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If you’re anything like most drivers, you dread seeing your car’s check engine light come on. Also, like most people, when the light does turn on, you likely think the worst and begin scouring for auto parts online, but do you even know what you are looking for? While that little dashboard light is intimidating, it doesn’t always mean the worst, and there are times when the fix is something simple. Therefore, before jumping out of your skin, take a minute, and review the top five reasons your check engine light might turn on.

1. Gas Cap

The first and most common reason for the check engine light to turn on is a loose, damaged or missing gas cap. While most driver’s don’t give much consideration to the gas cap, it is a vital component of any vehicle. Its job is sealing and maintaining pressure in your vehicle’s fuel system. Also, it ensures that fewer fumes are released into the atmosphere. Many times when that dread engine light comes on, it is because you didn’t put the cap on correctly. However, there are times where you might need a replacement cap.

2. Oxygen Sensor

A car tune up checklist should always include checking that sensors are working as needed because you can avoid a lot of hassle later on. Your car’s oxygen sensor determines the level of oxygen in your vehicle’s exhaust system, and if it is not working, then you may lose fuel economy or worse a catalytic converter.

3. Catalytic Converter

A check engine light might also indicate a bad catalytic converter. These devices are essential to protecting the environment from potentially harmful carbon monoxide. While faulty oxygen sensors or other devices typically cause damage to these critical components, it is vital you replace this part quickly to ensure performance and to stay within legal emissions ranges.

4. Mass Airflow Sensor

As with most other parts on this list, the mass airflow sensor is a part that helps protect and maintain your vehicle’s fuel economy. It does this by measuring the air coming into your engine and determining the required fuel to run efficiently. Unfortunately, if damaged, these devices not only lead to poor performance but also damage to spark plugs, the oxygen sensor and your catalytic converter.

5. Spark Plugs or Plug Wires

Last, a check engine light might signify that it is time to replace your spark plugs or plug wires. While there is a cost-effective resolution for this problem, if it is not resolved soon enough, then you risk damage to oxygen sensors and ignition coils as well as a clogged catalytic converter. Fortunately, most spark plugs and plug wires are relatively easy to access and are often inexpensive to replace.

While a check engine light often strikes fear in even the most knowledgeable driver, there is no need to jump to the worst conclusions. The resolution to the problem might be as simple as taking the gas cap off and making sure that it is properly seated. However, if that does not resolve your issue, then you can bring your vehicle to a local auto parts store and have a check engine light diagnostic done to find the culprit.

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Even though taurine supplementation isn’t an issue for most dogs, it could be for yours. The following article discusses the reasons why.

You might have been seeing a lot of information online about taurine and dog health. This may have caused you to investigate possible supplements and products that can boost your dog’s taurine levels. However, while taurine is a highly important amino acid that aids in the healthy functioning of the brain, heart, muscles, and eyes, your dog may not need taurine support.

Most dogs can synthesize taurine in their bodies from other nutrients. Giving dogs taurine supplements when they produce their own won’t hurt them, but it’s not necessary. Unfortunately, certain popular dog breeds have a nutritional genetic defect that renders them unable to manufacture taurine, and this can be a significant medical problem in the long term. Dog breeds that have this condition include:

• American cocker spaniel
• Retriever (golden and Labrador)
• English setter
• Boxer
• Newfoundland
• Saint Bernard

Taurine deficiency doesn’t cause outward symptoms, but it can lead to illnesses that do present signs. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is among the most serious long-term consequences of taurine deficiency, and its symptoms include:

• Fainting
• Coughing
• Heavy drooling
• Lethargy
• Weight gain
• Excessive panting

Do not hesitate to contact your vet if your dog is exhibiting the above symptoms – they are indicators of DCM, a life-threatening illness if left unaddressed. Fortunately, if the cause of this condition is taurine deficiency, it can be managed effectively through dietary taurine supplementation. Zignature dog food taurine quantities are quite high due to the natural concentrations of taurine in the farm-raised meats, but your vet may offer additional guidance based upon your dog’s particular wellness concerns. Do not change your diet without consulting your vet.

 

What, how much and when your dog eats will tell you a lot about their overall state of wellness. The following article discusses the eating habits of dogs – as well as common feeding habits – and what they mean and what they can cause in the long run.

Healthy dogs (and most healthy people, for that matter) love to eat. Dogs, however, don’t savor their food; they eat quickly and with great gusto, as this is a response borne over thousands of years of pack evolution. Dogs in packs – even those in loving and close packs – eat their food as though it is going to be stolen in a millisecond. Dogs still possess this instinct, so when they don’t demonstrate this behavior at their mealtimes, there is likely something wrong. Here are a few things that could be altering your dog’s eating habits.

• Illness. This is the first assumption you should make if your dog no longer appears to want to eat their food. Consult a veterinarian immediately if your pup’s appetite diminishes significantly.
• They become picky. While a sudden lack of interest in food is often a sign of illness, a lack of interest in their food but a keen interest in your food is a sign of pickiness. Your dog probably became picky because, at some point, they tasted what you’re eating, looked at their own dish and decided “Hey, I don’t want this, I want that!” You can correct this behavior by ceasing the table scraps altogether and leaving them no option but to eat their own, appropriate-but-less-tasty food.
• They’re on medications with appetite-reducing side effects. If your dog is taking certain medications and experiencing a reduction in their willingness to eat, ask your vet if there are any supplements or solutions that can correct this reaction. Lack of appetite can make it difficult to administer the meds.
• Your dog is stressed. Stress and anxiety can make your dog reluctant to eat. Determine the cause of their nervousness and address it immediately. If you can’t find a specific trigger, consult a canine behavior expert to come up with techniques that address their anxiety.

When it comes to your dogs’ eating habits, the most important thing to remember is the fact that their diet can either thwart or encourage significant health concerns, including obesity, diabetes, cancers and DCM. Zignature, Castor & Pollux and Nutrish are great, affordable and excellent quality pet foods with formulas designed to address different health issues, as well as the needs of various dog breeds, sizes and ages.

I’m a doggie enthusiast, blogger and pet parent to two beautiful and feisty rescue girls

 

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If you’re an experienced biker, you know helmets are your most important pieces of motorcycle protective riding gearWhat you may not know is that your head protection does expire. The majority of fatal impacts that happen during a collision are to the head. Motorcycle helmets can only protect you if their construction materials are still in good shape. Understanding how and when they deteriorate can save your life during a crash.

Does Your Helmet Have an Expiration Date?

While it may not have a specific date like a carton of milk, your helmet does expire. All head protection manufactured after 1974 has a production date stamped on it. Assuming normal use and wear, you want to replace your helmet after about three to five years.

Both the shell and the liner deteriorate over time. The expanded polystyrene foam used to make motorcycle helmets really isn’t that different from the material used in disposable cups. It’s excellent for dissipating force, but it isn’t especially tough. Eventually it does degrade, making it less effective at protecting you.

When you ride, your shell is exposed to heat, cold, precipitation, and debris. It’s made to resist sunlight, but UV rays break it down over time. Over time, the combination of these elements render your helmet unsafe even if you’ve never been in an accident.

Should You Replace Your Helmet More Often?

Three to five years should be considered the maximum lifetime of your helmet, there are reasons to replace it sooner. The most obvious one is if you’re involved in a crash. Any impact to your head protection is a sign you should purchase a new one. Marks or holes in the shell create weak spots on your helmet. Even if the outer shell appears fine, don’t forget that the EPS liner absorbs impacts. Damage to the EPS may be invisible but it makes the liner less effective.

If your helmet even falls from a significant height, you should consider replacing it. In general, a newer helmet is safer than an older one. The newer one not only has less deterioration, it often incorporates the latest advanced materials or design elements for better safety. If it works with your budget, consider a shorter helmet replacement schedule.

What Can You Do To Make Your Helmet Last Longer?

UV rays cause the most deterioration in your helmet. If you’re not wearing it, keep it in a cool, dark place. This can be difficult when on the go, but storage devices or covered parking garages can help.

Moisture can also be hard on your helmet, so do your best to keep it dry. Beyond weather, that means protecting it from your own sweat. Try to find helmets with comfort linings that can be removed to dry by themselves.

Head protection is one part of safety equipment where you should never skimp. If your helmet is showing signs of wear or is more than five years old, it’s time to replace it. Save money and get a great-looking model by finding a online store with a high-quality motorcycle helmet sale.

 

Search Engine Optimization – SEO in short – is the MOST critical component of your marketing mix. Online marketing is a pretty comprehensive and extensive process, so everything from social media marketing, email marketing, online reputation management, to search engine marketing, bloggers’ outreach and retargeting do matter. While you can always choose to bargain on some of the things, SEO and social media marketing are non-negotiable aspects. SEO is critical for promoting your website organically, while social media enhances its authority in the most effective ways. Brand mentions, shares on social media, better click through rate – all these things may have an influence on your website’s ranking, traffic and authority.

It goes without saying that you need to hire one of the best SEO services for your campaign, and in this post, we are sharing more details on how you can get that right.

Comprehensive services

SEO, social media, PPC and online reputation management – these four are often considered to be cornerstones of online marketing, and you have to ensure that your marketing mix includes all of these. Social media and SEO have many things in common, because despite the focus on paid marketing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, organic content on these platforms that does boost your SEO results. Find an agency that can utilize both these aspects for your brand and have a clear understanding of the equation between the two.

Clientele and client retention rate

When it comes to SEO, you need to understand one important fact – SEO is a continuous process. If you end up hiring the right agency for the job, chances are high that you will be working with the same agency for at least a few months or years, if not more. As such, it is necessary to check the range of clients an agency as worked with, and the more diversity you can find, the better, as it is an indicator that the company can handle both big and small brands alike. Secondly, find more on client retention rate. For example – For how many months on an average has an agency has worked with each client? How many regular clients do they have?

Approach to the job

As we mentioned earlier, SEO and social media almost go hand in hand. You need to know what an SEO agency can actually do for your brand in particular. This is critical because there is no secret sauce here, and the SEO strategies and solutions need to be transparent. An online marketing firm that has been around for a while and is experienced will never shy away from discussing their standard practices and strategies. It all really starts with a website audit, which you must insist on, to get a fair idea of what needs to be fixed. From on-page SEO to off-page strategies, everything should be transparent.

Estimate, and beyond

It is easy to understand why most brands and businesses are concerned about the costs related to online marketing, but the good news is both social media marketing and SEO don’t have to cost a fortune. Yes, social media ads come for a price, but you can keep a tab on the expenses and focus more on organic marketing. Before hiring an SEO agency, get an estimate, but don’t let the price be the only reason to choose an agency. Their expertise with the job, and the range of projects they manage are aspects to worry about, and they should be open to communication at all points.

Ask the SEO agency if they can actually send reports on a regular basis for tracking the growth of your website.

 

Mark Campbell is a well-known figure in the crowdfunding arena. As an entrepreneur with a long industry track record, he has helped to launch hundreds of products and was featured recently on Entrepreneur.com and Forbes. Currently, he is InventureX’s Marketing VP. Established in 2012, InventureX works with business owners who want to use crowdfunding to fund their growth. We interviewed Mark a few days ago, to learn more about his work and crowdfunding in general:

Crowdfunding is a familiar term to most people these days. Over the past half-decade, what changes have you noticed?

I suppose the obvious change is that, to be successful now as a crowdfunder, you have to run a high-quality campaign. It is not enough just to have a good idea for a business anymore. Because there is so much competition for financial backing from other shrewd entrepreneurs, a solid business plan has to be devised ahead of time, to have any chance of success.

Can you give an overview of the services that InventureX offers?

Basically, we work with entrepreneurs who have already launched crowdfunding projects, or who are intending to set these up. We deal with all the advertising, to maximize the visibility of campaigns and attract potential backers.

How does advertising help businesses to overtake their competitors?

Undoubtedly, effective advertising strategies are the best way for entrepreneurs to create a buzz around their ideas. Simply getting their business concept exposed to the right audience can be invaluable and boost the chance of other motivated investors discovering their campaign.

Regrettably, many excellent business ideas are not advertised properly – and fail as a consequence. This is why many people turn to us, because they realize that we will give them the publicity they require to supercharge their crowdfunding campaigns.

Tell us more about your company’s history

We started InventureX seven years ago and, similar to the people we work with, we encountered obstacles initially. Crowdfunding is an excellent way to keep control of your business and avoid running up debts — which are two things that many entrepreneurs struggle with. From the getgo, InventureX has redefined what is possible with online marketing and product launches. I was interviewed by Entrepreneur.com recently, where I explained how crowdfunding can benefit businesses, regardless of how big they are.

Why does Crowdfunding appeal to you personally?

Because it is a fast moving, constantly evolving sector that allows me to flourish. Frequently, because we serve so many different businesses, my entire day is a pure adrenaline rush. I have to evaluate a whole host of innovative concepts, then formulate strategies to make them happen. My job is more stimulating and dynamic than any other career I can think of! Having said that, we are not always rushed off our feet. Throughout the slower periods, I take the time to think about our longer-term goals, to make sure that our current tactics are still effective in the fiercely competitive crowdfunding space.

Over the last few years, Ali Mayar has turned into one of the most trusted names in the merchant funding industry. As the CEO of Platinum Rapid Funding Group, he has been able to help several businesses reach their goals.

With so much insight on the industry, we were very excited to get a chance to talk to him. Here is what the man has to say about the industry, and what to expect in the near future.

Getting money for a business can be difficult. How have you made the process better for so many people?

Most people think of going to a bank as the only way to get the money needed to find a business. There are actually several ways to get the necessary funds to kickstart the growth of the business.

Our goal at Platinum Rapid Funding Group is that we can help others when they have been rejected in the past. Nobody likes rejection, and with more user-friendly terms, we make growth easier.

Is there a limit on the amount of money a business can get from your company?

Right now, the most we really do is between $1 million and $2 million. These are very extreme circumstances, as most people are looking for much less. Some businesses only need a few thousand dollars to meet the needs they currently have. We try to tailor everything for the customers to make their life easy.

What’s one thing you are very proud of with your business?

I believe we offer a level of support that can’t be found many other places. Even banks are hard to match our level of customer support. We customize everything for the clients, and we provide support through the entire repayment process as well. It’s important to us to keep our clients happy, and we do what we can to go above and beyond expectations.

What’s one thing you are hoping to improve with your business?

I think bringing overall awareness to this alternative funding option is something to work on. Not that many people know about all the benefits of using a merchant funding. If used correctly, it can really turn a business around and allow it to grow in the way it should. We have countless numbers of positive reviews from past clients to vouch for that.

A lot of it is just working on the misconceptions out there. Informing potential customers will open up doors in the future for most of them.

What’s one piece of advice you would give any business owner considering a merchant funding?

Always do your research beforehand. We try to tell every client we work with that getting a loan, an advance or any other type of money that needs to be repaid is a calculated risk. As long as enough research is done beforehand to figure out exactly how much money is needed, the risk is often worth the reward.

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How to Get Away with Menstrual Cramps

Bloody week! Here we go again with bloody and painful days —sounds like murder, right? However, almost every woman can surely attest as to as much as how it sounds like a murder, it actually feels like one.

So, is your period over or are you just getting started? If so, are you ready for the upcoming struggles that come along with it like menstrual cramps?

Most women experience menstrual cramps and are considered as one of the most common, annoying part of having your period. This condition strikes right before or during Aunt Flow’s visit.

Since this symptom is inevitable and is a part of a woman’s monthly cycle, what you can only do is to be knowledgeable enough to help yourself out of the situation. Thus, in today’s article, we will discuss about how to get away with menstrual cramps.

What Causes Menstrual Cramps?

Menstrual cramps, or also known as dysmenorrhea, can be felt in the lower belly or back and the pain can range from mild to severe.

 

For those ladies that just got there the first period, it usually happens for the first time after a year or two passes by after a girl gets her first period. However, as one ages, the pain often lessens and may stop entirely after having your firstborn.

Although menstrual cramps are really uncomfortable and painful, it still happens for a reason. During menstruation, the uterus contracts, meaning to say, it squeezes or cramps up to make the lining come off of the uterus’ walls and leave your body since there are no fertile eggs.

Now, when your uterus cramps up, it just shows (or feels) that it is helping your body by pushing out the blood flow from your vagina.

During the menstrual cramps, women usually feel throbbing pains in the lower belly (as what was stated beforehand). It sometimes begins a couple of days before menstruation comes or continue throughout your period.

Although menstrual cramps are painful and can be really annoying, however, it is really common that ways in treating or tips on how to get through it are widespread information.

What Can You Do With Menstrual Cramps?

Medicines. Commonly, for faster and effective relief from the pain, women take aspirin or pain relievers like acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen. If you are not familiar with one of these medications, then might as well do needed research like in Pharma Quotes to help you out.

Heat Compress. During menstrual cramps, heat can also help. You just need to place a heating pad or hot water bottle (clothe with a cloth if it’s too hot) on your tummy or lower back. Also, taking a warm bath may also help provide some relief.

Precautionary Actions. Of course, those what was stated before can help you out in relieving your pain. However, you should also do your part by resting when needed; avoiding foods that contain salt and caffeine; not smoking or using tobacco, and drinking alcoholic beverages; and; lastly, massaging your lower back and abdomen can greatly help.

How Exercises Can Help You Get Away from Cramps

Many medical health professionals recommend exercising to be practiced by women who especially to those who experience menstrual cramps.

Studies have shown that women who exercise regularly often experience less menstrual pain. With this said, you should try out moderate-intensity aerobic exercises during your lighter menstrual days. Through this, you can reduce the bloating and the pain of cramping.

Additionally, aerobic exercises aid in blood circulation and release happy or feel-good hormones, which are called endorphins. It also works well in soothing headaches and improves the mood.

Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies are also one of the options that you can choose or help aid with your medication. The following practices include:

Acupuncture. This has become a popular treatment for menstrual pain. In this case, a qi deficiency is detected in the liver are and spleen meridians. However, acupuncturists treat their patients with dysmenorrhea based on their own assessment, so it might not be the same with everybody.

Also, there are other techniques as well, such as Moxibustion, which is a technique using herb mugwort that is burned over specific acupuncture points. This is often added to enhance the needling treatment and help in the relief.

Additionally, acupressure is also available to relieve pain. In fact, there is a study of 216 female students found that acupressure and consuming ibuprofen were much better than placebo at reducing pain.

Chiropractic. Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine that is mostly concerned with the treatment and diagnosis of the musculoskeletal system. Some women who have had their menstrual pain may have found relief with spinal manipulation.

Takeaway

Since menstrual cramps are something that we cannot easily avoid, it is best to be equipped with the right knowledge and equipment, just in case menstrual cramps kicks in.