Friday, August 17, 2012

Cheap flights and those hidden costs


For all the major economies in the world either have flatlining economies or grind along with such low growth rates, they are hard to detect, it’s somewhat surprising that the number of people flying rose quite sharply last year and the majority of airlines made a profit. In part, this profit came from what the airlines happily call “ancillary revenue”. That’s all those hidden fees and charges they forget to tell you about until it’s too late to do anything about it. In 2011, some fifty airlines decided to break down their account to separate the revenue for the seats, from the revenue for selling all the other services like checking in the bags when you arrive at the airport. Between them, they collected $22.6 billion for doing all the stuff we thought they should be doing as part of the ticket price.


We have been caught two ways: the existing fees have been rising and the airlines have been introducing new fees. The question is how far this trend is likely to go. The leading exponents of cheap flights that are only slightly less than the full-price fares is Ryanair. Although there are many jokes about the airline, it does not actually charge people for using the onboard toilets, nor is it about to introduce vertical seating – that’s people standing at the back of the airplane. But there’s a remarkably long list of fees for priority on booking, reserving a seat, changing a flight, asking for a boarding card to be reissued, and so on. The real kickers come when you walk up to the gate and find there’s a fee for passing through with a carry-on bag (that’s a surprise organized by Sprint). No matter whether you’re booking on a full-cost legacy airline or a low-cost carrier sellingcheap flights, you should be able to see an all-in price before you make the booking. For the record, this is equally important for the business traveler who may not get reimbursed for all expenses. No matter how you book, through a travel professional, at the airline’s own ticket counter, by telephone or on the internet, prices should be transparent. Always ask before you book to avoid surprises.


Cheap flights and those hidden costs


For all the major economies in the world either have flatlining economies or grind along with such low growth rates, they are hard to detect, it’s somewhat surprising that the number of people flying rose quite sharply last year and the majority of airlines made a profit. In part, this profit came from what the airlines happily call “ancillary revenue”. That’s all those hidden fees and charges they forget to tell you about until it’s too late to do anything about it. In 2011, some fifty airlines decided to break down their account to separate the revenue for the seats, from the revenue for selling all the other services like checking in the bags when you arrive at the airport. Between them, they collected $22.6 billion for doing all the stuff we thought they should be doing as part of the ticket price.


We have been caught two ways: the existing fees have been rising and the airlines have been introducing new fees. The question is how far this trend is likely to go. The leading exponents of cheap flights that are only slightly less than the full-price fares is Ryanair. Although there are many jokes about the airline, it does not actually charge people for using the onboard toilets, nor is it about to introduce vertical seating – that’s people standing at the back of the airplane. But there’s a remarkably long list of fees for priority on booking, reserving a seat, changing a flight, asking for a boarding card to be reissued, and so on. The real kickers come when you walk up to the gate and find there’s a fee for passing through with a carry-on bag (that’s a surprise organized by Sprint). No matter whether you’re booking on a full-cost legacy airline or a low-cost carrier sellingcheap flights, you should be able to see an all-in price before you make the booking. For the record, this is equally important for the business traveler who may not get reimbursed for all expenses. No matter how you book, through a travel professional, at the airline’s own ticket counter, by telephone or on the internet, prices should be transparent. Always ask before you book to avoid surprises.


Cheap flights and those hidden costs


For all the major economies in the world either have flatlining economies or grind along with such low growth rates, they are hard to detect, it’s somewhat surprising that the number of people flying rose quite sharply last year and the majority of airlines made a profit. In part, this profit came from what the airlines happily call “ancillary revenue”. That’s all those hidden fees and charges they forget to tell you about until it’s too late to do anything about it. In 2011, some fifty airlines decided to break down their account to separate the revenue for the seats, from the revenue for selling all the other services like checking in the bags when you arrive at the airport. Between them, they collected $22.6 billion for doing all the stuff we thought they should be doing as part of the ticket price.


We have been caught two ways: the existing fees have been rising and the airlines have been introducing new fees. The question is how far this trend is likely to go. The leading exponents of cheap flights that are only slightly less than the full-price fares is Ryanair. Although there are many jokes about the airline, it does not actually charge people for using the onboard toilets, nor is it about to introduce vertical seating – that’s people standing at the back of the airplane. But there’s a remarkably long list of fees for priority on booking, reserving a seat, changing a flight, asking for a boarding card to be reissued, and so on. The real kickers come when you walk up to the gate and find there’s a fee for passing through with a carry-on bag (that’s a surprise organized by Sprint). No matter whether you’re booking on a full-cost legacy airline or a low-cost carrier sellingcheap flights, you should be able to see an all-in price before you make the booking. For the record, this is equally important for the business traveler who may not get reimbursed for all expenses. No matter how you book, through a travel professional, at the airline’s own ticket counter, by telephone or on the internet, prices should be transparent. Always ask before you book to avoid surprises.


Cheap flights and those hidden costs


For all the major economies in the world either have flatlining economies or grind along with such low growth rates, they are hard to detect, it’s somewhat surprising that the number of people flying rose quite sharply last year and the majority of airlines made a profit. In part, this profit came from what the airlines happily call “ancillary revenue”. That’s all those hidden fees and charges they forget to tell you about until it’s too late to do anything about it. In 2011, some fifty airlines decided to break down their account to separate the revenue for the seats, from the revenue for selling all the other services like checking in the bags when you arrive at the airport. Between them, they collected $22.6 billion for doing all the stuff we thought they should be doing as part of the ticket price.


We have been caught two ways: the existing fees have been rising and the airlines have been introducing new fees. The question is how far this trend is likely to go. The leading exponents of cheap flights that are only slightly less than the full-price fares is Ryanair. Although there are many jokes about the airline, it does not actually charge people for using the onboard toilets, nor is it about to introduce vertical seating – that’s people standing at the back of the airplane. But there’s a remarkably long list of fees for priority on booking, reserving a seat, changing a flight, asking for a boarding card to be reissued, and so on. The real kickers come when you walk up to the gate and find there’s a fee for passing through with a carry-on bag (that’s a surprise organized by Sprint). No matter whether you’re booking on a full-cost legacy airline or a low-cost carrier sellingcheap flights, you should be able to see an all-in price before you make the booking. For the record, this is equally important for the business traveler who may not get reimbursed for all expenses. No matter how you book, through a travel professional, at the airline’s own ticket counter, by telephone or on the internet, prices should be transparent. Always ask before you book to avoid surprises.


Cheap flights and those hidden costs


For all the major economies in the world either have flatlining economies or grind along with such low growth rates, they are hard to detect, it’s somewhat surprising that the number of people flying rose quite sharply last year and the majority of airlines made a profit. In part, this profit came from what the airlines happily call “ancillary revenue”. That’s all those hidden fees and charges they forget to tell you about until it’s too late to do anything about it. In 2011, some fifty airlines decided to break down their account to separate the revenue for the seats, from the revenue for selling all the other services like checking in the bags when you arrive at the airport. Between them, they collected $22.6 billion for doing all the stuff we thought they should be doing as part of the ticket price.


We have been caught two ways: the existing fees have been rising and the airlines have been introducing new fees. The question is how far this trend is likely to go. The leading exponents of cheap flights that are only slightly less than the full-price fares is Ryanair. Although there are many jokes about the airline, it does not actually charge people for using the onboard toilets, nor is it about to introduce vertical seating – that’s people standing at the back of the airplane. But there’s a remarkably long list of fees for priority on booking, reserving a seat, changing a flight, asking for a boarding card to be reissued, and so on. The real kickers come when you walk up to the gate and find there’s a fee for passing through with a carry-on bag (that’s a surprise organized by Sprint). No matter whether you’re booking on a full-cost legacy airline or a low-cost carrier sellingcheap flights, you should be able to see an all-in price before you make the booking. For the record, this is equally important for the business traveler who may not get reimbursed for all expenses. No matter how you book, through a travel professional, at the airline’s own ticket counter, by telephone or on the internet, prices should be transparent. Always ask before you book to avoid surprises.


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Cialis and the problem of aging

The title to this article says it all. No matter how we may hope to hold back time with Botox injections and face lifts, the underlying reality is a slow march to old age. As this happens, there's a natural loss of interest in sex. The rate at which this happens varies from one man to the next. But as the sixties roll on into the seventies, libido reduces and the majority of men grow less interested in sexual activity. In part, this can be lack of opportunity. Not all seniors are able to find willing partners. But there can also be medical problems. There are three more common causes. The first comes from many of the medications many take as they age. A significant number of drugs affect libido. In such cases, the only options come from detailed with discussions with your regular physician about adjusting the dosages or experimenting with alternates in the hope the side effects will be less severe.
The second cause comes from a drop in the level of testosterone. In women, hormone replacement therapy used to be considered a genuine step forward. Now there's considerable doubt about whether it's safe. Although the drugs are different, the principle that underlies the same offer to men is identical. It's suggested men benefit from topping up the level of testosterone. The medical evidence of effectiveness is unclear and it may be better just to rely on ED pills.
The third cause is depression. This is not something you may notice. You may just think you are slowing down and growing bored with the same old routines. Yet such everyday feelings can be symptoms of an underlying sadness, particularly if family and friends have been dying. It's a great temptation to go online and buy some antidepressants, yet this class of drugs is one of the worst offenders when it comes to affecting libido. The best course of treatment is always counseling. This is something you should discuss with your regular physician. Although Cialis is often effective when used by older men, it does not produce good results when depression is the cause. You may be reluctant to discuss sex with your physician but unless you ask for help, the problem is likely to get worse.

Cheap Air Tickets Don't Equate to a Lack of Safety Onboard

When shopping for cheap air tickets, there's no reason to sacrifice your safety. Luckily, with the modern requirements for airline safety, that really isn't a concern these days. There are many features on an airline which are designed to keep every passenger safe and secure, regardless of how much they paid for their tickets.
Designed for Safety
Most airplanes have safety features incorporated directly into their design. Although many of these aren't immediately obvious to the passenger, they all work together in order to keep passengers as safe as possible in the event of a crash, and minimize damage to the aircraft itself. For example, nearly every part of the airplane is fire resistant to help prevent the spread of flames, and seat cushions double as removable flotation devices in case of a water crash.
Passenger Protection
Although the seats and seatbelts on airplanes look similar to those in cars, they are rated for much higher impact tests than anything you would find in a land-based vehicle. There are also some airlines who have begun instituting seatbelt airbags for added passenger protection. Behind the scenes, every plane carries a generous amount of emergency equipment such as advanced medical kits, fire extinguishers, and even life rafts.
An Emphasis on Prevention
Meticulous maintenance standards, highly technical flight navigation systems, and extensive training programs are all part of making a safe airplane. Crews are subject to very intense emergency training procedures so they're prepared to handle just about anything, and national safety standards ensure that safety protocol is followed for both plane and crew alike. Studies show that the most common cause of airline crashes is human error, so the ultimate protection for airlines lies in thorough training and constant maintenance checks.
Ticket Prices vs. Safety
In the end, ticket prices really have no reflection on how safe the aircraft itself is. There are national requirements for safety standards on all domestic airlines. While some airline companies may exceed those minimums, they all meet the essentials to ensure a safe flight. The bottom line is that whether you bought expensive or cheap air tickets, you'll know that you're flying in a plane which carries extremely high safety standards in every respect.

Prednisone can be used to treat bad cases of sunburn


We tend to take our skin for granted, yet even the most hardy, outdoor people can find themselves in difficulties when there are no clouds in the sky and humidity levels are low. Go out without a hat and heat stroke is possible. Go out without any sunscreen and burning is possible after just a few hours of exposure to the sun. Under normal circumstances, this will heal quite quickly on its own so long as there’s no further unprotected exposure. But if you stay out in the sun too long, the chances of more serious skin problems increase sharply. At the low end, the skin dries and wrinkles. More permanent spots can develop. In the more dangerous end, skin cancer can develop.


We now come to a sad truth. The treatments do not prevent the damage to your skin. That’s up to you before you go out while the sun is up – even if there are clouds in the sky. The benefits of the available drugs fall into three main classes. First and perhaps most importantly comes pain relief. Then comes the reduction of swelling with the package completed by the elimination of inflammation. From this, you will understand the most common approach is the use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, both in cream and oral forms. These are particularly effective if you take then as soon after the burning as possible. The only real side effects to worry about are possible stomach upset. But a topical corticosteroid or oral Prednisone can be useful if your skin itches during the healing process. All the research shows that, in bad cases of sunburn, a combination of NSAID and Prednisone works better than using them independently. But do not forget that the corticosteroids can make your skin more likely to burn. If you use a corticosteroid, either stay home until you have recovered or only go out with all your body covered.


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Propecia and cultural issues

When we discuss hair loss, it's convenient to focus on purely physical causes over which we have no control. Blaming the genes is the favorite. That can't possibly be our fault and forces us into drug therapy in order to put it right. The pharmaceutical industry come in there somewhere to back us into the corner of relying on drugs, but that pretty much sums up the party line on hair loss in particular and diseases in general. If in doubt, take a pill. However, there are times when you have to look at exactly what the individual is doing and ask whether this is contributing to the initial problem. This is being written during the month of Ramadan. This is a regular part of the cycle of religious observance practiced by the Moslem community around the world. It's a way of confirming the faith by self-denial, and reinforcing the power of the family through communal celebration.
The primary change is not in the cycle of prayer but in the shift of eating habits. The general rule of observance is that no food is to be taken in the day light hours - a fast from dawn to dusk. In order to sustain the body, only two main meals are taken: iftar and suhoor. This reduces the options for the body to take in all the essential fibers and minerals required to maintain a healthy body. When it comes to hair, the first signs are a flakiness on the scalp followed by hair loss. A healthy diet reduces hair loss.
This year, the problem of poor diet is aggravated by the increased heat of summer. High temperatures and humidity aggravate hair loss. So, ignoring the question of genetic predisposition, men may be losing more hair this summer because of the coincidence of a hot summer and Ramadan. So if you are Moslem and you see significantly more hair falling at this time of year, do not assume this is androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. It's not appropriate to start Propecia without first getting a confirmed diagnosis of the cause of the problem. If the diagnosis is already confirmed but the hair loss seems to be returning at this time, do not think Propecia is failing. The weather will cool and you will begin eating a normal cycle. Your hair loss will stop.