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Outdoor Wedding? Ask The Church First!

Reasonable Request?
Recently a Greek synod banned outdoor weddings, citing that weddings held outside of a church lose their holiness. The leaders saw a trend of people talking on their phones, laughing, smoking, and even chewing gum during what was to be a holy ceremony, and they felt that those behaviors would not be seen in the confines of a church.

Raising Questions
The ruling brings up many questions for potential brides and grooms. The first of which is to know what your religious requirements may be before you start planning your wedding. Some other churches may frown on outdoor weddings, requiring that the ceremony be held in a house of worship. Other faiths may not have rules like that at all.

Requirements
Also, some religions and churches have certain requirements that need to be met before a wedding can be held there. Some churches require pre-marital counseling. Other churches may not marry a couple if they are not both members of a specific church. Still, others may only require that one member of the couple be of that specific faith.

And Considerations
The other consideration is that guests may not know proper etiquette when in a house of worship or at a religious ceremony held outdoors. While most of the behaviors that disturbed the leaders of the Greek synod are unacceptable no matter what faith the couple may have, the couple may want to take certain precautions to keep disturbances to a minimum.

The usher is a great tool in offering people alternatives. For instance, if a parent shows up with an infant the usher can point out a ?crying baby? area while seating the parent. This way the parent knows where to go if the baby starts crying, and then there will be few angry stares.

While every faith is different, there are a lot of things to consider when planning a religious-based ceremony. Be sure to know what you want and what the house of worship expects as you plan your wedding.

About the Author:

Chris Morton ran hotels and restaurants for 17 years - catering for 100's of weddings. His wife Sue is a wedding planner with 10 year's experience. Together they have established http://www.TheWeddingWizards.com to provide unbiased help for brides and grooms.

ThermalformTM Breast Gel Pack Helps Women Overcome Breastfeeding Problems Quickly and Comfortably.

LG Medical Technology (www.lgmed.com), a Washington based firm that develops new and innovative health-care products, announced it has released the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack in select retail locations throughout the U.S. A warm and cool gel pack designed specifically for a woman's breast and the crucial areas surrounding a women's breast, the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack provides comfortable and soothing therapeutic treatment for conditions such as mastitis, plugged milk ducts, engorgement and general breast pain.

Results of the study titled Why Do Women Stop Breastfeeding? Findings From the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System, published in the December 2005 issue of Pediatrics: The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics indicate that nearly half of all women who begin breastfeeding their infants discontinue within four weeks. The study reports, The most common reasons for breastfeeding cessation during the early postnatal period had to do with the physical discomforts of breastfeeding and women's uncertainty about the adequacy of their milk production and the satisfaction of their infant.

Doctors and nurses have long recommended warm and cool therapy as the most effective treatment for common breastfeeding problems that cause the physical discomforts that force many women to quit breastfeeding. In fact, it was a nurse, Milene Hanner, who understood from firsthand experience that there was a need for a better method of treating the common breastfeeding challenges that millions of women face. Until the release of the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack, women were forced to use less sanitary methods of therapy, such as bags of peas, ice or warm washcloths--none of which provide complete coverage of the entire breast, which is crucial to effectively treat breastfeeding ailments.

Hanner partnered with LG Medical Technology to develop the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack, and the product has received accolades from doctors, nurses and mothers across the country. Hanner was also given the prestigious Innovator of the Year award by Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development in 2002.

The Thermalform Breast Gel Pack is ergonomically designed to conform to the entire breast while leaving the sensitive nipple area exposed. The packs are filled with a proprietary gel that retains both its warm and cool temperatures for much longer than other methods of therapy and can be quickly warmed in the microwave or cooled in the refrigerator. In addition, the packs are made from a sanitary hypoallergenic, latex-free, medical-grade PVC vinyl that can be hand-washed with mild soap and warm water.

New mother and Thermalform Breast Gel Pack success story Melissa Hunter, of Mason, Ohio, writes, The Breast Gel Pack was such a comfort after I had my daughter. Nothing else was able to encompass my entire breast the way it did, which helped with both breastfeeding and with the aching I experienced when I stopped. I've kept the Gel Pack for other purposes as well, such as my migraine headaches. It's been wonderful and pliable, good for many uses!

Previously only available from hospitals and medical centers, the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack is now available for purchase in specialty retail locations. To find a location or to order the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack online visit www.breastgelpack.com.

Government, hospitals, medical professionals, women's groups and retailers interested in bulk purchasing can contact LG Medical Technology at 800-641-8070 or through their Web site at www.lgmed.com.

LG Medical Technology, LLC
1-800-641-8070
www.lgmed.com
www.breastgelpack.com
About the Author

Home Buyers And Sellers Have Agency Relationships With Realty Agents

One of the most under-reported topics in real estate are the relationships real estate consumers have with real estate agents. Known as agency, the type of agency relationship you have with a real estate professional could impact the purchase or sale of a home. Mark Nash author of 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home shares the ins' and outs of agency in residential real estate.

-Agency. The relationship between someone who is licensed as a real estate broker or salesperson and the person he or she represents, who is the principal. State laws vary on agency relationships, verify in your state what and how agency is defined.

-Fiduciary. Agents under agency laws have a relationship with the principal or client based on trust and confidence.

-Establishing an agency relationship. Written or oral (depending on state law) where brokerage services are provided to a buyer, renter, or seller in return for compensation. In some situations an implied agency relationship is created, through mutual consent and actions. You attend an open house and the host who is the listing agent offers to show you other properties and you consent.

-Dual agency. You are shown a home you are interested in by the listing agent, who has a brokerage agreement and an agency relationship with the seller. You decided to purchase the home and use the listing agent as your representative. This agent must disclose to you that they are now a dual agent, representing both the seller and buyer in the transaction. Not recommended. Undisclosed dual agency is against the law.

-Disclosure of agency by real estate agents. Mandatory in all states. An agent must disclose who they have a fiduciary relationship with.

-Buyer agency. The formal or informal agency relationship between a buyer and an agent who has a fiduciary relationship to the buyer. Preferred.

-How buyers agents can be compensated. Either the buyer pays compensation to their agent or the seller can compensate the buyers agent. Even though the buyers agent has a fiduciary relationship with the buyer, the agent can still be compensated by the seller through the sellers agent.

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. His tried and true real estate tips has been featured on Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. Purchase his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com.

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Cadillac XLR New Supercar

Clearly influenced by the styling the Mercedes-Benz SLK, the new Cadillac XLR shares the squared off look of other recent Cadillacs. It doesn?t look bad at all, although the headlamps look as if they have been squeezed to fit alongside the wide grille. The performance puts it up in the supercar class.

Top speed is limited to 155 mph, and it can get to 60 mph in about 5.7 seconds ? that's slightly quicker than the Jaguar XK, thanks to the larger engine. Other competitors include the Mercedes-Benz SL and Porsche 911.

Looks can be deceiving. The car is wide and low, and looks big. In fact, it is quite compact, just 177.5 inches long and 72.2 inches wide. The car looks pretty good, particularly from the side. And you get a very practical SLK-lookalike opening roof. I guess most convertibles will be ?metal? convertibles soon, and the rag tops will disappear ? maybe not on all supercars. To save weight, the roof of the XLR is aluminum and magnesium.

Good power output

Also, the XLR has quite a lot of power: 326 bhp at 6,500 rpm and 312 lb ft (423 Nm)at 4,400 rpm from GM?s Northstar 4.6 liter V-8, which could work a bit harder ? 350-360 bhp, which would not be difficult to get from this engine, would make things more interesting.

As it is, it is enough to give the car quite a shove, and as the Northstar has an aluminum block and head with dohc and four valves per cylinder, it revs well. Variable valve timing improves the spread of power, too.

The engine is coupled to a rear mounted five-speed automatic transmission ? 5 speeds put it at a disadvantage against the European supercars which mostly have six-speed automatics, but it is designed to give sporty shifts. Because the box is rear-mounted and the engine is fairly well back, front/rear weight distribution is 50/50.

New frame concept

Based on GM?s new platform for sporty cars shared with the Corvette, the XLR has a fairly light frame of hydro-formed steel tubes. Hydroforming changes the shape quite dramatically, putting in bends, changing the section to a rectangle and so on, making a lightweight frame. The passenger compartment is aluminum, and the body panels are composite plastics. This is a structure that can compete with many a supercar.

This is a fairly light structure, and despite the high level of equipment, the car weighs a healthy 3,643 lb (1,654 kg) which is just 130 lb more than the new lightweight Jaguar XK, and of course quite a bit more than the Corvette which has a lower spec but bigger engine.

Double wishbone suspension

Suspension is the familiar Corvette design of double wishbones front and rear with transverse leaf springs. The result is a simple, lightweight system that gives more roll stiffness - resistance to roll - than coil springs. Also, the spring rate is progressive, so it irons out big bumps in the road almost as easily as little ones. There is also a front anti-roll bar.

To save weight, the double wishbones front and rear are aluminum; of course, the composite leaf springs are light, too. Leaf springs of this type - just one leaf - are actually quite advanced technology as they don't locate the wheels, and involve some clever manufacturing techniques.

The dampers are the new continuously variable electro-magnetic type, and the steering is speed sensitive, so you get more assistance at low speed.

As this is a Cadillac, it comes with a high specification. For Europe, navigation, and heated/cooled seats are standard as are adaptive speed control and a head-up display. The interior, with its wood, leather and aluminum trim is quite pleasant

On the road

Built in the same plant and to the same concept as the Corvette, the Cadillac XLR is best thought of a softened up Corvette intended for those who want a better ride.

Visibility is good thanks to slim pillars in the opening roof, and the almost flat hood. Like the Corvette both the instruments and driving position are good. There is also a head-up display which shows only the speed and which gear you're in, and you don't seem able to switch off. Pity. I did not find it useful.

The steering is not bad at all, and the XLR turns in well, as you'd expect with that weight distribution, but once you start pressing, you start to feel a little understeer coming in, which is not a bad thing for the market this is aimed at ? more the luxury sports car that the hard charging supercar driver. But the car does not corner as fast as you could with more neutral steering.

The automatic is good. In D, the performance is not bad at all, and the kick-down is quite aggressive. There's also a manual mode. Push the lever across to the left, and then nudge it forward for up, and back for down. This works extremely well, and actually is a manual. I mean, some of these actually shift up when you hit peak revs. Not this one; it just lets you stay there till you're ready.

Overall, the Cadillac XLR is a good addition to the ranks of sporty two-seater luxury cars, but not up to the standard of the Jaguar XK nor the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Others to consider include the more powerful and sportier Corvette and Viper SRT-10. Too new to rate is the Audi R8

Super Cars

John Hartley is editor of http://www.fast-autos.com, an online magazine devoted to fast cars and supercars, where you can read the latest articles about fast cars. He has written from many of the world's top auto magazines, and has written many books about cars and the auto industry, including 'Suspension and Steering Q&A' and 'The Electronics Revolution in the Motor Industry'.