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Saturday, 30 August 2008       

Matthew C. Keegan Profile and Articles




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251). About Writing: Just Get Started!
I rarely suffer from what writer’s complain about the most and that is: writer’s block. Oh, sure, if I must write on a subject that I am not familiar with, then a certain amount of trepidation and the occasional blankness will set in. Still, if I accept a project I do so believing that I know enough about the topic to produce a compelling piece. Wr...

252). Power Steering Pump Failure…or is it the Steering Rack?
Has your car’s power steering suddenly quit working? If so, it could be that your power steering pump has failed. The unit itself may be shot or it could be a loss of steering fluid through a bad hose that is causing the problem. Regardless, you better tend to the problem now or you will soon be struggling with steering a car that seems to be worki...

253). Big East Football: A Big Folly?
The Big East Football Conference is in the midst of experiencing its biggest changes since its founding in 1991. Gone are perennial powers Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College as well as league doormat, Temple. New to the conference are Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida. Some are calling the changes one big folly; while others believe t...

254). Environmentally Sound Automotive Air Filters
When I explain to someone that there are several lines of vehicle air filters available that are environmentally sound I usually receive a quizzical look back from that person. For some motorists the idea of environmentally compatible automotive parts is a foreign concept to them. Yet, when you think about it many parts that come standard on just a...

255). Bug Protection For Your Car
Here in the southern U.S., we residents are used to a bug population that can only make an anteater smack his lips. From about early April to the first frost, bugs outnumber people about 1000 to 1. Some would say 1 million to 1. Quite frankly, bugs are everywhere: in the yard, in the house, on your car, etc. Products containing DEET help, but they ...

256). Ford to Exit the Minivan Market?
All the car blogs lately have been speculating on the direction that the Ford Motor Company is going to take in the wake of declining sales and stiff competition. We know that Ford has too much capacity and we know that the company will be closing some key plants and laying off an as yet to be determined number of employees. What hadn’t been clear ...

257). Back to School: Shopping Tips
Back to School sales seem to start almost as soon as your kids leave school for the summer. For parents, these sales are one of the best ways to save money and save big. Let's take a look at some the ways for you to realize savings as you prepare to send your children off to school.

1. Sales. Yes, Back to School sa...

258). Knock Sensor Failure: Now What?
Bella Miller skillfully navigated her BMW 735i onto the expressway, dodging a semi that was quickly barreling down on her. Darting over to the left lane she eased up on the accelerator just enough to give herself a little bit of extra room between her car and the Blazer she was now following. Traffic was fairly heavy at this hour of the afternoon, ...

259). Airline Customer Service Careers
The US airline industry is gradually moving away from all the bloodletting that brought about the bankruptcy of four major carriers over the past several years while at the same time marked the emergence of many discount carriers into the forefront of the business. Indeed, the face of commercial aviation has changed dramatically over the past decad...

260). You Can Improve Your Car’s Power!
I can hear it now from the Prius loving, gas sipping, and bike riding crowds: a more powerful car is environmentally irresponsible. Balderdash! Not that anyone should care what others think of them, but this thought pattern is totally incorrect. Thanks to advances in automotive technology, virtually every performance part on the market will yield g...

261). Low Cost Debt Consolidation Loans
If you have debt and that debt includes two or more monthly payments to lenders at high interest rates, you do not need to be held hostage by burdensome repayment plans. Combine what you owe with a debt consolidation loan and watch your monthly payments and overall debt drop dramatically. Basically, you have two options that can help you head down ...

262). Ball Joints and Your Car's Suspension System
An important part of your car’s suspension system is its ball joints. Made of extra tough steel, ball joints act as the pivot point between two parts: the suspension and your car’s tires. Ball joints help support your car’s weight and, as is the case with some vehicles, ball joints may be used to help set the alignment. Let’s take a closer look at ...

263). North Carolina Farm Loans
If you live in North Carolina, you know that farming plays a significant role in the North Carolina economy. With just over 9 million residents, the “Old North State” features many farms producing a wide variety of agricultural products. Indeed, North Carolina is a leader in the production of tobacco, grapes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and pork; Tarh...

264). Health Insurance And Insurance Brokers
If you are in the market to purchase your own health insurance coverage you can save yourself precious time and money by shopping and comparing policies right online. Sites dedicated to giving you quotes on various types of insurance make it very easy for you to get an idea of what your coverage and costs will be. However, please be forewarned

265). You Can Examine Your Brakes
Regular brake inspections are an essential part of good automotive maintenance that can save you money and keep your car from wrapping itself around the first tree out of your driveway. Make sure that your brakes and rotors are receiving the proper maintenance by following the steps outlined. Your safety as well as that of your passengers, pedestri...

266). Write An Effective Job Proposal
I am simply amazed at the problems some of my colleagues are experiencing regarding writing job proposals for customers. So often I hear that there has been some sort of disagreement between client and service provider, something that can and should be avoided before a project is started. Here are four tips to help you write an effective job propos...

267). Saturn AURA: Turning a Corner
General Motors’ Saturn division is one of the few bright spots for the troubled U.S. automaker. As of this writing, the parent company is in the midst of plant closings, massive layoffs, and big losses. Bankruptcy may be the ultimate “out” for GM, but even if the company doesn’t choose that route, big changes are coming nevertheless. Fortunately, t...

268). Get Ready For A Compact BMW
Over the years, the entire definition of what is considered a small, medium, or large car has been turned on its side. Some people measure a car’s entire length to determine size, others take into account its wheelbase, while still others give consideration to the vehicle’s interior room. No matter, BMW is planning to import a car to the U.S. that ...

269). Bad Airline Food - Now This?!
Airline food has long been the scourge of the industry. Literally! With customer expectations low, few expect that the meal they are served onboard an airliner will rise to the level of even a family style restaurant.

On the other hand, corporate jet catering is a whole different animal. With delectable entrees, delightful soups, outst...

270). Hurricane Recovery: Financial Institutions Step It Up
We have all heard the stories of financial institutions exploiting consumers with shady practices such as exorbitant interest rates, hidden fees, and the like. These accounts anger us and, rightfully, those that practice these deeds should be exposed. Fortunately, not all reports are bad as evidenced in the way many companies are treating their cus...

271). Grier's Almanac: 200 Years of Service
One of my favorite "reads" are almanacs. From the formerly named Information Please almanac to the Old Farmer's Almanac, these handy paperback books contain a wealth of information on virtually any subject, particularly the more generalized tomes such as Information Please.

In November 2005, I ...

272). Credit Card Late Charges And How To Avoid Them
It is simply getting ridiculous the charges credit card companies are imposing on consumers who are late making payments. Yes, creditors have a legal right to do what they are doing, however ethically speaking that is certainly open to debate! Let's look at some ways you can avoid costly credit card late fees:

1. Pay your bills on t...

273). Cadillac Sixteen: Concept or Production Vehicle?
This past month I was finally able to get a first hand view of a fabulous looking concept car called the Cadillac Sixteen at the North Carolina International Automobile Show. As concepts go, the Sixteen is truly a radical looking, but thoroughly luxurious sedan that serves as a reminder of Cadillac’s past glory while incorporating a forward-looking...

274). Fuel Injectors: Time To Replace?
When it comes to squeezing out maximum fuel efficiency as well as power from your engine, properly working fuel injectors are an essential component to helping your vehicle run flawlessly. Eventually, however, like any part they do wear out. Fortunately, the selection of stock fuel injectors available on the market is wide; with a little research y...

275). Keep Your Truck Bed Clean
It was bound to happen. You lend your truck to a “friend” who says they have a couple of pieces of furniture to move and it comes back to you with scratches in the bed area of your truck. It wouldn’t have been so bad had they apologized, but now you have to deal with unsightly scratches that can only make your truck’s value deteriorate quicker. Had...

276). Toyota's Prius to be Built in China
The Toyota Prius, a car built on hybrid gas-electric technology, will soon receive a major production boost. Toyota and an undisclosed Chinese based manufacturing company have sealed a deal where the two companies will be working together to produce the Prius for worldwide export. This bodes well for the American consumer who has to endure long wai...

277). Flex Fuel Vehicles: More Choices
Owning a flex fuel vehicle gives motorists options beyond high gas prices at the pump. Depending on the fuel’s availability and local taxes, you could save as much as one third at the pump by fueling up your car with E85, the ethanol/gasoline blend popular with flex fuel vehicles. As additional service stations add flex fuel to their available fuel...

278). World Auto Production Forecast
Predicting the future is a risky proposition often filled with guesstimates and theories based on current events and hoped for consequences. At the same time, automakers are busy doing just that in anticipation of future consumer demands, emerging markets, fuel availability, and so much more. So, with all of that in mind and knowing that only God k...

279). Free Credit Reports For You
American consumers are now entitled to receive one free copy of their credit report per year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union are now all required by law to furnish to you a copy of your credit report. This is good news for consumers; please read on for additional helpful information.
...

280). Jet Aviation Sold to Permira Funds
Jet Aviation has announced that they have been sold, pending antitrust clearance, to the Permira Funds a leading international private equity specialist. Ending several years of speculation, the Zurich based operator of business jet services has finally accomplished what had long been expected: the sale of the Hirschmann family business to outsider...

281). Asian Cars: Auto Manufacturers to Watch
The Asian automobile manufacturing market is much broader than many American consumers understand it to be. Beyond Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, and other household names there are quite a few automakers that are growing in size and respectability in their own markets. Two of these companies have already committed to selling their models in the U.S., but...

282). Cargo Liner Essentials and Information
The proliferation of available pick up trucks on the market has yielded quite a few useful aftermarket accessories to enhance the ownership experience. Trucks from Ford, Chevrolet/GMC, Dodge, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are all being marketed to businesses as well as to individuals who prize the versality of these types of vehicles. If you own a pick...

283). Green Air Filters For Your Car
Alright, all you soy sipping, yogurt eating, diet doing, hybrid driving, environmentally eccentric folks from Vancouver: listen up. You may be causing more damage to the environment than you already know. How so? Your Audi’s air filter, that’s how. Yes, it is true: if you keep your car long enough you will be performing under-the-hood maintenance w...

284). Famous Ford Flops
American automakers sometimes take the brunt of the criticism for producing models that are ugly, useless, or even downright dangerous. Ford has had its share of beasts through the years in addition to several winners including the current Mustang for which demand cannot be met. For the fun of it let’s take a look at some of the Ford models that ha...

285). Counterfeit Auto Parts: A Global Epidemic
Recent concerns about U.S. port control have been focusing on the possibility that American ports will be used as a conduit for terrorists to attack America. What many people do not realize is that only about 5% of all containers going through our port system have their contents inspected by authorities. That means a full 95% of the containers neve...

286). Article Writing: Your Personal Library of Books
We write and we write well. At least we hope that we do. Still, we writers need our own library of “go to” books to help us write with strength, market our wares, and simply to inspire us to greater works. I’ve compiled a brief list of useful books for the serious article writer’s library. Some I own, while others I plan on buying.

...

287). Brake Calipers, Car Blogs, and You
If you are big fan of the internet, as I am, you likely appreciate having access to much of the information you read online. Where else can you find information that is accurate, easily obtainable, and above all else: free? The library, perhaps. Still, reading some of the car blogs out there can be a risky proposition especially if you are prone to...

288). Hurricane Katrina Recovery: The Price of Rebuilding
President Bush and a number of other politicians are pushing for a huge rebuilding campaign for the devastated gulf coast region. Bottom figure estimates have the rebuilding costs pegged at 200 billion dollars while some have said that when it is all said and done the project will exceed one trillion dollars. Certainly, this will be the most massiv...

289). Chrysler 300C: The Stretched Version
As automakers go, developing well received models is a chore all by itself. When a model becomes a hit, as has the Chrysler 300C, the result is favorable press coverage, high customer satisfaction ratings, and a “halo” effect that can extend to the entire product line. Chrysler’s 300C is a hit, but the German-American automaker isn’t stopping there...

290). Article Marketing: Dress Up Your Own Site
Article directories are a great way to submit high quality articles, have webmasters pick them up, and for you to reap great back links to your site. Still, all directories have restrictions and these restrictions can limit the number of quality links you put within the body of your article or strip them out entirely. If you run your own site, thes...

291). Yes, You Can!
If you are an entrepreneur, you know that your success cannot depend on the opinions of others. Like the wind, opinions change...like the weather, opinions change frequently. To succeed at any endeavor, you must stay the course...no matter what the cost! Here are some surefire tips to help you on your journey.

1. Avoid Negati...

292). 4 Tips Toward Making Resolutions That Matter!
Turning the calendar over is an excuse to make personal resolutions for the coming year. It is also a way to bring about certain frustration for you if the goals that you set for yourself are unreachable, unattainable, or just something you have no interest in doing. Making resolutions can be done at any time of the year, but if you have been think...

293). Brand Dilution: GM's Real Problem
Throughout General Motor's post World War II history, the company has managed to sell various products across its entire line up, thereby offering visitors to its showrooms a wide variety of models. This custom of "brand dilution" was an acceptable practice at GM, Ford, and Chrysler for several generations, but the practice has had its pitfalls.

294). Driving New Cars For Free: Is There A Catch?
Advertisers have seized upon a new way to get the word out about their products: slap their ads on your vehicle. Actually, this isn’t an entirely new way to promote products as it has been in the experimental stages for years in limited markets. Now, however, the practice has become so widespread that companies around the globe are doing it. Soon, ...

295). Mercedes E-Class: Harnessing The Wow Factor
Mercedes is about to release its all new E-Class to the European market this spring, with its North American debut scheduled for some time in the fall. Fresh on the heels of its successful launch of the all new S-Class, Mercedes is pinning much on these two lines to help turn their fortunes around. Indeed, Mercedes has found itself in the uncomfort...

296). Mercedes: Just How Low Should It Go?
Back during the 1980s when Mercedes introduced its first “baby” Mercedes, the car was received with mixed reviews. Motorists loved the car, now a “C” series model, as it made a Mercedes automobile affordable for the middle class. On the other hand, critics worried that the esteemed Mercedes-Benz name would suffer as a car touching the price level o...

297). NC Railroad Museum Enthralls Kids Young & Old Alike
Situated in the heart of central North Carolina along the border of Wake and Chatham counties, just thirty minutes south of Raleigh, is the North Carolina Railroad Museum / New Hope Valley Railway. Featuring steam and diesel locomotives as well as various boxcars, flatcars, and the like, the museum / railway has been entertaining train fans ...

298). Chinese Cars: Arrival Delayed!
Over the past year, much has been written about various Chinese automakers and the pending introduction of their vehicles to the U.S. market. Manufacturers such as Chery and Geely have been mentioned most frequently with a few smaller automakers also receiving some press. Originally, it appeared that both manufacturers would import their vehicles s...

299). You Can Change Your Car's Timing Belt
So, how is your car's timing belt doing? Have you changed it lately? If, ever? If not, you must make certain that the timing belt hasn’t been driven too many miles or you could be driving on borrowed time. Typically, a timing belt will last anywhere from about 60,000 miles to just over 100,000 miles; your owner's manual will spell that information ...

300). Types of Air Filters for Your Vehicle
How often do you replace your car’s air filter? Every 10 thousand miles? 12K? 15K? During the life of your car – assuming you plan on keeping your vehicle for many years – you could easily go through 8, 10, even 15 or more air filters. Of course, that is if you choose to purchase disposable air filters every time your shop. However, did you know th...

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