exl's Podcast

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Are you an English student? Would you like to become a more fluent speaker? Would you like to improve your listening skills? Would you like to improve your vocabulary? Then sign up for the EXL Audio Club Podcas and get new audio files every week to improve your English. Don't forget to get your free copy of my report "Seven Important Reasons You Should Use Audio To Improve Your English" at http://exlaudio.com/1 Did I remember to mention that it is free?
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Every year millions of things are stolen and only a few recovered. This is partly due to negligence on the owners’ part. While the police do their utmost to catch criminals, they find it difficult to return goods that are not marked in any way by the owners. Many times owners cannot prove that the objects belong to them and they tend to forget over time just what a thing looked like. In other cases, they find description difficult because they are not observant people.

If you buy or borrow an engraving pen, you can mark your valuable possessions with your name or security number. For appliances, do this just above the serial or model number, so police can easily see it. If there is no serial number, then engrave your name on the upper right side of the back. But what if you mark you name and then want to sell it? This problem can be addressed.

Don’t try and erase your name completely. Use the same engraving pen to engrave a diagonal line through it. Then write out a note of sale describing the article, what you have done re the name, sign it and give it to the new owner. It may save him a big hassle.

Having your name on an article not only makes it easier to identify it, but it makes it harder for the thief to sell the goods. And if he is caught with that item in his possession, then it will be easier to convict him. Engraving pens are not very expensive, but in some communities they are free to borrow from the local law enforcement agency.

If you have valuable jewelry or silver, then you won’t be able to put your name on it. Instead, take photos of them with a digital camera and have them stored in a safe place. Don’t just leave the images on your computer in case that is also stolen. Remember to change your list if you sell anything or give it to other family members. You could also photograph your credit cards.

Reformed burglars tell the experts that the first place they went to look for valuables was in the bedroom. They spent an average of fifteen minutes in each house. So if you want to hide your jewelry, place it somewhere else than the bedroom. Have two or three locations so if one is found the rest may remain undetected. Think of unusual places to hide small articles, but make sure you don’t forget them yourself.

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Are you an English student? Would you like to become a more fluent speaker? Would you like to improve your listening skills? Would you like to improve your vocabulary? Then sign up for the EXL Audio Club Podcas and get new audio files every week to improve your English. Don't forget to get your free copy of my report "Seven Important Reasons You Should Use Audio To Improve Your English" at http://exlaudio.com/1 Did I remember to mention that it is free?
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While there is a risk of break-in and burglary to almost any home, some homes seem to suffer greater risk than others. This is partly due to their location. The geographical area in which a home is built is in some cases more prone to robbery. Historically, poorer areas are more likely to have a higher crime rate, especially if your home is slightly more valuable than most in the area. But in some cases a middle class area that is next to a poor area might suffer a high crime rate.

Where your home is located is also a factor in being a target for break-ins. If the house is in an out-of-way area, then that can make it a target, as would-be thieves feel more secure. Thieves may see a house in an area where there is a lot of foot and automotive traffic as a high-risk area, as their activities can be seen more easily.

However, if the house is so isolated that it is hard to get to, then that would be a factor in its favor. Thieves are not going to go too far out of their way to rob a house because it will be harder to hide or disappear after the job is done. They would need a vehicle to approach the house and that would be quite obvious, especially if there were few other vehicles in the district. And of course, it is harder to find the house to start with.

A built up area where a loiterer would go unnoticed due to plenty of other foot traffic would suit a burglar. Here he has a choice of numerous homes, rather than just one or two. He can walk past or drive past with no one taking any notice of him. He can linger on the sidewalk without being obvious. And if he finds that there is a dog, or the whole family is home, he can move on to look for greener pastures without losing too much time.

A home that is surrounded by thick bushes and tall trees may be seen as easy pickings by a thief because all the shrubbery will hide him from both onlookers and occupants. If that home has a glass door, then that makes his work a great deal easier. He can simply smash a hole in the glass and unlock the door from the inside. Big windows also make it easy for the thief to break in. All these things should be taken into account when seeking to secure your home from break-ins.

Many accidents in the home are caused by haste or carelessness. When young children are involved the cause is often through lack of supervision. Then there are the times when we knowingly do things that are not safe - like climbing on a rickety chair to change the light bulb. However, using a bit of common sense can usually prevent most accidents and injuries.

Most people know that having an electric or gas heater too close to curtains or clothing is asking for trouble. But sometimes we don’t think about where the cord is in relation to traffic areas. If anyone is likely to take a shortcut and step over that cord, then move the heater to another location, even if it isn’t as convenient a position.

Making sure that maintenance chores are done promptly is another way of preventing accidents. The frayed carpet that could trip anyone up needs mending. Old wiring needs checking and replacing. Chipped crockery needs to see the inside of the bin. Replace batteries in smoke-alarms regularly. Furnaces and chimneys should be checked every year.

Family training for what to do in emergencies and accidents can minimize injury. Decide on the correct exit in case of fires and have the children practice getting down on their knees and crawling out that way. Learn CPR in case of drowning accidents. All the family should know simple first-aid for cuts and the signs of possible strokes. Emergency numbers need to be learned or left where they are easily visible.

Preventing non-electrical accidents is mostly a matter of common sense, too. You can use non-skid mats for the shower or bath and install a grab bar nearby. Loose mats and floor rugs should be thrown out, or have rubber corners fitted. If you have a pair of shoes or slippers with slippery soles, throw them out. Better waste a pair of shoes than risk a broken limb. Use window guards if there are children in the house. If your house has stairs, make sure they are kept free of clutter and the handrails are secure.

Curious or mischievous children getting into cupboards while mother is busy elsewhere can cause accidents. Any product from cleaners to medications that could make a child ill or prove toxic should be kept on the highest shelf. Cupboards should be locked if possible.

If you have a pool, then everyone in the family should learn CPR. Teach the children to never swim alone and see that they practice water and poolside safety e.g. not running on wet areas.

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Are you an English student? Would you like to become a more fluent speaker? Would you like to improve your listening skills? Would you like to improve your vocabulary? Then sign up for the EXL Audio Club Podcas and get new audio files every week to improve your English. Don't forget to get your free copy of my report "Seven Important Reasons You Should Use Audio To Improve Your English" at http://exlaudio.com/1 Did I remember to mention that it is free?
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Where Can You Get Information About Your Pet?

There are many places you can look for information about your pet. Finding out all about the likes and dislikes and the needs of your pet is essential to its happiness and to your decision to buy it in the first place. Talk to as many people as you can about the type of animal you are interested in. You can join a local pet club if there is one, and ask the people there all about their pets.

You can join online pet clubs or forums to find out about the needs of pets. This is an excellent way to find out about those more rare species that may not abound in your area. Exotic animal keepers love to get online and talk about what their pet does and how they cope with it. They give much support to each other, and someone with a problem will often get the answer from another person who coped with the same thing.

There are many books written about how to keep numerous types of animals. Your local library could have or be able to get the one you need. Bookshops often stock these books - or are willing to get them in if you ask for them. Talking to breeders or owners personally is another good way to find out about the animals.

It is important to read and find out from a wide range of sources. This will ensure that you can sift out any information that is wrong or out-dated. Many people think they know best how to care for a pet, while in reality they are doing it all wrong. Even veterinary practices change over the years and what was once the norm has now become unacceptable.

It is not only important to find out about the type of animal you’ve decided on, but you should try and find out the history of the particular animal you want to buy. Some say you should also find out the history of its parents. This is particularly essential if the animal is likely to pose a danger to you as it grows older.

You need to know if the temperaments of the parents were genial and calm. If the parents were placid, then it’s likely that the offspring will also be calm and placid. If the parents were aggressive and highly-strung, then think twice about buying the animal.

It is also important health-wise. If the parents of the animal under consideration had any health problems or inherited disabilities, then the offspring are likely to have them also.

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Don't forget to get your free copy of my report "Seven Important Reasons You Should Use Audio To Improve Your English" at http://exlaudio.com/1
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Are you an English student? Would you like to become a more fluent speaker? Would you like to improve your listening skills? Would you like to improve your vocabulary? Then sign up for the EXL Audio Club Podcas and get new audio files every week to improve your English. Don't forget to get your free copy of my report "Seven Important Reasons You Should Use Audio To Improve Your English" at http://exlaudio.com/1 Did I remember to mention that it is free?
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How Expensive are Exotic Pets?

Exotic pets are naturally more expensive than most other animals, though it depends on how rare they are and how well they breed. Their price also depends on the demand for them. Spring is a good time to purchase them if you want a baby animal. Breeders often advertise their animals on their websites, when they are ready to start taking deposits.

Skunks, raccoons and woodchucks are something like $300, with a non-refundable deposit of $100; an arctic fox could set you back $400. It pays to shop around, as many are cheaper than that. But you have to look at what the price includes. Some may not include the price of micro-chipping and other essentials.

Baby Southern Flying Squirrels are about $100, but that is just the purchase price of the animal. In many cases, you need special equipment such as a pouch to carry your squirrel around in so it will bond with you.

Monkeys seem to be quite expensive with baby Marmosets at $1200. There may be the additional cost of bottles and feeding supplies, too, not to mention housing. Baby hedgehogs can cost about $200

If you are into cattle, then the Watusi with their marvelously huge horns are $500 for a weaned calf; slightly less for one not yet weaned, but you’ll need to purchase feeding supplies, so you’re not saving anything by buying younger. The prices for Dexter cattle and zebra colts are largely unspecified - this usually means they are so expensive they don’t want to frighten you off before you see one.

One website lists alpacas for $11,000 each. But by comparing prices before you buy, you may get one a great deal cheaper than that, especially if it’s not for breeding.

Many reptiles are not that expensive to buy, but their housing costs a lot. Terrariums, heating and special lamps that need to be replaced at regular intervals all cost extra money. There should also be regular vet visits to keep a watch out for any problems and nip them in the bud before they escalate into something really expensive.

You can probably get a corn snake for $50, while a two-year old savannah monitor is about $100. An iguana will cost you about $125 and that includes the tank. These prices are from classifieds on the Internet, so some are personal sellers and some are from established breeders. Personal sellers who just want to find a good home for the pet they cannot care for are more likely to sell cheaper than a dealer who must make a profit to stay in business.

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Don't forget to get your free copy of my report "Seven Important Reasons You Should Use Audio To Improve Your English" at http://exlaudio.com/1
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Are you an English student? Would you like to become a more fluent speaker? Would you like to improve your listening skills? Would you like to improve your vocabulary? Then sign up for the EXL Audio Club Podcas and get new audio files every week to improve your English. Don't forget to get your free copy of my report "Seven Important Reasons You Should Use Audio To Improve Your English" at http://exlaudio.com/1 Did I remember to mention that it is free?
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Why Do You Want an Exotic Pet?

Pets are an important part of many people’s lives. They provide companionship for the lonely and help children to learn the responsibility of caring for another living thing. They often adopt the role of guardian to both the children and adults in their family. And some can help to care for their owners in cases of disability e.g., the seeing-eye dog.

Exotic pets are those animals that cannot be considered truly domesticated like dogs are. They may be popular as pets, but training them is difficult and most don’t come when called like a dog would. They may be rare in the wild, or rare in your own country. They are unpredictable when frightened and may be dangerous due to their adult size. Some easily bite if not handled with care; other are poisonous.

Some people like to have an exotic pet, rather than the usual dog, cat or bird. It may be that they like the shock effect on other people when they show a pet spider or snake. They excite attention when they show others their unusual pet. It makes them feel special to know they are one of just a few people in the world who has that special animal, insect or rodent.

It might be that they just want something different. They might feel bored with dogs and cats and like the challenge of caring for something completely different. A shy person will certainly have something to talk about if they own an exotic pet.

Or it could be that they have somehow gained a passion for a certain type of animal that is not usually classed as a pet. It could be that they have come into contact with an animal that is classed as an exotic pet and want to help preserve the species. It may have been found injured on the road and needs a great deal of care before being released back into the wild. Or maybe its injuries are such that it could not survive alone in the wild, so must now be cared for by a kind person.

Some people are physically unable to care for a normal pet, either due to a disability or because of where they live. But they still like to have a living animal to look at and care for. In this case, a pet like a lizard is easier to care for. It doesn’t need to be taken for walks or let outside for exercise. It doesn’t cost much to feed, take up much room or require much cleaning up after. It won’t scratch the furniture or make loud noises that might annoy the neighbors.

All pets should be properly cared for, so whatever your reason for owning an exotic pet make sure you find out its needs and whether you can care for it in a way that will keep in comfortable and happy.

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Don't forget to get your free copy of my report "Seven Important Reasons You Should Use Audio To Improve Your English" at http://exlaudio.com/1
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