By providing birds with the right bird house design, you are sure to attract the type of bird you want to your property. Different variety of birds will require different styles of shelter. Along with the proper shelter, also be sure to provide clean water and food.

Giving birds shelter will keep them safe from the outside temperature. By building a safe haven the birds will be able to nest, and be safe from predators.

Before you begin building, research the variety of birds known to migrate to your area. Be aware of the bird house size and location that will meet the birds need.

Once you are aware of the types of bird in your area, you can look for bird house plans that will meet their needs. The most common wood used for building bird houses is cedar. Cedar makes an excellent material to use, it doesn't need to be treated, stained, or painted. Always try to avoid painting, especially around the entrance hole.

Drill the proper entrance hole. It is important to know the size of the entrance hole for the birds you are attracting. Researching online for information on birds is a great place to start. Another good place for information is your local library.

Adding a perch to the bird house is not a good idea. Having a perch will give predator birds a place to wait for the bird to come out. This can result in the bird becoming trapped inside, with fear.

It is important to place the bird house in a good location. When choosing a location, keep in mind how weather and predators such as cats will affect your new guest. Choose a place where there is not to much human activity. Make sure you will be able to see and enjoy the bird house from the location you have chosen. The height should be around three to ten feet high. The bird house can be hung on a tree, or mounted to a pole or tree limb.

Provide food for the birds, especially in the winter, food is hard for them to come by. Find out what kind of bird food and treats you will need for the bird variety you are trying to attract. You can experiment by placing different food in different feeders, this should give you an idea what they prefer to eat. Building a basic bird feeder is quite simple. You can find plans online, or by going to a library or bookstore.

Birds are also attracted to water. Water for drinking and bathing is another necessity that Birds require. Any shallow container to hold water will do fine. A good location to add water containers is close to the feeders.

Remember to start out by researching the types of birds in your area, so that you can find the right bird house plans. There are many web sites that offer free plans. Also try your library and bookstore for the right plans. Building your own bird house can be a great new hobby, while providing the birds in your area shelter and protection.

Dan Lazaj
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/bird-house-plans-choosing-the-right-design-735981.html

This is a new series (1-30) of Verse No. in the Bible versus the Quran.

Verse No. 30 in the Old Testament says: And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.

Verse No. 30 in the New Testament says: They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

Verse No. 30 in the Noble Quran says: and if ye are in doubt concerning that which we reveal unto our servant (Muhammad), then produce a Surah of the like thereof, and call your witness beside Allah if ye are truthful.

------------------------

The verse No. 30 in the Old Testament is Genesis 1:30

In the article 29, Genesis 1:29 says: Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

Consequently, the Bible determines man's food; it is every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.

In the verse Genesis 1:29, Herbs and fruits must be man's food, including corn, and all the products of the earth; it seems likely that the Bible is in favor of the vegetarians.

Furthermore, Genesis 1:30 determines also the food of all the animals and all the birds, the verse says:

And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.

This indicates that the food of all the beasts of the earth, all the birds of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life are the green plants.

It is clear then that the green plants are the food of all the animals and all the birds.

Because Birds have a high temperature and use lots of energy, they need to eat a lot of food, compared with their weight.

Birds eat different foods. Some birds eat green plants. Other birds eat fish, insects, small reptiles and mice. Birds of prey eat mammals and other birds. Some birds are scavengers and eat the bodies of creatures that have died.

But the Bible in Genesis 1:30 determines the food of the birds, that is "every green plant".

As for the beasts, every kid knows what they eat.

But the Bible too decides that the food of ALL the beasts is "every green plant".

However, and to be honest, in Ezekiel 39:17 God will have birds and beasts eat human flesh and drink human blood...

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The verse No. 30 in the New Testament is Matthew 2:5

The verse No. 29 in the New Testament is Matthew 2:4

In the articles 26-29, Matthew 2:1-4 say:

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying: Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

In this article, Matthew 2:5 says:

They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

This is the second prophet who is unidentified and not mentioned by name; Matthew 2:5 mentions without his name. The first prophet is found in Matthew 1:22

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Verse No. 30 in the Noble Quran is 2:23,

Chapter 2 is Surah AL-BAQARA (THE COW),

Verses 2:1-5 are talking about the believers. (articles 8-12)

Verses 2:6-7 are talking about the disbelievers. (articles 13-14)

Verses 2:8-20 are talking about the hypocrites. (articles 15-27)

The address of verses 2:21-24 is general to mankind.

In articles 28, verse 2:21 says:

O mankind! worship your guardian-lord, who created you and those who came before you, that you may have the chance to learn righteousness(so that you will be cautious)

In articles 29, verse 2:22 says:

Who (Allah) made the earth a resting place for you and the heaven a canopy and (who) sends down rain from the cloud then brings forth with it subsistence for you of the fruits; therefore do not set up rivals to Allah while you know.

In this article, Verse 2:23 says:

and if ye are in doubt concerning that which we reveal unto our servant (Muhammad), then produce a Surah of the like thereof, and call your witness beside Allah if ye are truthful.

The meaning of verse 2:23:

And if you are in doubt, in uncertainty, concerning what Allah has revealed through the Archangel Gabriel unto His servant, Muhammad, whom you accuse of fabrication of the Quran, that it is from Allah, then bring a Surah like it, then produce a Surah like it in its eloquence, fine arrangement and its bestowal of knowledge of the Unseen.

And call your witnesses, seek help from those other gods that you worship, it is said that this refers to their leaders that they follow, besides Allah, that is, other than Him, so that it can be seen, if you are truthful, in your claim that Muhammad speaks it from himself, that Muhammad invents the Quran.  So do this, for you are also fluent speakers of Arabic like him. When they could not do this, Allah said… (See next article).

A Surah of the Quran is a chapter (a passage) with a beginning and end made up of a minimum of three verses)

It is fruitful to know that Chapter 108, Surah AL-KAUTHER (ABUNDANCE) is composed only of 10 Arabic words.

It follows that Allah challenges mankind by producing 10 Arabic words like it (like the Quran) in its eloquence, fine understanding and its assignment of knowledge of the Unseen.

As far as I know, this is the First Linguistics Challenge in the History of Mankind.  No author (s) in the history of mankind has the courage to generate a challenge like that. Thousands of scholars came from the Western countries to the East, they have studied thoroughly the Arabic language, some of them wrote books and encyclopedias in Arabic. However, none of them tried to produce 10 Arabic words to beat this unbeaten challenge.  Also, they did not tell the people in the West about this unbeaten challenge.  Have you ever heard about it?

==========

Verse No. 30 in the Old Testament, the New Testament in four different versions of the Bible; and in the Noble Quran in Four different Translations

Verse No. 30 in the Old Testament

Genesis 1:30

New International Version:

30] And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

New American Standard Version:

30] and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so.

English Standard Version:

30] 30And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.

King James Version:

30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

------------------------

Verse No. 30 in the New Testament

Matthew 2:5

New International Version:

30] In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

New American Standard Version:

30] They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

English Standard Version:

30] They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

King James Version:

30] And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

------------------------

Verse No. 30 in the Noble Quran

Chapter 2:23

Surah AL-BAQARA (THE COW)

QARIB: if you are in doubt of what we have sent down to our worshiper (prophet Muhammad), produce a chapter comparable to it. call upon your helpers, other than Allah, to assist you, if you are true.

SHAKIR: and if you are in doubt as to that which we have revealed to our servant, then produce a chapter like it and call on your witnesses besides Allah if you are truthful

PICKTHAL: and if ye are in doubt concerning that which we reveal unto our slave (Muhammad), then produce a Surah of the like thereof, and call your witness beside Allah if ye are truthful.

YUSUFALI: and if ye are in doubt as to what we have revealed from time to time to our servant, then produce a Surah like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true.

==========

It is very premature to ask this question:

Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?

Wait and you will see.

Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil
http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/the-first-linguistics-challenge-in-the-history-of-mankind-683327.html

Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated Birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

Bird flu, or avian flu, is currently of great concern worldwide. Governments are greatly concerned of a pandemic of bird flu that could kill millions.

Tamiflu is the main drug for the treatment of bird flu. Tamiflu can lessen the effects of bird flu, speed up recovery. Tamiflu can also minimize the effects of bird flu to the point that a patient may survive the virus when, without Tamiflu, the attack would have been fatal. Tamiflu is the only drug that is this effective against the bird flu virus.

These drugs must be taken within two days after the appearance of symptoms, something that may prove logistically difficult on a worldwide scale, even if there were enough to go around. Because they're in short supply, it's not entirely clear how flu drugs would be allocated if there were a widespread epidemic.

Avian refers to birds and flu is the common name for influenza. Avian flu is influenza that infects birds, including wild birds such as ducks and domestic birds such as chickens. Avian flu is caused by influenza virus type A. There are 15 subtypes influenza A, two of which affect birds. These are called the H5 and the H7 subtypes.1

These viruses are known as "highly pathogenic (disease-causing) avian influenza" (HPAI). They produce a severe disease in birds and are rapidly fatal, leading to bird flu epidemics.

Currently, wearing a mask is not recommended for routine use (e.g., in public) for preventing influenza exposure. In the United States, disposable surgical and procedure masks have been widely used in health-care settings to prevent exposure to respiratory infections, but the masks have not been used commonly in community settings, such as schools, businesses, and public gatherings.

A new treatment for human infections of bird flu claimed to be more effective than Tamiflu has been developed by Chinese scientists.

Like the drug made by Switzerland-based Roche, the new medicine is a neuraminidase inhibitor which inhibits an enzyme called neuraminidase and prevents the virus from leaving the cell and spreading to others.

People who develop flu-like symptoms (e.g., cough, fever, muscle aches) within ten days of traveling to an area of the world where there is a known outbreak of bird flu should contact their health care provider immediately. When traveling in these areas, avoid live poultry markets. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. People who handle birds that may be infected should wear protective clothing and breathing masks.

Giving aspirin to children and teenagers who have influenza can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome. Children or teenagers with the flu should get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquids, and take medicines that contain no aspirin to relieve symptoms.

Bird flu treatment is directed at reducing the severity not preventing it. Bird flu treatment therefore is the domain of natural health.

Herbs, Homeopathics and Acupressure have been used for centuries to aid your ability to fight infection and prevent them. What they do is arm your body to fight better and protect itself from attack.

peterhutch
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/how-to-treat-bird-flu-369464.html

Medical tourism is a fairly new term used to describe an amazing amount of people globally that travel world-wide for health care. Why these people travel and for what differs, but basically there are two types of medical tourists - the regular tourist that adds a visit to the doctor for some minor treatment, as part of his or her holiday, and the tourist travelling primarily for medical treatment.

Before there even was a term 'medical tourism', it was common practice among the well-to-do in third-world countries to travel to the USA, Switzerland and Germany for medical care. However, since the year 2000, this trend has been reversed and now countries such as Thailand, are attracting patients from the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.

This new market has grown as modern health care systems all over the world are struggling to meet the medical needs of their own populations. In the United States, the price of health care is beyond the means of most and there are an estimated 40 million people without health insurance. While in Britain, Canada and Holland, socialised health care ensures affordability, demand for medical services far outstrips supply and waiting lists for surgical procedures or specialty medicine can be as long as two-to-three years.

Today, governments, insurers and employers are carefully looking at outsourcing medical treatments as a way to improve access and lower health care costs for their citizens, policy-holders and employees.

Thailand's health care services are about one-half the cost of similar services in Singapore, one-third the cost of Hong Kong and one-tenth the cost in the United States.

Who are the medical tourists and what are they coming for?

By and large, medical tourists are travelling for specialty surgical and medical services. The recent upsurge in the popularity of plastic surgery, however, has led to a new wave of medical tourists and headlines like "Sun, sea and surgery" or "Scalpel tourism" have helped create the buzz for this growing phenomenon. Medical tourism destinations, such as Thailand, promote the benefit of high-quality medical care as just one more reason to visit the kingdom.

Elective out-patient procedures like check-ups, dental care, and LASIK eye surgery are becoming increasingly popular and there is a growing interest on the part of the tourism industry to include these services as part of their travel packages. Higher intensity medical services, like spinal and cardiac surgery, pose a greater challenge because these medical services are not as easily packaged and require significantly more knowledge about medicine.

Bumrungrad Hospital, located in central Bangkok, is a major player in the medical tourism field in Thailand, attracting over 360,000 international patients every year from over 150 countries worldwide. But Bumrungrad is not alone. There are quite a few other hospitals in Thailand and also in out-lying regions that are aggressively marketing their hospitals to capture a slice of this fast growing market. Both Bumrungrad Hospital and the India-based Apollo Hospital were recently featured on the CBS award winning news program "60 Minutes" as medical tourism destinations for a growing number of Americans.

Reliable figures on the size and growth of medical tourism are hard to come by, as government and immigration statistics do not yet categorize inbound travellers coming for medical care. That said, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is actively promoting medical tourism as medical tourists on average spend more and stay longer than leisure travellers.

So, whether you are the casual visitor that will take advantage of some minor medical work while in Thailand, or you are planning your vacation around your surgery, Thailand is the place to go and get it done professionally and at an extremely good price.

Lawrence Westfall
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/kill-two-Birds-with-one-stone-medical-tourism-73224.html

If you consider that for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years man wanted to take to the skies like the Birds, it seems strange that so many people have a fear or phobia about flying. Of course in today's modern age we don't strap on wings and take gracefully to the skies like our ancestors dreamt of doing, instead we climb aboard a giant machine of the air and place our safety and care into the hands of others. These others include pilots and air crew, air traffic controllers, mechanics and engineers, and many other individuals who make our flights through thousands of miles of sky possible.

Fear of flying (or aerophobia) affects roughly 1 in 5 people, and can be a real nuisance. It might just mean that family holidays abroad are impossible, or it might make a desired career impossible if it involves flying during business trips.

The effect that a fear of flying will have on a person can vary greatly. At one end of the scale, it might simply be anxiety during certain parts of a flight. At the other end, it might manifest itself as a full blown terror, which might even preclude them from just picking someone up from an airport.

Statistically, of course, flying is one of the safest modes of transport … but to someone with a fear of flying, knowing this at a conscious level, is not enough, and they remain afraid, controlled by their fear of flying.

To the sufferer, it's their imagination that drives their fear, and no amount of 'rationalisation' can help this.

Most nervous flyers simply avoid flying entirely if they can, and this avoidance serves to reinforce their fear of flying.

Fear of flying, especially when an individual has flown before, perhaps many times, is often linked to a more serious level of anxiety disorder and sometimes panic-attacks are a part of the problem also.

Fortunately all of the above can be very successfully dealt with by Hypnotherapy which may include Suggestion Therapy, Hypnoanalysis, Parts Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic-Programming (NLP) and Kinesiology.

Alan Crisp
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/to-fly-like-the-birds-or-not-76002.html

Once upon a time, there was a commercial airline industry, busy catering to everyone who wanted to fly. Now there is something called as a private jet. Just as you would cook at home and eat if you did not like the idea of going to a hotel, you can now fly your own plane, if you did not want the normal way of flying planes, that is, commercially.

Eclipse Aviation located at Albuquerque, New Mexico, has recently won a certification from the U.S Federal Aviation Administration of its brand new minijet. The Eclipse 500 is only the beginning in the spurt of mini jet sales that seems to have grappled the ultra rich niche market in the U.S.

The Eclipse 500 priced at 1.5 Million Dollars can seat about 6 people and flies really high at about 40000 and also flies very fast at about 425 mph. It has the ability of landing and taking off from any landing pad which can be as small as a length of about 2245 feet.

In yet another development, Private Jet King, Cessna of Wichita, Kansas, is about to certifying its own mini jet The Mustang. A little more on the luxurious side and also larger than the Eclipse, it can seat about 6 people and will cost about 2.5 million USD.

We haven't even started talking about the Denver Based Adam Aircraft's Adam 700 which would be sold for a little over 2 million dollars. Also, the Brazilian made Phenom 100, which would sell at $2.9 million or the uber exquisite Honda's mini jet.

The plethora of new products on display is only an indication of the boom in the industry. Though it has been a dirty industry, due to lack of an effort on the part of the buyer to shop around for prices afraid that it might be something of an integrity issue, it has led to premium pricing by almost all players, and it has been a steady climb, owing to the ever increasing number of deep pockets.

The slew of new models introduced by so many manufacturers is only testimony to the fact that the big boys still favor pretty little Birds they can so cozily fly in. There has been an increase of sales in private luxury jets by almost 35% and the trend is also catching up in Europe and other parts of the world.

Barney Garcia
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-private-jet-boom-the-slew-of-new-flashy-air-birds-69417.html

Unsecured loans, as the name suggests, are loans that do not require any security from the borrowers. Usually these loans come with high interest rates, but if you search them on the internet, there are high chances of getting a desirable low rate unsecured loan that would suit your requirements.

Advantages of unsecured loans :

The biggest advantage of unsecured loans is that they are risk free. There is no need to place any of your assets like property or home as security. Therefore, you do not stand the risk of losing your property or any other asset if you fail to repay the loaned amount plus the interests rising thereof.

However, this does not imply that you have a lee way. You still need to pay your EMI's at the right time, failing which the lender is at free will to take legal action against you.

Coming back to advantages, another benefit that you get with unsecured personal loans is in the legal processes. There is no asset involved in this type of loan, hence there is no requirement of assessment of the equity in asset. This reduces the processes of loan application and approval, especially when compared with that of secured loans.

This also gives us the benefit of speed. Usually online unsecured loans take less time to get approved in comparison to secured loans.

Disadvantages of unsecured loans :

While we are aware of the advantages of unsecured loans, we should also have a look at the disadvantages they hold.Unsecured loans clamp down on the borrowers with stricter terms and conditions, shorter repayment periods and high interest rates. These disadvantages arise due to absence of collateral.

Online Loans

However if you are searching for loans online, you can get some cool deals in the form of low rate unsecured loans. These loans not just offer low rates of interest but may also provide you with relaxed terms and conditions. Thereby, making your repayment comfortable and easy.

Gordon luca
http://www.articlesbase.com/loans-articles/Birds-eye-view-on-unsecured-loans-116302.html

When Canadian Anne Murray sang her hit song “Snowbirds,” she wasn’t singing about Canadian Geese. She was singing to the thousands of snow-bound Canadians called ‘snowbirds’ who make the yearly pilgrimage from wintery Canada and the Pacific Northwest to warmer climes in places like Southern California. There, snowbirds nest for the winter months, basking in the warm southern California sunshine, in quaint resort gem cities like Santa Barbara. Nestled between the beautiful Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific, Santa Barbara is a premier resort destination.

Snowbirds who come here to what some call “The American Riviera” have a secret: Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals have it all. Those who’ve discovered Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals shun the barren Arizona deserts and even the ritzy Palm Springs oasis for this coastal beauty. Why? They know only too well what Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals can offer them in the way of amenities and comfort and entertainment. SnowBirds who flock to the coastal town of Santa Barbara are not content to curl up with a good book for the winter under some Saguaro cactus or be satisfied with designer shopping sprees that require SPF 70 and a large checkbook. They are too active and full of life for that. They want more and that’s exactly what Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals have to offer.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals cover a wide area of urban Santa Barbara. There are private homes and condo units on the coast, directly on the beach, inland near tourist attractions and everything in-between. For snowbirds who migrate here, camping is not an option. They are not interested in roughing it for the entire winter or sharing public facilities with their neighbors. They don’t own RV’s because they don’t want the hassle of storing an unwieldy RV for most of the year. They are used to comfort and they crave it for the long winter they’re away from home.

David and Leslie Benscott, retired attorneys from British Columbia, used to camp with their children. But they’re empty nesters now, and when they get away for the winter, they’re not interested in foregoing amenities. They have been renting Vacation Rentals in Santa Barbara for the past seven years. “Besides,” says Leslie, “we both love to cook and we’re spoiled enough to admit we want a nice kitchen to do it in. Our condo has a fabulous chef-style kitchen with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. At least once a week, we’ll cook up a gourmet meal in our Vacation Rental in Santa Barbara and meet friends on the beach for a picnic. You simply can’t do that in January in British Columbia.”

The Benscott’s vacation rental in Santa Barbara is fully furnished with all the amenities. Often, owners of vacation rentals will equip a condo or house with things like beach equipment, games, movies and a stocked kitchen. There are no taxes or tips involved in vacation rentals as there would be in a hotel, so in the long run, Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals work out cheaper for them than a long term hotel stay would, especially when you don’t have to dine out every meal. The Benscotts have made it a quest to catch up on all the sights in Santa Barbara as well, each season adding a few new discoveries to their treasure chest. This year, their grandchildren visited and they all took in the Railroad Museum and the Santa Barbara Zoo. It was a memory all of them will hold onto for a lifetime. Luckily, there was plenty of room for everyone to stay at their vacation rental with its three roomy bedrooms and beachfront courtyard. The grand-kids could walk to the beach every morning with the Benscotts. They have the shell collections to prove it.

With over a hundred wineries in Santa Barbara and the surrounding area, cultural events like theatre, beach-front Arts and Crafts fairs, even Santa Barbara’s own International Film Festival, there is something for everyone here. Snowbirds know that if you like outdoor activities with flair, then Santa Barbara is the place for you.

Snowbirds Ken and Marie Linter, a retired surgeon and his wife, come here from Alberta, Canada every winter, drawn by the warm temperatures and the great properties they find with Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals. They’ve rented the same condo now for four seasons. Ken and Marie are avid bikers and kayakers and love the opportunities Santa Barbara provides for them to stay fit over the winter months. “The only exercise I get in Alberta is shoveling snow,” says Ken, who gave up skiing several years ago. “And frankly, I’m over it. Now Marie and I can bike all around the city on the bikes our Santa Barbara vacation rental provides for us at no extra cost. We go home in better shape than when we came.”

It’s just the two of them now and they love the one bedroom condo they found from Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals. Not only do they have in-house housekeeping services, there is a concierge service attached to their vacation rental. When it comes time to decide which fabulous restaurant to choose, the concierge is there to help. “Last week,” Marie says, “the concierge steered us to a five star restaurant tucked into a private little beach cove. It was probably the most romantic dinner Ken and I had ever had. Well worth the trip from Alberta.”

ANDREW WARREN
http://www.articlesbase.com/vacation-rentals-articles/canadian-snow-birds-flock-to-santa-barbara-vacation-rentals-451295.html

Before you rent out or sell a house, the first thing that is asked for in UK, is the Home information Pack also known as HIP. It involves a set of documents that provides the buyer with key information on the property and must be provided by the seller or the seller's agent. It is also considered an important marketing tool to promote your house and is definitely a legal requirement too.

These set of documents allows the buyers to see important information on the property at the start of the process, to get an idea of what the house comprises of and how much it’s worth in the UK property market. In one way, a landlord or the seller in this case, provides all the information related to his house and averts any confusion which may other wise arise due to lack of information. These things can be set right in the beginning itself and avoid any delays and extra expense to both buyer and a seller. It gets clear on the side of the buyer where in he can’t crib about not having provided with certain details, when every thing is clearly written in the document.

HIP contains official information, some are mandatory while others are optional. A landlord can opt to provide or opt out of it based on his convenience. Such HIP will also have Energy Performance Certificate as part of its content.

Compulsory items in the HIP are seen as below:

These are the documents to be present compulsorily:

In case of Freehold properties

·           Index of Home Information Pack

·           Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

·           Evidence of title

·           Your sales statement

·           sustainability information (required only for newly built homes)

·           standard searches (local authority and drainage and water)

In case of Leasehold properties:

·           all the compulsory documents as seen above

·           and a  copy of your lease

With more information upfront and the costs incurred in gathering and providing information such as searches transferred to the seller, first time buyers will find their first step onto the housing ladder a more affordable and more informed one. Your home pack information will also have a home condition report and mentions all the contents in the house. Important information to a buyer is that, if you are buying a property, just ask whoever is advertising it for sale for the Home Information Pack. This is usually an estate agent, but could be another business or individual. Such copies of Home information pack are given to you free of charge. However, they may make a reasonable charge to cover the costs of copying and posting it to you.

Kirthy Shetty
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/a-Birds-eye-view-of-home-information-pack-677701.html

Winter weather will soon be here in many parts of the country, yet many of us enjoy our wild birds year-round. Should you continue feeding them in winter? What should you feed them, and how should you go about it?

The "conventional wisdom" has always been that you should feed wild birds in winter because their normal source of food – small seeds and insects – has dramatically diminished. But is the conventional wisdom correct? By attracting birds to our feeders, are we making them too dependent on a free source of food, and weakening their ability to find food on their own? Do we actually put birds at greater risk because of cats and flying into windows?

These are not easy questions to answer because there has been little research into the subject. However a three-year study of chickadees by the University of Wisconsin found that winter survival rates were highest among chickadee populations that were fed – but only during the harshest winters. During more moderate winters (and lower latitudes) there were no significant differences in survival rates and spring hatching rates between chickadees that were fed and those that foraged for themselves.

What if the feeders are removed? Can chickadees "remember" how to find food on their own? In a similar study, feeders were suddenly removed after conditioning the birds to feeders for many years. The birds immediately resumed feeding on their own. Again, survival rates were the same as for chickadees that were not used to feeders. While more research needs to be done, these studies indicate that feeding chickadees – and presumably, other wild birds – does not result in feeder dependency.

Some argue that feeders put birds at risk because of the presumed greater risk of predation. However, birds that eat from feeders eat more in less time than if they forage in the wild, giving them more time to watch for predators. You can minimize the risk to birds at your feeder by placing feeders where they are inaccessible by cats, and by adding tape or decals to your windows so birds won't fly into them.

That's the research. Now, if you do want to feed wild Birds this winter, here are some specific things you can do to keep your wild birds well fed.

Birdscape your yard. Both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs provide seeds and shelter. In the spring, they provide nesting places. Ornamental grasses also provide food and shelter for ground birds. Perennial flowers that have been allowed to go to seed can also provide food over the winter.

Provide a source of water. Wild birds need water, even in winter. Obviously, freezing is an issue, so a heater is a necessity. Also, birds like moving water, and water jigglers are available as well. Locate your bird bath where you can see it so you can enjoy watching the birds frolic in the water.

Selecting a Feeder. There is a huge variety of feeders on the market, but some are better than others. Steel, aluminum, plastic or glass feeders have an advantage over wood because they are easier to keep clean and will probably last longer. Look for feeders with metal components and feeding ports, as they will last longer than plastic.

The feeder should keep the food dry in wet weather. Feeders are available with domes or roofs that will help keep the food dry. If the feeder is a platform style (as opposed to a tube style) make sure there are drain holes in the bottom.

Squirrels and Raccoons are a constant problem, as they will empty a feeder, denying your wild birds their food. They will destroy a wood or plastic feeder by chewing though it, so the additional cost of a well-made feeder is money well spent. Some squirrel-proof feeders are quite effective, but proper installation is the real key to keeping moochers off your feeders.

Maintaining your feeder. The most important part of maintaining your feeder is ensuring that the food is fresh and clean. A huge feeder with a "ten pound capacity" is not necessary or even desirable because it is likely the food will spoil before it is eaten. Some very good tube feeders will hold a lot of food, but the purpose of the long tube is to prevent squirrels from hanging from the top, not for huge food capacity.

After a rain or period of damp weather, inspect your feeders and discard any food that has gotten wet. Wet food will coagulate in the feeder, blocking food from naturally dropping to the feeding ports. Also, wet food is a breeding ground for algae and mold that will discourage birds from eating and may make them sick.

Set up more than one feeder with different types of food – perhaps sunflower seeds in one, and finch food in another.

Your feeders should be installed to minimize the chances of predation. The primary preditors are cats, so the feeder must be installed so that cats cannot climb or jump to the feeding area.

Bottom line – don't feel you are doing your birds harm by feeding them during the winter. Follow the above suggestions, and you can enjoy your wild birds all winter long.

Janet Winter
http://www.articlesbase.com/nature-articles/should-you-feed-wild-birds-in-the-winter-63241.html