Gasoline powered vehicle

As the name implies, a gasoline powered vehicle uses a combustion engine as a source of power. It has a fuel tank that supplies gasoline to the engine which drives the transmission and turns the wheels. 

Pros

With a single full tank, a gasoline-powered vehicle can run several times longer than an electric car.

A gallon of gasoline is much denser than batteries in terms of energy. For example, 1 gallon of gasoline (7 pounds) produces the same amount of power as 1000 pounds of batteries.

It can keep up with the traffic on the road.

You have the widest car options. From compact to full-size sedan, from pickup trucks to SUVs, from minivans to luxury cars, you can jump from one car dealer to another and still get the best car varieties.

You can also choose from different types and sizes of engines.

Cons

With the soaring prices of fuel, getting a gas tank full is very expensive. Combustion engine wastes a lot of energy and consumes a lot of fuel. It also emits pollutants that contribute to the depletion of the environment.

Electric vehicle

An electric vehicle has a battery that supplies power to the electric motor, which then drives the transmission and turns the wheels.

Pros

Since it does not consume fuel, an electric vehicle emits no toxic fumes which is good news for the environment.

Although the battery pack is expensive, electric power is cheaper as compared to pump prices.

Cons

The battery can power the car short distances on a single charging. 

Batteries of an electric car take several hours to charge.

Electric cars cannot keep up with the traffic.

Its top speed is slower than gasoline cars.

Hybrid Car - Problem solved

Hybrid cars get the best of both engines. It uses both an electric motor and a combustion engine to drive the vehicle. That means that a hybrid can either run on an electric motor and use the advantages of an electric car, or run on a combustion engine and use the edge of a gasoline powered car. Or, it can run on both at the same time. Depending on the type of hybrid car, you can have the best fuel efficiency with a performance similar or even better than its non-hybrid counterpart. 

Charity auction are widely used as a tool to effectively raise funds for a cause. A charity auction works the same as other types of auctions. The main difference is that this auction is a non-profit event and the proceeds of all the items that are sold goes to a common cause.

There are two types of auctions used on a fundraising event: Silent auction and regular auction.

Silent auctions are conducted by setting up a table or a display where all the auction goods will be shown for people to bid on. A minimum bid may or may not be set. A piece of paper is located near the items where participants can write the amount of their bid together with their name. At the end of the auction, the bid is calculated and the person who casts the highest bid wins the item. This is often a better choice for fundraising organizers as it does not detract people from the entertainment.

Bids can be kept privately throughout the auction or can be displayed through a bidding sheet. In a ‘private silent auction’, all the previous bids are not revealed in public. The good thing about ‘private silent auction’ is that, it keeps the bidders clueless on other bids. In theory, if a person does not know how much the bids of others are, the tendency is to give the highest amount he or she is willing spend on a particular item. And since it is for a cause, money will definitely come easy.

On a ‘displayed-bid silent auction’ a sheet of paper reveals all the previous bids made by other people. This allows bidders to watch a particular item or items they like and place higher bids, to write down the amount higher than the previous bid, or to write down the highest bid before the auction closes. This method is currently being used by almost all internet auction sites including eBay.

A regular auction on the other hand requires an auctioneer who will call the price from people who raise their hands or numbers to bid. A regular auction takes advantage of impulse buying as bidders only have a few seconds to outbid each other. If the auctioneer is good and the competition is present, items can be sold higher that their original value.

When executed properly, both silent auction and regular auction effectively yield a good result.

Cooking for a party can be such a taxing ordeal. You will be preparing food for a more people with little time. But party cooking can still be easy if you know how to manage things. With a few tricks up your sleeve you can cook for your party with ease.  Here are some few hints that can make your party cooking a smashing success:

1. You do not need to do all the party cooking   Parties are about having friends around, and if people who are coming to your party are indeed friends, you can ask them to lend a hand. You can ask them to bring some food items or you can ask them to help you in the kitchen. An extra hand can easily make things easier and more fun.

2. Plan your menu way ahead of the party   You have to know what to cook at least two weeks before the party. This can help you calculate how much you need so that you are sure that there will be enough for everybody. Buying enough is also important so that you won’t have to make those annoying last-minute shopping trips because you ran out of supplies.

3. Cook ahead   A lot of party foods can actually be cooked ahead of time. Check your menu for food items that can be cooked a few days before the party itself. This way, you’ll have fewer items when the big day comes. You just need to thaw or reheat the pre-cooked items and serve them at the party.

4. Pre-measure   For the items that you can’t cook ahead of time, you can just measure the ingredients ahead of time. The night before, place the ingredients in accessible containers so that on the day of the party you just need to cook them and not waste time with the preparations.

Party cooking may appear to be overwhelming but the hustle and bustle is all in your mind. If you plan well and stick to your strategy, you can manage to make party cooking not only easy, but fun as well. Try out these hints for your next party and witness how things go smoothly. And the most important of all is for you to enjoy because the party is after all for fun. This will ensure the success of your cooking and the success of your party.

Becoming a chef is a serious undertaking, so if you’re planning to embark on a full time career, start with a strong resume.  Your resume is your ticket to some of the best exposures for internship, training, experience and promotion.  Here’s how to build a chef resume that will highlight your expertise and get you noticed:

Mind the form.

Resumes, regardless of the chef position you’re applying for, should follow a standard form.  Take note of the proper margins on all sides, fonts and format.  After the heading, which contains your name, address and contact information, write down your education and training.  Include all certifications you have earned that are related to your chosen career. 

Next, outline your experience as a chef.  Include the dates, name of establishments and your positions.  Write your experience as a chef and highlight your management skills. 

Show your skills

Your resume should be a short but concise showcase of your skills and abilities as a chef so make sure they are included in detail.  Do you have extraordinary accomplishments as a chef at a fine dining restaurant?  Include that in your resume.  Make sure to highlight your special tenures or work experiences, especially in excellent and reputable establishments and use bullet points if necessary. 

Mention achievements such as increasing business and saving costs for the restaurants you’ve worked.  Potential employers like to see that you have the ability to attract new business and maintain old ones.  They also want to see that you are cost conscious and are capable of implementing cost-efficient measures without sacrificing quality.

Mention words that are related to your cooking skills and include those that highlight your management experience such as quality control, menu planning and selection and staff training.  Your resume should show that you are capable of handling a group and managing day-to-day activities in the kitchen.

Mention your special skills and abilities.

Your certification is a good source of information about your extra skills but it’s best to include a separate portion of your resume that will highlight your special abilities.  If you are aware of kosher and halal dietary laws, write it down. 

If you are knowledgeable about wine and spirits or can speak Italian, French or German, don’t be shy about mentioning it.  Don’t forget to mention your affiliations and memberships.  Your chef’s resume should show that you can do more than just man the kitchen and that you can actually interact with your customers.

 Never lie about anything.

It’s easy to check your references as a chef and whatever exaggerations you make on your resume will be found out, sooner or later.  Best stick to the facts.

Pasta is a favorite all around the world. It comes in different shapes and lengths, everything that to suit the occasion or your own preferences. Cooking pasta is easy to do, but always be careful to get the best results.

Fill a pot with water. Pasta should be cooked in a lot of water. Set it to boil to cook the pasta. After the water begins boiling, add salt. It will take longer since salty water usually boils at a higher temperature. The salt that you will add will depends on your personal taste. Never forget to add salt, remember, Italians never forget this. Once the water starts to boil slowly add the pasta.

The pasta will start to soften in a few seconds. Use a long fork to push the pasta into the water. Make sure that it is fully submerged. At this time the water temperature has fallen.

Cover the pot with a lid and quickly boil the water again. It is important that the pot is covered since it boils fast. Do this to prevent the water from splashing out. Never leave the pot unattended, the splashing of water can douse out the gas and possibly start a fire.

Then continue cooking the pasta, this time uncovered. Stir with a long fork to separate each and every piece of pasta.

When it comes to how long the cooking time will be, read the manufacturers instructions, but to make sure, the best thing to do is to test a piece. The Italian expression, al dente, refers to the proper cooking of pasta or when it is soft yet still firm and not overcooked.

If you notice dots or thin white lines in the middle of the pasta, then it isn’t done yet, just test from time to time until the broken piece turns to a translucent yellow.

If the texture is translucent yellow, you can drain using a colander but make sure that it is in a secure position

Stop the cooking process by pouring cold tap water over it; remember that the pasta is continuously cooking even after it’s drained, this way it won’t be served extremely hot. But be careful not to overdo it, remember that you aren’t washing the pasta.

Gently shake the colander to drain the pasta. Lastly, you can now put the pasta in a bowl and serve. Put on the sauce, dressing or cheese, and enjoy.

An item is considered sold once auctioned

Chances are the items will be bought once listed at an auction. The fact that it is being auctioned means that it has some good market value and this value could increase depending on the bidders. The buyers will always find good reasons to buy the item presented to them even if they may have no intention of doing so.

All buyers are willing to bid

There is no other way for potential buyers to get the item they want but to bid at an auction. Thus the seller has the assurance that his items and properties will be sold at the end of the day.

Quick disposal of items

Probably one of the fastest ways to sell things, auction gives the sellers the advantage of fast disposal of the merchandise. Once an item is presented to the crowd, someone will always be willing to get hold of it. This then will cut the expenses on maintenance, taxes, and even inventory costs.

Assurance of true market value

The market value is the price that is both competitive and acceptable to the buyers. If the price is bid, this means that the true market value of the item is being given therefore; there is no way for the auctioneer or the seller not to get the price that is fair for the item. 

Accelerated sale

Unlike when a car is sold individually or a foreclosed home is negotiated between the owner of the property, the broker and the willing buyer, items being auctioned only need a moderator to announce the item and the buyers will bid on it. This makes the sale both efficient and fast. The process eliminates the negotiation or the waiting process.

Accurate information

Unlike with the conventional way of selling on the open market, auctions give the seller the assurance that his property will be sold at a certain time.

Buyers are qualified

Registration is a typical part of any auction. The potential buyer has to first register an account that would enable him to bid on the auction and would give the seller the assurance that the potential buyers have the capacity to pay.

Why is there such hype regarding auctions? What’s so good about them and what do people get from them that they don’t normally get from other forms of buying?

Half of Americans, according to the study conducted by the National Auctioneers Association, have seen or attended an auction. This means that auctions are fairly popular among Americans and that the majority of people often prefer to trade through auctions, like in EBay and other live auctions rather than in the actual market.

Why? Because first, it is one of the most exciting ways to get the best deals (according to the 83% of all the people surveyed), second, great value for items is often offered to the buyers (this according to more than half of the respondents), and third, buyers are satisfied with the prices they pay at the auctions. Apart from these reasons, there are several others including the following:

Speed of Buying

Most types of auctions are timed so the buyers are pressured to bid their price before the time runs out. This alone gives the excitement for both observers and bidders. Also, buying at an auction offers a fast transaction. Its core rule: give the highest bid and you win the item.

Chance for the buyer to establish his own price

While items at auction usually have reserve prices, auctions still let the bidders decide the highest and lowest value of the items. Thus, the control for pricing is given to the bidders and the real market value of the merchandise is evaluated.

Getting the fair market value

Fair market value comes from the transactions between a willing buyer and a willing seller. In the structure of auction, it is obvious that people participating in it, the sellers and the buyers, get the fair market value of the property or the item they are buying.

Guaranteed sale for both the buyer and the seller

Bidders come to auction with the intent of buying an item and sellers go to auctions to make money off their property. Thus, both parties have the assurance that they will have their intentions satisfied. So it is rare, if not impossible, to have cases where any of the two individuals back out from the transaction since an agreement at auction is legally binding.

It eliminates tedious negotiations

Auctions do not need negotiations between buyers and sellers. If the bidder wins the highest bid, he gets the item whether the seller agrees to the price or not.

Going camping is always exciting. And among the most thrilling part of the great outdoors is cooking in it. Nothing compares being able to commune with nature as you savor the earths gifts. It may seem tricky for some, but outdoor cooking is easier than most people think. After all, our human ancestors have done it for thousands of years. Here are some great tips for outdoor cooking:

Poke holes in those burgers   To cook burgers on the grill perfectly, poke a hole the size of your pinky in the center of the patty. This will help cook the burger evenly. Don’t worry that you might end up with a meat donut, the hole will close up slowly as the meat cooks and you will end up with perfect burgers.

Marvel at the wonders of the Dutch oven   Perhaps the most incomparable tool you have for outdoor cooking is the Dutch oven. This deep pot made of cast iron does wonders in the great outdoors and can create the most wonderful dishes you can have outside your kitchen. You can make stews, casseroles and other wonderful things with this beauty.

Be sure to keep covered   It is important to cover your pots and pans while cooking outdoors. This helps prevent heat from escaping especially during those cold days and nights. It also keeps foreign objects from getting into your food. You don’t want crickets or grasshoppers in your stew, do you?

Make a garbage omelet on your last day camping   To easily clean up your cooler or portable fridge, make an omelet on your last day. Put in all the leftovers from your previous camping days and you’ll end up with a clean cooler without wasting anything.

The foil is your best friend   Aluminum foil plays a great role in outdoor cooking. You can use it to wrap food such as fish, potatoes, meat, and vegetables for nice and even cooking that helps keep delicious juices intact. You can use it to cover dishes so that you just have to peel instead of wash. You can also use a fist-sized ball of foil to clean the grill.

Outdoor cooking can be a thrilling experience with the right knowledge at hand. Try these tips in the great outdoors and see how good your cooking can be.

Any successful event needs careful planning. If you are hosting a fundraising auction, you should sit down, talk with your team, and plan for the event.

Gather the Auction Goods

Items that will be put on sale may not be expensive and of the same kind. They can be things like handicrafts, trips, commemorative items, sports or concert tickets, and gift certificates among others.

Set the stage

A fundraising auction can be mixed with other event such as Sunday garden cookout, or spaghetti a dinner, or wine and cheese party. Prepare everything from food, chairs, tables, bid numbers, and stage. Your venue should be ideal to the event. If you are holding it indoors, decorations are essential.

If you are holding it outdoors, check the weather forecast. Have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. The last thing you would want is for the event to be suspended due to weather or any avoidable disaster. Nonetheless, as long as you have a good venue and people ready to shed some money for a good cause, you’ll be fine.

Let it be Known

Have the invitation set. The people that will attend the auction are the people you will expect to bid the give away money without any hesitations. So when inviting people, it is important to talk to them personally and explain what the auction is all about, its goals and mission. Understanding that the proceeds of the auction will go to a good cause will increase the possibility of getting higher bids. Do not forget to print out invitations and auction brochures or catalogues to be given away to the invited people before the bidding starts.

Get a Good Auctioneer

One secret to a successful fundraising auction is to have a lively auctioneer. He or she may not be a professional or a fast talker; a good auctioneer has to be someone who can stand on the podium and get the crowd going. Because an enthused crowd may buy anything, even the most unlovable object will be sold for a considerable amount. Get it from your group member who has the talent and skill to connect with anyone.

Hosting an action is one of the most effective ways to raise money for a good cause. If you are tasked to prepare for one, use this as a guide to make sure that the auction is a success.

Campfires have been traditionally used for cooking for as long as man discovered fire.  Since it’s such an old cooking technique, you’d think that campfire cooking would have been mastered by now.  Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.  It is still as tricky as ever.  Add to that the complication that some parks impose by banning campfires in some areas.  But if you’re lucky enough to get your chance at campfire cooking, here are tips you can use for your own safety and cooking enjoyment:

Bring the grill

Most campsites have onsite grills but it’s always best to ask.  Grilling is the best and simplest method you can use for campfire cooking.  This method uses direct heat, so it’s best utilized for smaller cuts of meat, hamburgers, sausages, toast and barbeques.  It’s important to pay close attention to the food while grilling it because this method employs direct heat.  Food can get burned or catch fire easily.

Another type of cooking you can use with a campfire is roasting, perfect for skewered meats, chicken, hotdogs, sausages and marshmallows.  Using skewers (preferably metal to avoid burning), you can cook food over your campfire.  In a few minutes, you should be ready to eat.

Prepare the food

The secret to successful campfire cooking is to have the food prepared before going on your trip.  This helps you enjoy your time more and saves you a lot of effort from trying to cut, chop or grind your ingredients.  If the food is prepared beforehand, you can get cooking as soon as the campfire is ready.

Be practical

Some things that we associate with campfire cooking may not be plausible, such as a pot of soup that hangs over the flames.  If set up using found wood, it might prove to be unstable and also difficult to build.  If you truly want to use things like this for your campfire, make sure you know the right techniques to use for safe cooking.  If all else fails, use a metal rigging to secure the pot in place or just avoid it entirely.

Use ingredients that are easy to cook

Campfire cooking shouldn’t take hours for just a piece of steak.  Use recipes that are tried and tested.  If you must experiment, have a backup plan.  Choose recipes that you know will succeed with and make sure they will cook easily.  Try stuffed fish, bacon wrapped steaks, buttered corn on the cob, sliced vegetables, roast beef or pork with prepared sauce and top with fresh fruits, pies or tarts.