Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Is Carfax Worth It? You Tell Me

Thanks for visiting The Further Review! On the world famous search engine, Google, the question "is Carfax worth it" is searched 140 times a montn. That is not a huge number but it does indicate that there is a growing number of people who are starting to question the famous VIN lookup service and wondering whether the big ticket price of nearly 40 bucks is indeed "worth it". Benjamin Franklin once said..."If in doubt, don't". I want you to remember that quote and I will come back to it in a moment.
 photo carfax 519_zpshedsfckk.jpg Let me say that Carfax was the pioneer in the car history report business. They have consistently provided reliable information to millions of car shoppers and they are the king of high dollar ads touting their service. If you are interested in finding accurate information on a car's title history, registration information and odometer readings then Carfax can come through in flying colors. If you are curious about a possible lemon history, total loss incident or frame damage then they can provide the goods. If the service and repair history is crucial to your prospective choice and if any recalls or strange vehicle use was indicated then yes, Carfax is worth it.   .>>>Try Vinaudit now<<<<
However, if you are wondering if Carfax is worth the price of anywhere between $35 to $40 dollars let me just say that I doubt it! Why can I make that statement? Because there are other services that have evolved over the years that do pretty much what Carfax does only they do it "cheaper". The VIN lookup company that I recommend is Vinaudit. Vinaudit will do the same core services that Carfax will perform but they will do it for 75% less which can mean a savings of up to $30! In these tough times ii is important to save money wherever you can and this is an easy decision. Vinaudit is growing in popularity and their customer satisfaction is testimony to the fact that people are satisfied with the results.
Is it worth spending money on a reliable car history report? You bet it is. Is it worth it to over spend by 75%? I doubt it and remember what Benjamin Franklin said, If in doubt, don't!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

AutoCheck vs Carfax - My Personal Recommendation

AutoCheck is one of the big 3 players in the vin number lookup industry. If you have identified a car that you are thinking of buying then you may be considering the difference between AutoCheck vs Carfax.
AutoCheck is a part of the bigger family of businesses owned by the credit reporting giant Experian. AutoCheck boasts that they offer some benefits that Carfax does not offer. Here is a few of the subtle differences. They offer unlimited reports by VIN (this is a subscription benefit), they offer auction announcement information concerning your car, they offer AutoCheck score which makes a correlation between the history report and the value of the car, and they offer a special app for Android and Apple devices in which to read your reports. In this writer's opinion these are minor differences. Consider that both Carfax and AutoCheck both include the same basic information in their reports which both include...
 photo carfax 519_zpshedsfckk.jpg
  • A report summary which includes VIN, year, make and model and other details concerning the identity of the car.
  • Title Check which includes odometer problems and whether or not the car was salvaged or junked.
  • Odometer check which shows the odometer readings at intervals where it was reported. This helps reduce the chances of odometer tampering.
  • Use and events checks indicate whether the car was ever a rental or service car. Theft and repossession would also fall in this category. 
  • Full history will summarize all the findings.
Carfax and AutoCheck both have these components. AutoCheck has a one time history check for $29.99 and a subscription price of $44.99. If you have identified the car you want to purchase then a one time plan is what you want. Considering the Carfax one time reports come in at just under $40.00 it would make sense to go with AutoCheck.  However, my recommendation is to pass over both AutoCheck and Carfax and go with my personal favorite, Vinaudit
Vinaudit will do all the major component checks of both Carfax and AutoCheck but they will do it for a one time fee of $9.99!



It matters little to me that Carfax was the first car history report company. Just because Ford was the first American motor company doesn't mean I can't buy a Chevy. Just because AutoCheck is a little cheaper than Carfax doesn't mean that there aren't even better deals available.
My recommendation is to go with Vinaudit and save a chunk of change and have peace of mind in your vehicle purchase. My conclusion..AutoCheck vs Carfax = Vinaudit!.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

How To Start A Eulogy - Three Ideas To Jump Start Your Speech

I have been called to preach at over a hundred funerals in my pastoral career. As a minister I have witnessed a growing trend in funerals and that is the increase in eulogies by friends and family of the deceased. I have visited with those who have been asked to carry out this responsibility and one thing is clear...most of them want to know how to start a eulogy and deliver a healing and inspiring speech.
Let me give you some of my personal observations and some possible ideas in starting and delivering your funeral talk. First, remember that the most memorable eulogies are brief. If you are the only person delivering a remembrance then try to keep your presentation somewhere between 5 to 7 minutes. If there are other people sharing during this portion of the service keep your thoughts to around 3 to 5 minutes. Nothing kills the mood or spirit of a funeral service like a long winded eulogy. Remember that the minister and the music are still on the order of service and if you go too long it will cause attendees to become restless during the rest of the service.
People have short attention spans and they will begin to tune you out once you start to extend past your allotted time. Second, begin your speech with a famous quote that can be used to point out a great character trait of the departed or start with a fond memory of your friend. Try to use the quote or the memory to tell a short story about one of the departed's most striking character traits. Just focus on one great aspect of your loved one. I know that this idea may go against your commonly held ideas but the eulogy is not a time to recount all the events and traits of the deceased. This is not an episode of Biography, make it brief and memorable. If your friend was known for his/her loyalty then go to Google and find some great quote sites (there are tons of them) and do a search for a quote about loyalty. You will be astounded at the number of inspiring quotes on nearly any character trait and you can use that quote to sag way into an example of your friend's loyalty, love, kindness, humor or whatever you want to call attention to about their life. You need to keep in mind that most of the people in attendance at the funeral have their own memories of the deceased and you don't need to introduce them to the departed you just need to remind them of one great quality of your friend. Remember, if you share too much information during your funeral speech you may "steal" some material from the minister. Finally, just be sincere. If you speak from the heart people will resonate with what you are saying. Most people have a pretty good radar system and can tell when a eulogy is not earnest and sincere. Don't be afraid to cry or to laugh if such a display of emotion will help reinforce the trait you are trying to emphasize. Have some thorough notes or if you feel more comfortable with a manuscript you can read your speech. The eulogy is not about you it is about he one being honored and remembered.
 God's blessings on your assignment!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

How To Remove And Get Rid Of The Google Redirect Virus On Your Computer

What is the Google redirect virus?
The "redirect virus" is one of the most prevalent computer viruses between 2010 and 2013. The virus is highly annoying simply because it will literally drag you (also known as hijack virus) to sites that you don't want to visit. If you already have contracted the virus you know exactly what I mean!  Literally millions of computers have been infected and traditional anti-virus protection does not touch this stuff! This malicious invader is a actually a family of viruses that is so hard to remove because it leaves no "footprints" on your hard drive. The virus simply alters the way your computer looks for sites and redirects your searches and then disappears. Even though the virus itself disappears the effects remain. You need a process that bypasses the changed settings.


Where did the redirect virus come from?
Redirect viruses are two-fold in their nature. First, they are a Rootkit and a Trojan. The Rootkit started as a legitimate tool which was created to repair Linux systems remotely. It soon fell into the hands of hackers who use it to get into your system and return whenever they so choose. The Trojan strain of this virus allows "keylogging" which simply means that once the virus is in place outsiders can trace every keystroke on your keyboard. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude how dangerous this could be to your business and personal banking.
How to lessen the likelihood that you will get these viruses.
There are practical things you can do to lessen your chances of getting this family of viruses. Here is a brief list.
  • You need to purchase and maintain updates of a top of the line anti-virus software. Don't go free or cheap, this is too important. I use Trend Micro and have been pleased with it for the last five years.
  • Avoid visiting every website you come across in your internet browsing. If you are not sure about a website don't visit it. Especially avoid pop ups, pop unders and other aggressive marketing sites.
  • Avoid all free music and video files. Verify the source of all such files.
  • Avoid opening and reading all junk email.
  • Avoid pirate sites. Besides the fact that they are unethical they are often loaded with redirect virus.
  • Pay attention to your User Account Control which can ask you for permission to make changes to your computer. Always say no to changes to your system.
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Don't make the mistake of trying 4 or 5 cheaper programs thereby throwing money down the drain. Go with a proven winner that has proven as the #1 Google redirect virus remover.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Are Online Classes Hard? It Depends

Online courses are becoming more and more prevalent as schools seek to cut costs and make course offerings more flexible. The big question that most prospective students ask is "are online classes hard?". The answer to that question depends on many factors.
  • If you are a socially outgoing person and being around other people is of paramount importance when it comes to stimulating your mind then an online course may be a bit boring to you. If the course is boring then it is going to be more difficult to force yourself to do the assigned work in a timely matter. 
  • If you are a self starter and don't need anyone pushing you to get a task done then you will be one of those folks who find online courses to be fairly easy.
  • If you find classroom discussion a vital part of how you learn then an online course is going to be a sterile experience. If you are like me and an ideal evening is spent alone with the laptop then you will probably thrive in the online course work.
  • When assignments are handed out in class are you one of those folks who needs the professor to explain the assignment? If so, then you might want to keep the number of online courses you take to a minimum. However, if you are a lone wolf type who enjoys figuring things out on your own then you will find the online world to be easier.
  • If your learning style is such that very late night or extremely early morning hours are your best study time then traditional classes might cramp you. Online courses appeal to students who need flexible schedules. If you are a single parent or a working student then taking as many online courses as you can is going to be good for you and you will probably find the work easier.
Online courses present the same material that is covered in class it is just delivered differently. To really answer the question of "easy" or "hard" you will ultimately have to assess your learning styles. I took over 75% percent of my course work in Bible college via online courses. I loved the courses and found them very helpful in training me in the area of Bible knowledge and ministry education. I have shared my experiences with friends who have said they could never complete their studies without a classroom experience. It is very much an individual matter.
It is interesting that many major universities are moving more and more in the online direction. Maybe you have heard of MOOC (massive open online course)? Major university systems across the nation have joined this program and nearly 4 million students are taking free course work online. Prestigious schools like Harvard and others are involved. So you can see that the non-traditional approach to higher education is going to be with us into the future.
Take an online course and give it an honest try and come to your own conclusions as to the degree of difficulty. Good luck to you in your studies!