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The comfortable stadium seating in any event or sports venue is vital to your audience experience. You wish for each visitor to be comfortable as well as be capable to take pleasure in event or sports devoid of having to anxious regarding getting relaxed in their stadium seat. No matter how big the size of venue you operate, it must have excellent seating options. It is important to make estimation about the capacity of stadium to hold the number of people. After that, go to the best stadium seat providers and try to find out regarding what they offer.

Several stadium seats provider are available at the marketplace that will allow you to buy several different types of stadium seats that are extremely attractive and of high quality. These stadium seats providers sustain huge collections of stadium seats, indoor as well as outdoor bleachers, theater seating and so forth. Beautiful, functional stadium seats of this type can be designed for outdoor as well as indoor use.

Outdoor or open air venues are susceptible to the sun, wind as well as rain and for that reason outdoor stadium seats should have to be very durable over and above comfortable. Therefore such kinds of stadium seats are normally made up from metal or superior impact plastic materials that are long lasting and not get damage easily by climate. On the other hand indoor or covered stadiums are not subject to sun, air or rain so indoors seats require not be constructed to survive such elements. As a result indoor stadium seats are several times padded or enclosed in leather or velvet upholstery.

The stadium seats providers offer several options based upon the curator in relation to the stadium seating arrangement that wants to be implemented.

Some of the primary things that the stadium owners look for a stadium seat to sit on are features like comfortable, ease as well as its versatility. The most appropriate seat is likely the primary one to be selected. If you choose the one that does not have all above features, then this will make your audience feel uncomfortable.

 Normally, people who attend the event or sports at the stadium go home with a back aching. So by putting the comfortable, ease as well as versatility features in mind, now new idea for the development of these stadium seats are being applied by the manufacturer. The expansion in this area can currently be observed. The stadium seats manufacturers right now have taken into deliberation the easiness of the audience or viewer.

The manufacturer designs seats that are flexible with the cushions in addition to comfortable back supports. Therefore the seats help audience to enjoy the maximum without any kind of back or butt pain from sitting in it for excessively long time.  If you are looking for a good stadium seats provider, then just surf through the internet where you are able to get several trustworthy as well as reliable seats providers such as “Preferred-Seating”. They are in this field from several years and provide your state of the art stadium seats.

Interiors that are excellently carved and designed make it easier for the one who is going to stay in that place. With every possible thing that is matched with extreme supremacy, the place makes it easier for the person to carry out her/his chores. A cozy interior where you can allow optimum light energy which makes your health as well as mood very refreshing is very welcoming. For this, a window that is installed with Venetian blinds can be an optimum solution for such experiences.

Technical specification of Venetian blinds

It has horizontal slats that are generally made up of metal, plastic or wood. They are suspended by strips of cloth or cords by which all the slats can be rotated in unison to an angle of 180 degrees at a time. Rotating them in one direction will make the slats overlap in one way and rotating in other direction makes the slats close in the other direction. For allowing the light to enter though the window, the string can be rotated to an angel till the slats remain in a parallel position to each other. 

They are adopted by many offices and building to regulate the flow of air and water into rooms. The wooden Venetian blinds are quite sturdy and more resistant to air and water. They can be used for long-term purpose and do not get damaged easily even if the windows are left open in critical weather conditions. They come in a number of finishes depending on the variety of wood that can range from painted to the most solid oak ones. They are also available in different sizes and are commonly prepared according to the size of the windows.

The pattern of the slats in wooden Venetian blinds can be horizontal as well as vertical.

Both of them operate in the same virtual manner and are quite common in all features except the fact that their slats can be designed in two different ways. As compared to other materials such as plastic or metals, wooden blinds gives quite of a view and accounts for a high aesthetic quality. They are used largely by interior designers to provide an excellent combination to the wooden windows. The best part about them is that they can be colored again and again for giving them a unique look every time. Thus, every time you feel sick about the old color, you can have them colored according to your choice to make your place even better.

Venetian blinds have adored the house of many since a great period of time. They are classy and depict a degree of sophistication which reflects the choice of the user. They can be used for all types of buildings, whether it is a small apartment of yours of a large office building. A quality that stands the test of the time, these are blinds that can be effectively used for every kind of covering solutions. Therefore, if you have decided to give your interior perfection like no other, your window blinds should be venetians.

Do you want to customize your car and give it a complete make-over, all by yourself? But if you are confused, and want to know how to do it, then this is where you’ll get help for your lovely ride.

You may own a vintage car like the 1964 Mercury Monterey or the 1968 Chevrolet RS/SS Camaro convertible or an ultra-modern Chrysler 300 S6, but do you associate yourself with your ride? Are you desperate to customize it? Then don’t wait to get nominated for ‘Overhaulin’! It’s time you show some passion for your car, and take a step towards its customization. For most of us, money can be the biggest factor. Start by allocating a certain budget for this purpose.

Customizing Your Car: How to Go About It

If you want to make your car design reflect your personality, you need to almost rebuild the car. You need to learn how to customize or modify almost all the parts of your car, not only for looks but also for performance and handling. Right from the engine and car interiors, to wheels, exhaust and suspension can be customized. Let us start with some information along with some advice that you will need in building pimped out cars. We’ll start with what changes you can go for, where and how:

Engine: The engine is the heart of the car. Customizing the engine is putting your plans into the first gear.

1. You can start by looking for a suitable turbo charger or what is simply known as a turbo. A turbo increases the amount of oxygen being sucked by compressing the air entering the engine. First used on diesel engines of heavy vehicles, turbo is a forced induction system similar to an air pump. This process increases the engine’s power and efficiency immensely, and marginally decreases pollution. If coupled with an inter-cooler, the turbo would perform more efficiently.
2. An advanced prototype of turbo is the supercharger, the only improvement being the removal of the time lag associated with simple turbo systems. Its immense popularity can be attributed to their cost efficiency, reliability and performance. Superchargers can result in huge power increase ( by 50% and 100%), making them great for racing and customizing.
3. Next, you can add a soft’ware’ touch to your engine. Performance enhancing chips can reconfigure the car engine to optimum power and efficiency levels by controlling the fuel injection and transmission systems. This is done electronically by an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system. When it comes to the issue of performance and reliability, there’s no better system than the EFI.
4. There are many more modifications that can be done to enhance the engine’s performance, like installing a nitrous oxide system (NOS) kit. The NOS kit increases the engine’s bhp by about 40 to 50%. Other additions can be Air-filters and fuel pumps; they ensure free flow of pure air and gas respectively.

Car Interiors and Exteriors: For complete and impressive modification, you need to redo the looks to suit your personality.

1. Start by customizing your car seat covers. An indigenous design to customize the seat covers is ideal as your own creativity can comprehend the entire car.
2. Don’t forget the floor mats. Personalization is incomplete unless you customize the floor mats. Matching the tone of the floor mats to the color of the interiors of the car is important. Factors like weather should be considered while going for floor mats. Vinyl mats are ideal for areas with snowy and wet weather. Tufted nylon can be chosen for a more luxurious look and feel.
3. Do not deprive your car of decalcomania, more commonly called decal. It is the cheapest of all the techniques, and it basically involves transferring art patterns, drawn on plastic or ceramic or paper, on to another surface. To modify the decals, you can start with the window glass or the hood or the trunk. You can make your own decals by selecting funky patterns like the logo of your favorite NBA or MLB team.
4. Roll in style with customized wheels for your car and let the wheels do some talking too. To add a punch to the wheels, add rims of aluminum alloy or chrome. Most people go for a rim and tire combination of a larger size as it increases the rubber contact and the grip on the road.

The Exhaust System: The work of the exhaust system is to take away the spent gases from the engine. For proper functioning of the engine, a larger exhaust can be a logical option. Exhaust systems of sizes up to 2.5 or 3 inches will better the flow of gases. Most people try to retain the existing muffler which is not a good practice. If only the exhaust size increases, there will be an increase in engine power, but if combined with a larger streamlined muffler, will considerably increase power.

Suspensions and Brakes: Last but surely not the least, you can go for customized suspension to increase your comfort levels and give you improved handling of the car. Superior suspensions can provide you the edge in any kind of a terrain, especially for SUV modification. For low rider cars, hydraulic suspension systems are ideal as they give these cars the optimum ground clearance. Also, for such a high performance car, you must go for high performance disc brakes. Never compromise on the quality of brake pads and the disc rotor. Go for a slightly bigger sized rotor, as in case of disc brakes, the bigger the better. Badges, logos and graphic stickers are among the cheapest customization stuff available. They can prove to be your personal style statement. These points should surely guide you in the right direction. Hope you get a ride that turns heads as it burns the road.

The information about average car life expectancy provided in the article should be useful for potential owners. It would help in easing the decision-making process while buying a car.

A car’s life depends on many different factors and enhancing it is possible, given that proper care is taken. The knowledge about things/factors which affect the life of a car should be useful for those who are planning on car buying. The money that one is going to spend in a vehicle can be put to good use with proper knowledge of automobiles.

Average Car Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of a car is mostly calculated in terms of miles covered by the automobile. However, range can be different for different vehicles. Average lifespan for a car in general is between 165,000 and 200,000. As per the US Department of Transportation, on an average, automobiles have a lifespan of just over 13 years. The standard specification for mileage given by the department is 145,000. The different measures and factors which play an important in determining the life expectancy of a car are as follows.

• Usage of car and its regular servicing.
• Number of miles traveled.
• Rust and wear and tear of the car body, which takes place in the course of time.

Mean Time between Failures (MTBF)
The MTBF is a time span between failures of the system of a car. The MTBF calculations are based on assumptions that a failed system is immediately repaired and that the elapsed time between the failures is zero. It is important in the measurement of the lifespan of a car.

Replacement of Car Parts and its Effect on Life Expectancy
The replacement of parts of car have an effect on the life of cars. The parts of a car which are higher in cost can be replaced and life of the car increased. However, the budget/costs incurred in such maintenance works may have an effect on the economics of the car. Vehicles that come with warranties are easy to maintain. Life expectancy of such vehicles increases automatically.

Increasing the Life Expectancy of Car
The life expectancy of a car can be increased by taking several precautions given below.

• The key fluids which play an important role in the functioning of car should be monitored on a regular basis.
• Oil should be changed regularly.
• One should never allow rust to damage the car. Quick and timely measures to keep rust at bay, should help.
• Filters of the car should be checked regularly.
• The timing belt need to be maintained on a regular basis.
• It is necessary to change the plugs if replacing them is a must.
• Reading and following the instructions presented in the user manual is of utmost importance to sort out most of the car problems that crop up regularly.
• Driving the car smoothly is necessary as it helps in keeping the parts in a good condition for a long time.

One should be aware of the lifespan of his car, based on the usage patterns. The decisions pertaining to car repair and maintenance works can be made with this knowledge. If a car is nearing its lifespan, one shouldn’t spend much on the maintenance work. Junking a car directly, too is not a sensible decision. One should instead, look out for salvaging the existing components/parts of the car. The working parts of the body can be sold for good returns. In many cases, it is possible to even sell tires and body of the car. Selling these parts can fetch the owners a few bucks and save him all the paperwork for selling a car. Putting it up on car auction is also not a bad idea.

The car life expectancy is a matter of how a person uses it. It is always possible to maximize the lifespan of a car given that the owner takes proper care of it.

Many people do not believe their eyes and ears when they see or read the words, ’0% financing. Zero financing for new cars is a rather new concept and involves favorable credit terms, for consumers who wish to buy cars. However, the conditions that qualify people for 0% finance are rather stringent.

Nowadays, it is fairly common for car manufacturers to provide ‘car financing’ or ‘car loans’ for their customers. In some cases, dealers and vendors also provide such services and it has been observed that up to a third of all auto sales in the US are through zero financing options. The concept is fairly simple, a customer can buy a car from the company by paying an amount as down payment. The company provides an auto loan to the consumer, with the car itself as a collateral or security. On the whole, it works exactly like an auto loan. An important variant of this kind of auto loan is the 0% finance loan. This is the kind of loan were not APR (Annual Percentage Rate) or Interest Rate is charged upon the loan. It’s an interest free loan.

• What’s the catch: There is a small catch though. One needs to pay all generating, processing and loan transaction fees for the loan, it is not entirely free. Late payment fees and other fees associated with installment payment are also imposed.

Conditions for 0% Finance
The conditions are several and strict, which is the reason why not many qualify for such financing. Now, this loan or finance is provided either by the car dealer or the manufacturer. However, financing by the manufacturer has become quite common.

• As always, a good credit rating and score – the primary requirement for a loan or financing. Depending upon the manufacturers, the required credit score ranges may be 650, 700 or even 750 (as per FICO scores). A rule of thumb – costlier the car, more is the required credit score. A score ranging from 680 to 720 will get you a good finance.
• Employment or regular income is another condition which the company demands. Of recent, this condition is followed pretty strictly.
• The company will have a right to lien on the automobile, that is, it will be a collateral or security till you repay the entire loan. In circumstances where the loan is not paid back, the car would be confiscated to recover proceeds.
• Apart from the credit report, companies tend to check some other details such as other liabilities, the original cost of the car and even its upkeep. Basically they want to determine whether the person is financially capable of taking care of the car and its upkeep.

In this process, the ratio between a person’s annual or monthly income in comparison with the cost of the car is take into consideration. A large number of liabilities may lead to rejection of the loan application.

Some Alternatives
There are various, simple ways of availing the facility of 0% financing on new cars. The best way to qualify for such a zero percent interest rate scheme is to rectify your credit score and credit rating. The first step to improve the credit rating is to pay off all the possible bills that are payable. You may also sell off your previous car and pay off any pending loans. The second effective step that you can initiate, is to approach the car dealer whom you know. Preferably approach the dealer who sold you, your previous car. You may also go in for an exchange program, where you can sell the first car and purchase the second one at a discount. Rectifying and repairing your old car, in order to increase it’s worth is also another option that you can consider. Last but not that least, one can also consider the ‘interest financing rebate’ facility which works in a totally different way but tends to save you a considerable amount of money.

Some Truths about 0% Finance
There are some harsh truths about 0% finance that one must know. The one is of course the strict credit check. Take a look at a few others.

• Lesser Options: This sort of loan is available for only specified models and some high-end models or rather almost all the expensive ones may not be included in this scheme.
• Not the Best of the Best Deal: Apart from that, you also may not get the best deal while purchasing the car. That is your option of models and accessories will be curtailed. Apart from that you will probably not be allowed any discount seasonal or permanent.
• Less Number of Models: New vehicles probably will not have such a facility. The vehicles which usually have been around for a year or so, the ones whose next ‘generation’ is about to be introduced have 0% facility. There are of course exceptions.
• Lack of Discount: Last but not the least, the price of the car usually tend to be a little inflated, or simply the company won’t offer you any discount. The car will be sold to you at perfect market price.

The best way to avail this kind of loan, is to first improve one’s score, pay off some possible liabilities and lastly, assess and ascertain the models and companies which provide the facility. Toyota, GMC, Chrysler, Chrysler, Nissan and Mazda are some companies which offer this kind of facility. After the 0% finance is approved, make it a point to pay off every installment on time, not only it will keep you out of the vicious debt cycles but it will also help you to considerably improve your ratings and scores.

Warming up your car engine? Wait! Is it really helpful for your car or is it damaging the engine? Let’s find out…

Should you let your car warm up before driving, is a question that many people ask. Years ago you might have seen your Dad, warming up the car in the garage minutes before driving it off. Warming up your car in winter does no harm is what you might be wondering. Some might also be thinking that it is an essential thing to do every morning. Well, let me tell you, that it’s of no use! Yes, this might in fact damage your car. With the fuel injected engines, which most of the new generation cars have, warming the car is not any more required, as it used to be in case of the carburetor-equipped vehicles. The carburetors equipped vehicles need to be warmed up for required fuel input in the engine. Here’s more about the same.

Drawbacks

Keeping your car idle to warm up leads to a huge waste of fuel. While you keep the engine on, so as to warm up the car, the fuel does not burn completely and it condenses in drops on the cylinder walls. This leads the cylinder walls to wear off. This is caused because the fuel condensing on the walls washes the lubricating oil off the cylinder walls. Warming up further leads to drop in temperature of the spark plugs, leading to damaged plugs which in turn will cause increase in fuel consumption.

More the duration of idling, more will be the amount of pollutants produced. The modern automobiles have the catalytic converters which convert harmful pollutants into much lesser harmful chemicals, but at a very high temperature of about 400°C – 800°C (hotter than the engine). Well, this means that the catalytic converter will start working after a few minutes of driving off the engine and not by keeping it idle! Hence, idling just means that your engine is not enough hot for the catalytic converter to start working. It is not only known to increase the fuel consumption considerably, but also leads to an increase in the carbon dioxide emission.

Warming Car in Cold Weather

Well, in the winter this might be required in some cases, but that doesn’t really meant that you keep your car idle for minutes. So, how long should you let your car warm up on cold mornings? Not more than 30 seconds. Yes, that’s it and you can start driving off. Let me tell you that driving the engine is the best way to warm it up. An important thing to remember is that in cold temperatures, you must drive at a slower speed for a few miles so as to give the car some time to warm it. This is a great tip to be followed regularly to improve fuel efficiency of your car. In cold weather, the battery’s starting power often drops. So to ensure that the car battery has sufficient power to start off the engine, make sure you turn off the heater, radio, lights, etc. before starting the car.

Well, you might forget that warming up the engine by idling does not help steering, suspension, wheel bearings, transmission, and tires to warm them. So the only way to warm these parts is to drive the vehicle. Rapid acceleration is a strict no-no till the engine temperature begins to rise, this will ensure proper fuel consumption. So what are you waiting for? Start the engine, defrost the windows, adjust the rear view mirrors, fasten your seat belt and drive off your car. Have a safe drive!

This Tony’s Stewart’s biography throws more light on the life of this successful American race car driver, who was also popularly known as “NASCAR’s Bad Boy” and “the rock star of racing”. He also earned the nickname of “smoke”, for slipping the right tire of his car during dirt races, and also due to his tendency of blowing his car engine during races. Let us have a look at some interesting details about his life and racing career.

Born as Anthony Wayne Stewart on May 20, 1971 in Columbus, Indiana, to Pam Boas and Nelson Stewart, he also has a sister called Natalie. Tony is a race car driver, car owner and entrepreneur in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup. In his illustrious career, he has managed to win championships in the Indycar Series, the Nextel Cup, the Winston Cup, USAC and the IROC Series.

Besides racing, he also runs the Tony Stewart Foundation, which his mother is actively involved in. His sister contributes a great deal towards the initiatives of the Tony Stewart Fan Club. In 1997, Tony bought his childhood house and moved back to Columbus, the only place which he calls home. He also owns a race track called ‘Cedar Lake Speedway’ in Wisconsin. In 2003, he appeared in the music video The Road I’m On by 3 Doors Down.

Early Years
Tony Stewart grew up racing go karts and found success early on, winning a World Karting Association Championship in 1987. Until 1991, he continued racing three-quarter midgets, after which he shifted to the United States Auto Club (USAC) Series with the help of his friend and karting sponsor Mark Dismore. In 1991 itself he was selected as the USAC Rookie of the Year. He also won the Hut Hundred in 1993 and bagged the National Midget Series Championship in 1994.

Steady Rise
1995 was an excellent year for Tony Stewart. He bagged the Triple Crown in the USAC version when he won the championship in all three major divisions – National Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown. He also managed to win the Hut Hundred and 4-Crown Nationals. He made his NASCAR Busch Series debut in 1996, driving for car owner Harry Rainer. However, he wasn’t very successful at the start and just managed a best of 16th place in nine races.

In 1997 too he had a poor start to the Indy Racing League and failed to finish his 1st three races. Later, he bounced back well and finished 2nd at Phoenix. Finally, Tony achieved his 1st career win at Pikes Peak. He then went on to win the series championship and managed to beat the all-season leader, Davey Hamilton to the title. He also went on to win the Copper Classic in 1997 and 1998.

Stewart then started racing for Joe Gibbs, the Washington Redskins’ NFL Hall of Fame head coach. He managed to finish most races, and always ranked in the top 10 in all the races that he managed to complete. Joe Gibbs was so impressed with Stewart that he signed him up to drive majority of the Busch schedule – this along with his full-time IRL race schedule! This double racing and increased schedule did not affect Tony’s performance at all. He won the IRL Championship twice and finished 3rd once. In the Busch racing, he had five top-5 finishes.

Currently, Stewart drives the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala SS for his own team called Stewart-Haas Racing, managed by crew chief Darian Grubb. In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he also drives part-time for Hendrick Motorsports in the #80 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet Impala SS. Stewart drove the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Car under the supervision of crew chief Greg Zipadelli, while Home Depot was the primary sponsor. This ten-year stint with the same team, sponsor, and crew chief is a NASCAR record. Presently, Stewart is the owner/driver of Stewart-Haas Racing.

Temperament
Tony had a lot of trouble controlling his short temper. His fellow competitors described his driving style as over-aggressive. He has also been known to hit other drivers, be it on the race track or the pit lanes. In 2002, he was accused of hitting a photographer and pushing a fan, due to which he had to spend time on probation. Lately, he has learned to control his anger – something which landed him into trouble earlier on numerous occasions.

Records
As far as the IndyCar Series competition is concerned, he was an active racer there from 1996 to 2001. During this period, he was associated with teams like Chip Ganassi Racing, Tri-Star Racing, and Team Menard. In 23 starts, he managed 8 pole positions and 3 wins. Moving on to NASCAR, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, he never managed to start any race on pole position, but did manage 2 wins and 5 top ten finishes. In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he bagged 6 pole positions, and chalked up 10 wins and 39 top ten finishes. And lastly, in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, his record is phenomenal, with 12 pole positions, 41 race wins, and 247 top ten finishes. These figures are only going to go upwards as he still continues to race as we speak.

Tony Stewart’s career in car racing has been a long and illustrious one. His over-aggressiveness (disliked by a few) could be one of the reasons for his success on the race track. And there are quite a few people around the world who see him as their idol.

Melinda has a chat with Rich about finding Cindy. (Here are chapters Four and Five.)

Chapter Four

Melinda woke up again and the officer was gone. Rich, however was by her side. “I found the scene exactly where you said.” He states. There’s a crease between his eyebrows which means he was deeply confused. “But everything about that place screams dump site. Not kidnapping site. And that blood – well it could be from her pumps – or it could be much worse.”
Melinda was suddenly jogged awake. “Why can I see you now? Of all times?”
“Because you need my help. And you work in a cemetery, what did you expect?” Rich replied with a chuckle.
Even Melinda smiled at the thought. “So what does that mean?”

“Well, if I’m right it could mean a variety of things. She was in with the wrong crowd, it was an accident, or even…” By the look on Rich’s face she knew something was wrong.
“What?” She said patiently. Her fingers tightened around the blanket.
“It was intended murder. But something spooked him.” Rich stated soundly.
“How do you know it’s a ‘him’?” Melinda asked.
“Cindy was what? – 115 pounds at least. So most likely a male carried her to the van. There were tire treads. But they fade as it squeals out of the alley.” Rich explained.

Melinda felt tears threaten her eyes. “It was my fault. I heard her screaming.”
“When?”
“I left the bar at three-thirty, so uh, a little after then.” Melinda reached for a tissue. “I heard her begging.”
“Then it was defiantly an armed male who owns a van. Weapon might’ve been a knife or gun. But whatever it was, be assured he most likely didn’t use it. There was no gun residue or shell casings. No evidence whatsoever that he hurt her in the alley.”
“What about the blood?” Melinda asked.
Rich hesitated. “Some of it was Cindy’s. Some of it was the perp’s. She fought back.”
Melinda silently thought of Cindy all alone in that alley. She thought of where she found the keys. “Something doesn’t add up.” She muttered. She swung out of the bed, and Rich smiled.
“Ready to do some police work?” He asked.

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“There.” Melinda felt a cold breeze and she clutched her jacket tighter. “That’s where I found the keys.”
“That’s odd, since no one saw a struggle, and the bouncer said he was out for a smoke at the time.” Rich noted.
Melinda circled the spot where she’d found the keys. Her vision was sharper, her senses alert. She nodded to herself. “It’s as though she looked up as she scrambled for her keys. And she was startled, so she dropped them.” Melinda broke off.

“She knew the kidnapper.” Melinda states firmly.
“If so, this is deeper than I thought.” Rich said grimly. “Everyone’s a suspect.”

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Chapter Five

Melinda and Rich start closing in on suspects…

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On the ride back to her house Melinda pondered what they had discovered. A male, who was armed, someone Cindy knew…Cindy knew a lot of men. She thought of the incident where someone had rifted through her stuff in the car.
“Rich.” She said his name softly.
“Yes?” Rich eyed her troubled face. “Why’d you suddenly pale?”
“Someone looked through my car. Screwed around with my things… on Tuesday.” Melinda explained.
“And on Friday Cindy was kidnapped.” Rich nods. “This has to be connected.”
“Were they looking for something of hers?” Melinda was baffled. “Why not search her car, why mine?”
“I have no idea.” Rich shakes his head. “But I have a bad feeling.”

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Rich watched Melinda drift off to sleep. He pondered what she’d told him. Someone riffling through Melinda’s things, and then Cindy’s kidnapping within a week of the incident. It was a strong lead. But where did it lead to? Rich sighed heavily.
He missed the good old days when cops were out on the field, getting their hands dirty. When cops sure, had a donut once in a while, but these ‘officers’ were a disgrace. Filing paperwork seemed to be all they were good at. And though he didn’t like saying this, crime was much more widespread now. He shook his head again, and took Melinda’s pen and paper.

He began a list of what they knew and didn’t know. What they thought was on there too.
Facts: It was a male. No woman could have carried Cindy that far. They had a van, one in need of an oil change. They needed a hospital. Running out of time. Cindy is rich. Blood on dress was both hers and someone else’s. Someone broke into Melinda’s car days before.
Thoughts: Plausible that it was someone she knew. Could be kidnapping gone. Blood might be the kidnapper’s. Were inquiring about Cindy’s schedule in Melinda’s car.

Don’t Know: If Cindy’s alive. Motive or suspect. Why the break in?
Rich continued writing until Melinda woke up again. She didn’t notice him hunched over her desk. She grabbed some clothes – black sweats and a sweatshirt before heading to the bathroom. He waited for her, patiently. When she came back, she smiled at him.
“Figured anything out?” She asks.
“I wrote some things down.” Rich said.
Melinda scanned the paper. She nodded. “That looks about right.”
“I take it Cindy knew a lot of men.” Rich added.
Melinda shot him a dirty look. “Maybe she did. But there’s only two people I think could do this.
“Marcus. Her ex-boyfriend. She broke up with him after he crashed her first car. He lost his job. He blamed her, and vowed for revenge. Or,” At this point Melinda hesitated. “Or it was Charlie.”
“Who’s Charlie?” Rich asked.

Melinda looked off into the distance. Her eyes seemed to be staring at something right before him. “She was our best friend who died in a boating accident. Cindy was driving the boat. We were drunk. And then… well Charlie fell overboard. And she drowned.”
“But she’s dead.” Rich pointed out.
“So are you.” Melinda shot back.
“No, I mean, she’s dead. The police won’t buy it. She’d need an accomplice. You’re mine. When I do human like things I take your energy.” Rich explains. “A willing accomplice is hard to find. It’d have to be the both of them.”

“So what now?” Melinda asked, lost.
“Did Marcus own any land that was cut off, or seemingly deserted and in the middle of nowhere?” Rich questioned.
“Yes.” Melinda replied. “The cabin in Mill Woods.”
Rich nodded. “That’s good. Have an address?”
Melinda recited it to him and grabbed her car keys. She immediately thought back to all those nights spent in the woods, by the lake, on the bluff. It’d been a great summer. They’d swam, made s’mores, and told ghost stories. Now her life had become one.

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Among the safety priorities for your child, car seats make it to the top slot. We have made a list of the car seats for this year, that come bundled with impressive safety and comfort features.

When it comes to your kids, no stone should be left unturned. You want everything to be extra safe and comfortable; from food to toys, clothes, accessories and more. Even a small compromise is the last thing on your mind. When traveling with your little one, the safety requirement should be maximum. As a responsible parent, combining safety and comfort involves a lot of confusion, as to which car seats are safe and durable, which seat to opt for – a convertible or a regular infant seat, etc. From the child’s point of view, the seat should be comfortable and should only make the baby happy, every time you tuck him/her to safety.

Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has introduced new seat guidelines, that insist on rear-facing seats for infants until 2 years of age, or until they have the required height and weight. With more inputs like these, you will definitely want to consider reviewing your options and getting the most suited seat that wraps all rules and safety measures. Before you start looking for the solutions all over, here is a complete guide for the top car seats of this year.

Top Car Seats for Toddlers

The market is overflowing with various products, but seldom would you blindly trust something that is the key to your toddler’s safety. This list has been compiled keeping in mind the value, comfort, durability, convenience and most important of all – a child’s safety – that these automobile seats have to offer.

Graco SnugRide 35
This infant seat is the bestseller and bags most of the infant car seat ratings. It is rear-facing and can be used as a stroller. It comes with a 5-point harness, and EPS (energy absorbing foam). The removable infant head support and the integrated blanket flap gives value to comfort and safety. It will cost you $160.

Chicco Keyfit 30
This is one of the highest rated car seats and is easy to install. It gives a complete package of safety, easy installation, and an added relief with passing the crash test. The sturdy and safe infant car seat is definitely the best among many. The price of this car seat is $180.

Britax B-Safe
Britax is known for its quality products for children and it leaves no stone unturned in doling out this new car seat. It comprises safety features like side-impact protection, latch connectors and energy-absorbent foam. Even with all these features it’s very user-friendly and easy to use. Its price is $180.

Safety 1st onBoard 35 Air
Safety 1st has been in this business of car seat manufacturing for toddlers for over 25 years and has since been one of the most trustworthy in the market. This new product, onBoard 35 Air comes with the best side-impact protection technology, that can alone sell this product. Apart from this, it is easy to install as well. The price is around $230.

Evenflo SecureRide 35 e3
This is one of the two rear-facing car seats manufactured by Evenflo. It is a very tough and durable product for transporting your baby. Its USP is the “SureLATCH” technology, that latches your car seat base to your in-car latch system in only 60 seconds! This car seat can withstand even the worst crashes as it has been tested, thus making it a safe zone for babies. It will cost you around $162.

You can choose from these car seats for complete safety and a comfortable traveling experience with your toddler. Whether it is a convertible car seat or an infant car seat, make sure you review the product yourself before using it.

Reliability of a car relates to its cost of maintenance, fuel economy and durability for a long term. Find out which cars can be your trusted companion for a long time coming.

A reliable car should be well-built, durable, low on maintenance cost and high on mileage. In many surveys conducted by automobile entities, it has been observed that cars from Honda and Toyota are the most reliable in all the above-mentioned aspects.

Dependable Cars This Season

Consumers first think of dependable brands when it comes to buying a new car. There are other car brands, such as Ford, Volvo, Volkswagen, etc., which do produce quite reliable machines as well. Here’s a look at the reliable options.

Honda AccordFor years, the Honda Accord has been rated the best in terms of value for money, fuel economy and durability. A starting price of about $21,000 is affordable, whereas a mileage of 23 mpg in city and 34 mpg on highways means an efficient engine. This car also has been awarded for the best resale value and earned a rating of five stars in safety tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Toyota CamryThe Toyota Camry is not far behind when it comes to the matter of reliability. The Camry is the closest and toughest competitor to the Accord, considering the price range and fuel economy. The price for the base variant starts at about $22,000, which is less than the Accord. It gives a decent fuel economy of 22 mpg in city and 33 mpg on highways. You can even consider buying the Camry Hybrid model, which starts at about $27,000.
Ford FusionThe Ford is probably the best mid-sized car in the auto market. The base model, the FWD sedan with a 2.5-liter I4, costs about $21,000. The AWD sedan with a 3.5-liter V6 and the hybrid, which has a 3.0-liter gas/ethanol V6, costs about $28,500. The base model gives 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on highways.
Porsche BoxsterPorsche is a brand name that is associated with speed and heritage. One of the most reliable sports cars, a notoriously flaky breed, is the Boxster. The 2-door Roadster, which costs about $50,000, has a 2.7-liter six-cylinder engine, which churns out 265 horsepower. Being a Porsche, the engine is a straight-six and mounted in the back. The Roadster-S costs around $61,000. It has a 3.4-liter straight-six which dishes out 315 horsepower. The Roadster gives an astonishing mileage of 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highways.
Subaru LegacyThis is rated as one of the best cars for style, power and fuel economy, which gives it a high score in the reliability test. The Legacy has 9 models, ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 and driven by either a 2.5-liter I4 or a 3.6-liter I6. The best safety feature of the Subaru is its full-time Symmetrical All-wheel Drive system, which helps the car grip the road surface better in treacherous conditions. The base 2.5i variant is available for a price of around $20,000 and gives 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highways.
Honda CivicThe Civic is undoubtedly one of the best-selling Hondas in the US. Like the Accord, Honda has made this a thoroughly dependable, satisfying car. At a starting price of less than $16,000, it is cheap. In addition to a good price, you can expect a fuel efficiency of 26 mpg and 34 mpg in city and highways, respectively. Even the high-end variant, the Si Coupe, comes at a price of just $24,500. It is the best-selling passenger car in Canada, and third best in the overall car sales, behind the F-150 and the Dodge Ram pickups. It has also received excellent safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Buick LaCrosseThe Buick LaCrosse is believed to be in the top 10 most reliable cars. It is a mid-sized luxury sedan, with price starting at $30,000. A mileage of 25 mpg and 36 mpg on the highway is, by all means, admirable. The Buick is comfortable, luxurious and technologically adept; Buick’s IntelliLink system provides smartphone accessibility.
Volkswagen GolfGerman cars are usually well-built and the new Golf shouldn’t be an exception. At $18,500, the base model isn’t exactly cheap, but the build quality and the excellent mileage of 23/33 should make up for it. The 2-door manual transmission base model has a 2.5-liter I5 engine producing a splendid 170 horsepower. The interior of the VW Golf is definitely the best among all these cars.
The reliability of a car largely depends on how it is driven. A supposedly reliable car, if not serviced and maintained as required, would not perform up to the standard. Remember: if you love your car, it will love you back!