Regardless of technology, most motherboards come with 2 to 4 slots for memory, although as mentioned, Mini-ITX boards may just offer 1 slot.

Hard drive technology is changing too, as mentioned in the Tech Tip comparing SATA to ATA hard drives. Most motherboards over the past few years have offered two ATA connections, which could support up to 4 drives. With SATA becoming more popular, some boards now offer a mix of ATA and SATA connections, while others have abandoned ATA all together, and instead offer multiple SATA connections which only support one drive each. In addition to type and quantity, motherboards can also offer choices in hard drive capabilities by integrating RAID controllers onboard, as found on the ASUS K8V SE Deluxe.

As systems become more advanced, they many times impose special power requirements to keep them running smoothly. Most motherboards feature the typical 20 pin ATX power connector, while some server boards may have a 24 pin connection in its place. Motherboards for AMD Athlon 64 and Pentium 4 processors will have a second power connection located in close proximity to the CPU socket for providing the extra power that todays high end processors demand. This special 4 pin connection isnt found on every AMD Socket A motherboard, but it will most definitely be located on an AMD Socket 939 motherboard. Power supplies have been including this special connection for years, but for those upgrading an old system with a new motherboard, the power supply may be just one more item that has to be upgraded as well.

4. Extra Features

Many motherboards now include features onboard that were once only available as expansion cards to be purchased separately. A typical motherboard will now include stereo sound capabilities, a 10/100 LAN connection, and a few USB 2.0 ports on the back panel connection. Depending on the budget and needs of the end user, many motherboards may also include other convenient features such as integrated Firewire ports, VGA connections, and onboard RAID controllers.

Motherboards Extra Features

Although many of these items may be added later with expansion cards, if you know you want them upfront, a bit of installation hassle and expense can be eliminated by finding a board with just about everything you want included. That said, there arent many choices of onboard components, so its a case of take it or leave it. For example, you may want stereo sound included, but find most motherboards offer 5 channel, where you would prefer 8 channel. In that case, it may be a good thing that motherboards include expansion slots to add the sound card of your choice.

5. Expansion Slots

A motherboard typically provides at least one slot for the installation of a graphics card and a few slots for expanding the capabilities of the system in other areas.

Graphics cards are available in PCI, AGP, and now PCI Express formats, and matching a motherboard to the appropriate card is a key step. Most motherboards released over the past few years include an AGP slot, and the new wave of motherboards are now starting to feature PCI Express slots for graphics card installation.

PCI slots are found on most motherboards, but are much slower than AGP and PCI Express slots, so they are not the optimal choice for graphics. ATX motherboards may typically feature four to five PCI slots, and although they could be used for secondary display graphics cards, more common applications include sound cards, network cards, RAID controllers, TV tuners, modems, and USB/Firewire controllers. Considering that many of these items are now included onboard, having multiple PCI slots isnt quite as important as it used to be.

6. Style

With enthusiasts adding windows and special lighting effects to just about every feature of a computer, why should the motherboard be left out of the action? Long gone are the days of the stereotypical green PCB with white connectors, and now most boards feature a vibrantly colored PCB and a rainbow of colors on expansion slots, memory slots, drive connectors, and so on.

For example, if someone was undecided on a mATX board for their Socket 754 AMD Athlon 64, style might be the deciding factor. The Chaintech MK8M800 and the Biostar K8VGA-M-N are similar boards featuring the VIA K8M800 chipset and prices under $70. The golden PCB with black and white features of the Chaintech board may appeal to some, while the red, white, blue, and yellow of the Biostar may sway others.

In general, a particular model is only available in one color scheme, and many manufacturers use the same theme across their entire current line up. As an example, the Biostar board for AMD Athlon 64 processors above features the same basic style as this Biostar board for the new Pentium LGA 775 processors. In addition to coloring, some manufacturers will include LED lighting on chipset cooling fans, or accessorize motherboards with matching cables to complete the unique looks of the board.

Some people may scoff at colors being included in the list of key features on motherboards, but there will be some that shop for style first, and then performance.

Final Words

There are many factors to address in selecting a motherboard, and this Tech Tip really just scratched the surface of the basic choices that may need to be considered. Much more technical decisions may need to be made by the advanced user, but covering the six basic areas discussed above is a good start for users of any level.

Computer tech tips and computer advice

As a general rule, the choice of garage door and garage door material is largely determined by the type of house you have, your space, and of course, your budget.

There are four different styles of garage doors: the sectional door, the roller door, side-hung door and up-and-over door. They come in three different materials you can choose from: wood, steel and glass reinforced plastic.

Garage doors for small garages. If your house has a short drive and is generally restricted space-wise, then a roller garage door might just be what you are looking for. A roller door rolls straight up a drum found above the opening, so there are no outswings or overhangs. A sectional garage door, on the other hand, differs in the manner by which the door is stored once opened. Like the roller door, there is no outswing so you can park your car flush to the garage door.

Garage doors for bigger garages. Up-and-over garage doors are one piece doors that swing out and then up, lying parallel to the ceiling. They can be made from steel or wood, but glass reinforced plastic is the most common material used to make them. You need a large space before the garage door (from the ground up and from the top down) to allow the door to freely swing in its horizontal position. If you have a big garage, you should also consider the most traditional (and simplest) style of garage door the side hung door. They hang from the side, and are basically double doors that lock in the middle.

Choosing materials. Garage doors made from wood provide the best aesthetic look, although they will probably require high maintenance and tend to be more expensive. If looks are more important to you than budget, then you may opt for this type of door.

Steel is the most secure material for garage doors. But although it is strong, it alone does not secure your property. The garage doorframe and other entrances should be secured, too.

The most popular material used is the glass reinforced plastic that can be used in most doors except the side hung doors. It provides the best value for the money and can be finished in glass wood or modern glossy style.

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