In the UK, car crime is a depressingly common occurrence - and partly responsible for the price we pay for car insurance. But there are plenty of security measures that can easily be taken to help prevent you from becoming a victim - and what’s more, some of these measures could also get you a reduction in the cost of car insurance.

1. Car Alarm

Car alarms aren’t just about waking the neighbours at three in the morning when a big lorry trundles past, they’re also about alerting you to the fact that some unscrupulous so-and-so could be meddling with your motor. Although they can’t physically stop a car (or valuables kept inside) from being stolen, a thief will likely think twice before tackling a set of wheels that he or she knows will get everyone’s attention if the alarm’s set off. The threat of a piercing sound and flashing lights is a powerful deterrent, and some alarms also come with a pager to alert you if they are activated. Most modern cars come pre-equipped with an alarm, but if you drive an older vehicle, getting an alarm professionally fitted will help secure your car and could result in cheaper car insurance.

2. Car Immobiliser

An immobiliser is an electronic device which prevents a car from being started by someone who doesn’t have the proper key. Although an immobiliser won’t stop a car from being broken into, it may stop it from being stolen. And even if a thief can somehow start an immobilised car, the extra time this would take would very likely dissuade them from even attempting it. Since 8 October 1998, all new UK cars have had immobilisers fitted as standard, but if you drive an older car, getting an immobiliser professionally fitted will help secure your car and could mean cheaper car insurance.

3. Car Tracking Systems

Car tracking systems require a transmitter to be hidden in your car. If stolen, the vehicle can then be tracked and recovered. There are two main types of tracker: GPS systems can find your car whilst it’s at street level, and VHF systems can find your car even if it’s hidden in an underground car park or storage container. However, tracking systems can be quite expensive, often requiring a significant monthly subscription charge.

4. Steering Locks/Gearstick & Handbrake Locks

These tough metal locking devices prevent the steering wheel, gearstick or handbrake from being used when the car is not in use. They are relatively cheap to buy (prices start at around £20), but in general, the more you pay, the better the security. Although not impenetrable to a seasoned car thief, the real value of these locks is as a visual deterrent. Their bright colour (sometimes with flashing lights) lets a thief know that this car will take longer to pinch, so they may as well move along and try their luck on an easier steal.

5. Secure Parking

If your home has a driveway, or better still a garage, then use it. Cars parked off-street are far less likely to be stolen than those parked on the road. When away from home, try and leave your car in a secure car park - one with a ticket barrier or attendant. If you have to park on the street, do so in a busy, well-lit area, and if at all possible, beneath the gaze of a CCTV camera.

6. Hide Valuables

It’s not just car thieves you have to worry about, there are plenty of crooks out there who are simply after your valuables. Therefore, never leave expensive goodies out on display within your car - it’s just too tempting for the opportunistic thief. Sat Navs, mobile phones, CDs, laptops, briefcases, jackets and sunglasses are all fair game - so make sure you hide them out of sight in the glove compartment or boot.

7. Don’t Forget to Lock Your Car

This may seem like a no-brainer, but plenty of cars get stolen as a result of forgetful owners. Even if you’re only leaving the car for a short while - at a petrol station, for instance - your vehicle, or any valuables left on the seat, are at a very real risk of theft. The same goes for windows and sunroofs - always close them when you leave the car, no matter how short a time you’re away (the exception, of course, is if you have a pet on board - in which case just leave a small gap). But worse than leaving a car unlocked is leaving a car unlocked and with the key still in the ignition - that’s just making a car thief’s job too easy. So try and get into the habit of checking the door handles every time you leave the car. One more thing - once you get home, don’t leave the car keys on a table near your front door. Thieves have been known to pop a coat hanger through the letterbox to hook the key ring.

8. Marking/Etching

Marking and Etching are ways of stamping your car with a unique identifier. Marking can be as basic as writing on various parts with an ‘invisible’ ultra-violet pen, or as sophisticated as covering the car with thousands of micro dots - each encoded with your identifiable details. Etching involves ingraining your car’s serial number or registration number into the windows and light covers of your car. Of course, none of these methods will stop your car being stolen, but they can act as a deterrent and will certainly help make it more recoverable if stolen.

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And finally…if you’re thinking of buying a car, you can get an idea of how safe and secure it is by checking out its Thatcham New Car Security Rating. And don’t forget to protect your car even further by covering it with comprehensive car insurance.

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By Roy Whitman

“Unspoiled.” “Untouched.” “Wilderness.” These are just a few of the words that accurately describe the state of Alaska. While Alaska cruises are one excellent way to see much of what this amazing region has to offer, they typically don’t do justice to the magnitude of nature found here. It takes venturing inland to unlock the magic that is truly Alaska.

A full 15 percent of this state is legally designated as wilderness areas. And, because the citizens of Alaska reside primarily in a few compact cities, much of the state is occupied solely by wildlife. It’s not desolate; it’s natural, filled with intriguing animals of all sorts that live freely in this rugged landscape.

Denali National Park

Denali means “Great One,” and the name fits! Home of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America, this giant stretches over 20,000 feet into the sky. But this isn’t the only great sight in the park. Equally as impressive are the glacial landscape and the “Big Five” wildlife inhabitants: grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep and moose.

This park is truly “organic” in that it has been maintained to serve its original residents: the animals. One road moves vehicle traffic in and out of the park to preserve order. Look around. Take a deep breath. “Back to nature” has never been a more appropriate saying than when you’re standing in the midst of Denali National Park.

Kluane National Park

One of the largest international land preserves on earth, Kluane National Park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A frozen tundra; Kluane boasts the highest mountain in Canada - Mt. Logan - as well as some of the largest and thickest glaciers in the world.

With rivers of ice, vast ice fields and massive glaciers, Kluane is typically blanketed with a solid layer of frozen water including glaciers that are up to one mile thick. It is truly like walking into a land before time.

Alaska Railroad

Cruise ships are the best way to visit numerous destinations however, they have one drawback. They do require water in order to operate. Since inland Alaska is far from the ocean’s shore, you’ll simply need to transfer to another delightful form of transportation: The Alaska Railroad.

Reaching from Seward to Fairbanks, you’ll enjoy the view of incredible scenery as you gaze through large picture windows. This form of luxury rail travel is complete with dining car, viewing deck, upper-level dome area, restrooms and comfortable seating.

With multiple tours with varying prices, it’s easy to escape to the inland areas of Alaska that you would have otherwise missed.

When you’re planning your next Alaska tour, look for cruise lines that offer inland Alaska excursions. You’ll experience the wonder and excitement only discovered by those who venture into the depths of this land that is still wild at heart.

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Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com offering the best deals including
Princess cruises. © 2009, All Rights Reserved

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People nowadays spend a lot of time taking care of how they look. Not everybody is blessed with smooth and straight hair. The texture and strength of our hair is determined by our genes and the climate of where we live. Hair straighteners have revolutionized the way we style our hair. They use efficient combinations of heat and pressure to smoothen all kinds of hair. The way it works is pretty simple. Strands of hair are placed between two pieces of metal which undergo controlled heating for a specific time. The usage needs to be regulated or else it may lead to possible hair damage.

The hair straightener went through various forms before it attained the easy to use model, which is used now. Heated hair combs and clothing irons were among the earliest efforts at hair styling using heat. Special combs which had heating arrangements were brushed through the hair. The irons of those times were pretty unsafe as neither were they small enough to be handled easily nor did they have any specific heat control measures. Rods were first used in the late 1800’s when a Parisian named Marcel Rateau introduced the possibility. The official patent is registered with Issac K. Shero who got two pieces of iron and put hair between them.

They way heat acts on our hair is pretty interesting. Hydrogen bonds in the hair cortex causes misshapen hair which tends to become curly. Applying heated metallic rods over them breaks those bonds letting them go straight. It allows us to make the hair bend in the desired styles as per the rod alignment. As for the material used for the heating rods, it has been changing since we started using them. Earlier versions used aluminium. Nowadays tourmaline and ceramics are preferred due to their better performance. Hair straighteners with a layer of ceramic provide even distributions of heat. They are recommended over their cheap alternatives, which can cause more damage than style. We should consider their usage as a privilege to be restricted for special occasions. Daily heat impact on your hair will make it suffer irrespective of how much you spent.

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If you enjoy styling you hair and creating the most fashionable looks everyday, then make sure you have a pair of ghd hair straighteners. Treat your hair to the best hair straighteners then you can straighten, flick, curl and wave your hair as well as add shine everyday! Just visit www.ghdhair.com to get you genuine ghd hair straighteners now.

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