Learn How To Make Money Online

Do you really need to learn how to make money online? I've read about Get-Rich-Quick schemes, so why in the world should I slow down my money making effort? The word 'learning' itself indicates hard work, time spent away from your usual day activities, lesser sleep and usually, there is no fun factor to it. Learn how to make money online? Nah!

Did I realize that I had to learn how to make money online? No I did not. At least not when I first started. I chose to make money online quickly. Guess what I did? I bought a Get-Rich-Quick program! Did it feel good knowing that you are on your way to earning big bucks fast? Definitely! Did it work? Unfortunately not! I did not even come close to the vicinity of success. What did you learn from all this? I need to learn how to make money online! Period.

I consider myself lucky that I only bought one get-rich-quick program. Why? Because there are others who fall for one after another. Along the way I did purchase an affiliate program, which to my horror simply ditches you the moment your payment came through. I could not even get the package to work and I could not reach them at all! I cannot begin to tell you how angry and frustrated I was. I paid $97 for nothing! It may not seem like a lot of money to you, but to me it was an expensive mistake. Never came across my mind that I could actually fall victim to a make money online scam. Always thought of myself as a careful person but I guess with scammers getting more intelligent these days, no one is spared. If it's any comfort at all, to myself at least, I am glad that these mistakes I made happened within a short period of time. It's better to make a mistake early, realize it early, learn from it and move on before investing too much time and money. Looking at it positively, I ended up learning how to make money online!

On the Internet, there are many tips to learn to make money online, learn how to make money online guides, secret to making money online and the list goes on. No harm reading. You could even pick up some very useful information. There are plenty of ways to learn how to make money online. The difficult part is choosing which suits you best, especially when you are new to Internet Marketing. You can find many techniques to learn how to make money online but what is more important here is to understand the whole process. I am a living example of someone who plunges into Internet Marketing without understanding the process. I thought I have read enough to understand how to make money online. It was only later did I realize that I did not understand enough.

So how crucial is it to learn how to make money online? I say, and I believe many other Internet Marketers will agree, that it is very crucial indeed. Remember this. When you purchase an ebook to learn how to make money online, you are learning about how this particular 'guru' made her/his money, her/his way. While it worked well for her/him, it may not work for you. You'll complain about it for a while and as these products usually come with money-back guarantee, you end up asking for refund. And then what? Next? Bought a few more, spent a few hundred dollars or even thousands, digesting each and every one of these ebooks and then try to deduce what works, what does not, how to start and where to start. You have invested lots of time and money, are you certain that you have made the best deductions on how to make money online? You can confidently answer 'yes' if you have made the money online again and again. After all, you are looking for a long-term income and not just some quick unsustainable income. Right?

For those who are just starting out, there are many credible ebooks available to learn how to make money online. Implementing the techniques taught is what I find most newbies are handicapped with. It does not get any easier when you are doing it alone. Some people are naturals. I fall into the category of the majority; people who need help and guidance. I took my first 'real' step to learn how to make money online by enrolling in an online 'university'. Finally, I patted myself on the back for taking that first 'real' step. I have chosen to educate myself to learn how to make money online. I am not a millionaire... yet (hey! I'm allowed to dream you know) but I am no longer far from the vicinity of success. I am success!

Taking Care of Your Petrol Or Diesel Turbo Car

Installing a turbo kit in your car will indeed add to its value but what good does it get if after a week of installing the kit, it breaks down? Turbochargers are there for the main reason that you want a faster and more efficient car. These turbo kits are costly and you do not want them to be breaking down on you, not because of factory defect, but because of personal neglect by the car's owner, also known as you.

There are ways and tips to follow in order to keep your turbo car in tip top shape. A healthy turbo has sufficient oil for lubrication and cooling. When thinking of a turbo car, oil is probably the most important factor that can affect the way your turbo operates. Regarding oil issues, you have to take note to use only synthetic oil for your engine. The reason for this is because these oils are undeniably better at withstanding thermal breakdown. Of course this is important as you already know that turbo engines have the tendency to operate at very high heat. Oil change for turbo cars must be done every 2500-3000 miles as oil breaks down and get dirty fast. Another important thing to do is to check the oil level since since the engine is exposed to a lot of strenuous conditions, pressure and excess heat. Also, you have to remember to let the oil cool down before turning off your car. You can do this by letting the car stay idle for a period of time. This is done to avoid damage to the turbo bearings and oil lines. Still in connection to the importance of oil, make sure that the turbo bearings are well lubricated before starting the engine especially after an oil change.

The tips mentioned above are the most common advice that are to be followed when maintaining a turbo car, but there are a lot of supplementary advice that can also be used to maximize the performance and lengthen the life of your turbo car. First, is to make sure that the wastegate signaling hose is not hardened or cracked. Another tip is to make sure that the throttle position sensor (TPS) is working properly. Cleaning the throttle body is also a way of maintaining your turbo car. It is advisable to clean the throttle body every 30,000 miles. To help maintain your turbo car, make sure that the tires do not go bald because it will have a deteriorating effect on the suspension. Especially that you have a high powered turbo car, you do not want to go through potholes and fall hard because of poor tires and suspensions. Changing the air filter every 10,000 miles will contribute to your car's maximum performance. The timing belt also has to be replaced every 40,000 miles for optimum turbo performance. More importantly is to make sure that your turbo system and your car stays cool and one way to do this is putting a switch in line with the air conditioning fan for you to use in bad traffic or in long drives.

There are a lot to consider when maintaining a turbo car, which is just right since a turbo car needs special attention as it is not like any ordinary car. A turbo car is engineered to excellence that is why maintenance is very important to preserve its performance.

Autocross Buying Guide - Select the Right Car

In my experience, autocross can be a very fun and exciting sport. I have participated in several events in my local area. I found the hobby to be very addictive as well.

Out of all my other hobbies, I think this one is the best "bang for the buck" as far as thrills go with your car. Everybody can participate. Every car (some clubs have exceptions to this though like no SUV's, no Trucks) can race. The nice thing about this kind of race is that you are competitive against others in your class usually defined by the SCCA, however, you are on the course alone so there is minimal chance of hitting other cars.

The hardest part about autocross (as from learning how to race) in my opinion is finding the right car. Sure, you can use a daily driver, but that is not recommended if you are going to participate in several events a year. Autocross can create wear on the tires and other components very quickly and can get expensive very fast. I would recommend to get a vehicle that you can use for autocross. This can be a "trailer car" or a car that you can still drive on the road, but use only for this hobby.

There are 4 key components to consider when selecting a car for autocross:

1) What type of car to get
2) The Price of the car
3) The overall condition of the vehicle (if used)
4) Aftermarket upgrades / modifications

WHAT TYPE OF CAR TO GET FOR AUTOCROSS:

For autocross racing, some people would assume that the car has to be very powerful, small, 2 doors and modified. This is not entirely accurate. While that type of car would be nice, it is not required to be competitive in autocross.

Remember that most autocross events and clubs have the cars grouped in to some sort of class. The club I participate with follow the SCCA Class guidelines. The classes help group the cars so the same "level" of vehicles can remain competitive within each class.

This is done to avoid the "largest and fastest is best" state of thought. It would be unfair to put a heavily modified Porsche GT3 up against a stock Ford Focus. This is why they do that.

So, to pick the right car for autocross, you would probably want a coupe or convertible FIRST if possible. Sedans can work well too, but some sedans are not geared for modifications, though, the sport sedans of today are really starting to take over.

Manual transmission would be recommended, however, if you have an automatic that is OK too. You may want to consider trading it for a manual in the future to remain competitive. Again, there are still "sport shift" type automatics out there that are getting better and better each day.

Ideally, you would also want a rear-wheel drive car for autocross. RWD cars typically provide better control and handling in most cases. I know some enthusiasts out there will disagree with me, but that's OK. On the other hand, I have used several front-wheel drive cars that run with the best of them.

PRICE:

The price of buying a car for autocross is always the factor for me. I, like many others, can not afford an expensive vehicle for autocross. There are, however, those that can afford it and price is still something for them to consider.

The $ 0- $ 5000 range:

This is the range most of us beginners want to start. Of course, free is GOOD, but consider the 3rd component (overall condition) when this option comes to mind. Several cars that can perform well and have a lot of upgradable options are the following:

1989-1997 Mazda Miata - Very nice power to weight ratio. It is VERY popular at autocross. 1979-1991 Mazda RX7 - Fast small car, handles well. Many upgrades available. 1989-1998 Nissan 240sx - Several aftermarket upgrades, handles very well. 1990-1999 BMW 3 Series - Very versatile car. You can find very nice models in this range now. 1988-2000 Honda Civic / CRX - I have seen several models compete well in autocross. 1984-1999 Toyota MR2 - Low center of gravity, great performance, mid engine. 1990-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse / Eagle Talon - Many upgrades, some models Turbo AWD. 2000-2007 Ford Focus - Very competitive cars. SVT models available in price range. 1997-2003 VW Golf - Hatchbacks always like autocross. VR6 models available in range. 1990-1999 Acura Integra - Like the Civic, very competitive with many upgrades out there.

There may be a few more cars that I missed that fall under this price range. The method I use to hunt for cars can vary depending on the type I am looking for. I will use local classified ads, Craigslist. I will also use the larger car searches and expand my general "hunting" area. I have successfully found great cars using VEHIX, AutoTrader as well as Government Auction Sites.

But what about the autocross cars above the $ 5000 range? Well, I am glad you are thinking that because I am about to list them below.

If you have some money to work with and want to get something newer, you can consider the following cars:

The $ 5,001- $ 20,000 range:

This range can include newer cars as well as pre-owned cars that are no more than a few years old. Remember, cars usually depreciate very fast, so as the years go by, some of the newer cars can be within reach for less money and are great for autocross. The cars below come to mind in this range:

1998-Current Mazda MX-5 - Still same basic car, but more power as they got newer. 2003-Current VW Golf - Even more modified than the previous versions, compete well. 1992-1997 Mazda RX7 - 3rd Gen is twin-turbo and can compete in autocross. 1992-2006 BMW M3 - M3's are designed for racing. Some newer models will fall in this range. 1998-2003 BMW M5 - M5's are very powerful and compete in their class well. 1994-Current Ford Mustang / Cobra - Very versatile car. Competes well in class. 1994-2002 Camaro / Firebird - Competes well in class. Many autocross upgrades. 2007-Current Mazda Mazdaspeed3 - Turbo, hatchback, competes well in autocross. 2003-2008 Nissan 350z - Great autocross car, very popular on the track. Special Autocross Kit cars such as the V6 Stalker fall in this range as well.

Now, this price range can vary in vehicles. A lot of these cars are still new and may require loans to purchase them.

The $ 20,001 spectrum will consist of some of the current-day models as well as the obvious "super cars" we all respect such as the Corvette, Viper, Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus and others. I will not include a list for those because if you are buying one of those for an autocross car, you did your research.

OVERALL CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE (USED):

When buying a second car for autocross, treat it like when you are buying your daily driver car. You want the car to be reliably free of major problems. Autocross racing can put stress on the car's frame, the suspension, the brakes, the tire and the overall body of the car.

You want to be sure that the car has not been in any major accidents. Frame repair or frame damage can be very dangerous mixture when you autocross. That is the MOST important thing to check for when buying a car for autocross. I have experienced and used the service by Experian called AutoCheck. They offer an unlimited number of VIN checks for one of their service options and the price is way better than the other services out there. I have used it when shopping and comes in very handy when you are checking the history of a vehicle.

The next important item to check on the car is major component problems such as smoke coming out of the back of the exhaust, major oil leaks (small leaks are expected on most used cars) slight / major overheating of the engine. Autocross is outside and you push the car to the limit. You want the major components to be in the best shape they can be. The mentioned problems can leave you stranded at the track if you do not look out for them.

I usually have some expectation to do minor repair or preventive repairs on my vehicles when I am buying to autocross them. As I stated above, small oil / fluid leaks are "OK" and can usually be fixed very easily. Small leaks tell us that the car is just used and may not be suffering from the leak as a result. Large / major leaks tell us the car may have been neglected by the previous owner and may carry residual problems unseen at the moment. When looking at a car, start it up, drive it around with the A / C engaged (even if it does not work). When you are finished with the test drive, leave it idling while you walk around the car continuing to inspect it. If the car has an overheating problem, often this is the time it will show. This tip has helped me avoid several beautiful autocross cars that had an overheating problem.

Belts and hoses are my most frequent "preventive" repair I do, even if they are not a problem. It is always best to know when an important component has been replaced rather than to "guess" and trust the previous owner. Water pumps, too, fall in this category sometimes.

One thing people always check when buying a used car are the tires. Yes, this is important for an autocross car, but not to see how "good" the tires are, but to see if the car needs an alignment. Autocross is about handling and you need to be sure the car's stock "handling" ability is where it should be.

Why not worry about the tires? Well, tires should be one thing to consider buying for your autocross car to begin with, so the existing tires should be removed anyway. Tires are probably the most bought wear item an autocross member will buy. A lot of autocross racers will bring a set of tires for racing, one for driving home (those who do not use a trailer) and some will even bring spares for the racing tires. This is so common that Tire Rack offers tires just for autocross. I have used them and they are the best place to get tires for this.

AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS FOR AUTOCROSS:

If you ever look into the aftermarket world of the auto industry, you know that there are literally thousands of places to look and buy. I will list a few spots that most people do not think to look, but surprisingly have things for the autocross fans.

First and foremost, autocross cars do NOT always need major upgrades to be competitive. A driver can use a stock vehicle and compete against fellow stock vehicles and remain competitive. Once you start to modify or upgrade heavily, you may start to move into different classes and compete with other cars that are equally modified. Keep that in mind when you want to change something.

Usually, I say modify the easy things first: Intake, exhaust and general tune ups. Most autocross drivers do not go far from that. These should be the first things you try to upgrade while you participate in autocross to get the most performance out of your vehicle.

If you decide to go further to be more competitive, my next recommendation would be suspension and body roll configurations. Please remember, certain upgrades in this area may change your class. Be sure to check your club or groups rules with these modifications.

Typically, the fastest upgrade to an autocross car would be front and rear strut tower bars / braces. They are usually inexpensive to buy and easy to install. They are also very modular meaning that when you buy these, they will work with other suspension components in place (usually). This modification helps stiffen the car's suspension and frame and helps with cornering.

The next modification recommendation would then be the front and rear sway bars and links. These parts also help the body roll while cornering and handling and can sometimes be modular to the suspension system as a whole.

The final suspension upgrade is usually the most expensive: The struts (shocks / springs). This upgrade usually works well with the above items, but ads more stiffness, more response to the handling and sometimes lower the car overall for a lower center of gravity.

Once you have modified the entire suspension, my next recommendation would be to upgrade the brakes (at least the pads). This will help your stopping ability for those moments where a tap of the brake is needed during a lap. Please keep in mind that high performance brake pads usually wear much faster than OEM.

One of the last things I recommend to upgrade is the tires. Now, I'm not saying that you should not FIRST buy new tires when you autocross, but I am saying not to UPGRADE them to an autocross / race tire just yet. Most autocross enthusiasts will tell you to get used to the stock / regular tires on your car first.

Once you get used to stock type tires, modifying them to a race tire or softer tire will actually improve your lap times (that's the theory anyway).

One last note. I recommend replacing the fluids in your car with as many synthetics as you can. Synthetic fluids have higher heat resistance and can take the intestinal moments you will be putting on the car during the autocross laps.

Beginner's Guide to Buying a Desktop Computer

People certainly are not camping outside stores in the rain to get the latest and greatest desktop computer these days, but PCs are far from dead. Simply put, there are certain functions that mobile devices and laptops either can not do or can not do almost as well as a desktop.

Not to mention, there's no beating the price. A budget desktop is going to be miles ahead of a budget laptop. It's expensive to make things small. The small size is what appeals to some people when choosing a new computer, but these days big honking towers are not your only choice.

Styles of desktop computers

There's a lot more variation and choice in the desktop form factor, which is great in some ways, but also makes the buying process that much more complicated. You can find computers in each of these categories at a variety of price points, so the most important thing to keep in mind is how you plan to use your desktop.

Tower

The classic desktop form factor, towers have stuck around for good reason. It's hard to fit a lot of power into smaller devices like a laptop or tablet for a reasonable price. The power to price ratio of tower computers is pretty much unbeatable.

There's also a lot more flexibility with a tower. There's more room to upgrade and expand the system when new technology comes out, whereas with smaller devices you may just have to buy a whole new system.

Towers do, however, take up quite a bit of space and if space is at a premium in your home, a tower could be out of the question. They also require a separate monitor, keyboard, and mouse. There are some cases where those accessories are included, or you can get a discount if you buy them at the same time as the computer, but plan for buying those when you're making up your budget.

All-in-One

All-in-one computers offer a simple and space-saving set up. These are, in essence, a cross between a desktop and a laptop. They feature a large monitor with all the necessary components built into the back or base.

The small design gives you a lot more flexibility with placement and keeps your work area clutter free. Plus, because everything is all in one, set up usually just involves plugging it in. You do still need a separate keyboard and mouse however.

Because these computers are smaller, they are not as powerful as a tower and you can not customize and expand them (although this also makes them much simpler). There's also the issue that if the monitor breaks, you need a whole new computer.

Mini and Stick PCs

These computers use mobile components to keep them small (like all-in-ones). As such, they're not very powerful, but they're extremely portable. Mini PCs are small enough to be hidden behind a monitor or TV set up and stick PCs are slightly larger than a thumb drive. Because of the small size, they're not very powerful and internal expansion is limited to impossible.

While you will not be able to do any advanced gaming or multimedia editing, they work great for day-to-day tasks, browsing the Internet, and watching media. Set up is extremely easy and they're quite versatile in that you can use it as a home office during the day, and then plug it into a TV for a home theater at night.

The different operating systems

The question of which operating system (OS) to go with is not asked as often with desktops as it is with tablets and smartphones, but it's still something to consider.

Windows 10

This is definitely the most common desktop OS so you'll have a big selection of hardware as well as compatible third party software. It's designed around a touchscreen interface, though it still works great with the classic mouse and keyboard, so if you do not buy a touchscreen monitor you will not have any problems.

macOS Sierra

If you're in a family of Apple lovers, then Mac could be for you. Sierra is only found on Mac computers, so you're limited in your hardware, but these are well-made computers that historically have fewer problems with viruses. A Mac will also pair seamlessly with your other Apple devices and programs.

Chrome OS

If you're just looking for simple, no-frills computing the Chrome OS will be right up your ally. The OS runs custom apps and cloud-based programs as opposed to other operating systems that run software. It's not suited for demanding tasks like gaming, but it's great for email, file-sharing, and browsing. You will always need to be connected to the internet, but that's usually not an issue with desks.

Types of desktop computers

Not everyone is going to use a desktop for the same reasons, and how you use it will influence the type of computer you buy. After all, you do not need a complex, high-powered machine just to check your email.

Business PCs

These PCs are stripped back, no-frills machines that do not allow for advanced computing, but are easy to service and upgrade. They also usually offer extra security, software and hardware certification programs, software support, and some even have on-site tech support.

Workstations

These are specialized PCs that feature multicore processors and intense graphics. They're perfect for scientific calculations, media creation, and other high-powered tasks that would not be even remotely possible on a laptop.

Gaming PCs

These are (as the name suggests) made for gaming. They feature specialized graphics cards, extremely fast multicore processors, and many have flashy design elements although those generally cost more. Upgradability is a must as newer and more immersive games are released.

Learn the lingo

There's a lot of terminology you need to know before buying a PC so that you actually know what you're buying. This list from PCWorld goes into further detail, but here's a quick breakdown of the terms you should know and understand.

Processor (CPU)

This is the brain of your computer. Processor speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz) and generally, the higher the clock speed, the better the performance and the higher the price. The more cores a processor has the better the performance as well. Desktops either have an Intel or an AMD processor.

Memory

The random-access memory (RAM) determines how good your computer is at multitasking. The higher the RAM the better, especially for high-powered tasks like gaming. For simple tasks like email and web browsing 2GB is fine, but for anything more advanced than that, look for a computer with 4GB or more.

Internal Storage

The amount of storage your desktop has determines how much stuff you can keep on your computer. Desktops almost always have more storage than laptops and for a fraction of the cost. It's also easy to upgrade your hard drive for more storage, or upgrade to a solid-state drive.

Wait for the best price, but do not wait too long

Once you've figured out which computer you want (and have read plenty of reviews to ensure that it's actually up to snuff), it's time to buy. This can be tricky with a desktop because they can be pretty expensive and technology is always evolving.

While it can be tempting to just buy the computer when you're ready, you might miss out on a great deal or the latest tech. Shop regularly for a stretch of time instead of spending an entire day looking around. You're more likely to catch a deal that way. Also check the release dates of new models. You'll most likely get a good deal on an older model, or you might just want the latest technology.

Waiting for a sale also means you can bump up your computers specs with the money you save, meaning your computer is a bit more "future-proof" than if you were to just go for the cheapest one you can find.

However, this is a balancing act. If you spend too much time waiting around for the perfect deal or the latest model, you're never going to end up buying your desktop. So be patient and wait for sales, but once you find the model you want in an acceptable price range, go ahead and buy it.