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There have been many trends and styles that have become very popular in the graphic design industry over the past 4 or 5 years. You can see the trends and styles in the mainstream magazines, online networks and portals that showcase the best of every niche in the design field. Photo illustration has a style that is sought after by many employers, commissioners & art buyers.

I quite liked her work and felt inspired by her colourful use of shapes & swirls, which are quite popular among many of the newer designers in the industry right now. She is a lover of music and tends to work with people in the music industry, which is useful. I can see that she clearly enjoys what she does, as her passion is clearly evident in her work.

I happened to come across one particular artist who I feel represents this style very well. Luca Molnar is a young graphic designer who is currently based in Hungary and operates as a freelancer, doing commissions and projects for a variety of companies.

Luca is busy with a number of projects at the moment and she currently has work with international clients. She is based in Hungary, but deals with clients in the UK, USA and beyond. After taking a look at her portfolio I saw a distinct style emerge and particularly enjoyed viewing her recent works for her latest US clients. She produces logos, stationary, letterheads, posters, adverts web sites etc., so pretty much all areas are covered.

In terms of her work, she has a beautiful style which consists of a heavy use of swirls and feminine touches. Viewing her work was actually an enjoyable experience and it definitely has a feel good factor that reminds of a UK designer called Radim Malinic.

She currently has a number of portfolios online. I found her on the Behance network, she has a Twitter profile, a blog with all of her latest news, a You Tube account and a PNWorlwide portfolio.

You can find features and interviews on Luca on various websites. Her recent work was featured on Blur Design’s site and she was recently featured on PNWorldwide, including an interview. If you would like to hire Luca, you can do so by going to her site or portfolios online, she is available for freelance work and commissions of all types. You can also follow her blog feeds or Twitter feeds to keep up to date with her activities.

Find better ways to build your own well known unique great graphic design portfolio and find a host of top professionals by viewing their illustrations.

The Ontario Companies Branch of the Ministry of Government Services issues Certificates of Status for companies incorporated in Ontario. A Certificate of Status, Certificate of Good Standing or a Certificate of Compliance are different names for the same thing and the name depends on the province or territory in which you request it. Any company in the World can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from its country, province or territory of origin.

Certificates of Status are issued when you need to provide some institution or person with confirmation that your Ontario company is in good standing and is up-to-date in its filings.

If you obtain an Ontario Certificate of Status it will show the following: (a) the current name of the corporation; (b) the number assigned to the corporation by the government called the Ontario Corporation Number; and (b) whether or not the corporation is in good standing.

All Ontario companies have to file a federal tax return within six months of the financial year end of the company in each year. If returns are not filed the tax department will request the Ontario Companies Branch to dissolve the company. If a Certificate of Status is ordered for a dissolved company it will not be clear.

Your Ontario corporation will be dissolved by the Ministry of Government Services if the annual returns are not filed. If you wish to order a Certificate of Status then you must ensure the annual returns are up-to-date or you will not receive a Certificate indicating the corporation is in good standing.

When an Ontario Certificate of Status is issued for a corporation and the certificate shows that the company is not in good standing because of some filing it has not made, money is not refunded. It will be necessary for that corporation to update its filings before it can receive a Certificate of Status which indicates the corporation is in good standing. These certificates are costly because the government charges more to certify any kind of document. The corporation will then have to ensure all of its filings are up-to-date in order to obtain the Certificate of Status it needs. It is a good idea to know before the Ontario Certificate of Status is ordered whether the corporation has done all of its annual return filings. If the corporation has not filed all of its federal tax returns it can still obtain an Ontario Certificate of Status just as long as too many years have not gone by and the corporation has then been dissolved.

In my experience sometimes individuals are not clear on the document they need to obtain. An individual may wish to determine who the directors and officers are of a company. In this case an Ontario Corporate Profile is required rather than a Certificate of Status.

If your corporation is selling or buying property, is entering into a major contract, wants to register a car against the corporation, a Certificate of Status might be requested by the law firm, by the government or the bank involved. Any corporation might be asked for confirmation that it has made its proper filings and be requested to provide a Certificate of Status.

Resources for Canadian Business Owners provides information about Certificates of Compliance and other legal products including Ontario Company Searches.

While a majority of automakers are bailing out of the Tokyo Motor Show, it is nice to see that there will indeed be a few new models to look at when it comes to be show time. One such vehicle will be a special edition sports car from he light weight English race car builders at Lotus. While the boffins from across the pond have already engineered every unnecessary ounce out of the Exige in the hopes of creating a hard core driving experience, this particularly dark model focuses on making the little Lotus as sinister looking as it is lethal. The special edition Tokyo Motor Show Lotus Exige is named the Scura, which is the Italian word for dark, due to its dramatic black bodywork and a GT3 inspired rear end.

Priced at around $75,000 the Exige Scura features a trio of Phantom Black stripes to break up the large panels of matte black paint, however the carbon fiber bits and suede wrapped racing buckets go a bit further towards showing off the Scura’s true purpose of being an all out competition vehicle. Only now instead of laughing at bright orange bodywork, other drivers will stay out of this Lotus’ way. Like all Exige models the Scura is powered by a supercharged four cylinder engine that delivers a maximum output of 257 HP 174 lb-ft of torque, while it can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in only 4 seconds and reach a top speed of 152 MPH.

Lotus Cars unveils its latest special edition - the Exige Scura, so called due to its dramatic matt black and carbon fibre theme, at the Tokyo International Motorshow on 21st of October 2009.

Translated as ‘dark’ from Italian, the name ‘Scura’ reflects the stealth character of this already fierce looking Lotus and its stunning soft-feel matt black paint finish. Limited to just 35 cars globally, this Exige evokes a desire to ‘indulge your dark side’. This is a serious looking car and enhancements to performance and a reduction in weight from the production level Exige S means that the Exige Scura demands to be driven by a serious driver.

Contrasting high gloss ‘Phantom Black’ triple stripes run the length of the car and a carbon fibre front splitter, oil cooler inlet vanes, side airscoops and rear spoiler enhance the stunning distinction between the different textures and exaggerate the tactile quality of the velvety touch to the matt black paint finish.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars said, “The Exige Scura is a stunning vehicle which offers an adrenaline fuelled experience and is a real head-turner! Our Exige customers choose Lotus because we deliver thrilling performance and dynamic design and this special edition fits the bill on both counts.

Check Cristian Truers’s new auto cars buying guide for more information, or read his good auto cars tips.

Every once in a while you just have to vent. I had to get the following off my chest;

You can’t spot reduce. If you could, people who chewed gum would have skinny faces and Jillian Michaels wouldn’t have “kankles”.

Stop telling us that all fat isn’t bad like you just discovered penicillin. Calories matter: They always have, they still do and they always will. Creatine is still the best performance supplement on the market. The “next creatine” is still creatine.

Dear gym guy: Please stop doing the following; Bicep curls in the squat rack Any exercise other than the bench press on the bench press Resting for 8 minutes between sets and not letting others “work in” Leaving your weights all over the floor The “secret” to fat loss is good nutrition and hard work. That’s it.

Don’t ask me about intermittent fasting, macro-patterning, cyclical ketogenic diets or meal replacements if you aren’t eating enough vegetables. Learn to prioritize if you can do 45 hard minutes on the elliptical while still easily belting out every song on your iPod but crumple under the weight of mauve-colored dumbbells - focus more on weight.

If you can bench press 350lbs (or could in high school) but can’t walk up a flight of stairs without coughing up radial snow tires - mix in a bike ride or a hike in place of your 4th “chest day” of the week.

If you can put your knees in your ears - quit stretching and build some strength and stability. If you are “bench press guy” from above and have posture that would make Quasimodo cringe, add some mobility and postural work. (Sorry to pick on bench press guy again but) if you can bench press small buildings but can’t deadlift your birth weight - try deadlifting. You won’t likely be able to out-exercise a poor diet.

If you are losing weight by diet alone - you will look like a different kind of crap. Your way isn’t the “best way” it just may be the best way for you. You can live a very healthy life eating both vegetarian and Atkins and most things in between provided you are eating healthy, mostly un/minimally processed foods that provide adequate nutrients.

The most likely reason you aren’t getting results: Trying to “fix” something that requires a lifestyle makeover that starts with changing habits. Have a beef about health trends? Rant away!

Stephen Trenen is trainer in a sport club and he runs his own interesting website about Best Diet Plans, check it out to learn more tried-out Diet Plans.

Changing your focus from dieting to living healthy during the holidays boosts the chances of maintaining your perfect weight.

“Many of us will gain at least five pounds from the middle of October through New Year’s Day,” said Stefanie Barthmare, a psychotherapist with the Methodist Weight Management Center in Houston. “Because weight gain is gradual, we don’t realize the damage of our indulgences right away. But the scale tells all when the holidays are over. That’s why “lose weight” is at the top of our New Year’s resolution every year.”

Barthmare says stop counting every calorie and restricting yourself from your holiday favorites and instead try focusing on the core elements of living a healthy lifestyle, i.e. staying active in your everyday life.

“If you can’t get to the gym, do whatever it takes to move your body. Walk the dog more, plan a walking coffee break at work, play in the yard with the kids after dinner, or throw the football around with your brothers,” Barthmare said. “Plan an active, rather than a passive vacation this holiday season. If you normally go somewhere to sit, read and eat, plan a trip where you hike, bike or ski. Learn a new sport just for fun, and notice the impact on your waistline.”

Have a plan for days when there will be high calorie meals and possibly stressful family gatherings that cause you to eat comfort foods. Not planning is what leads to trouble.

“The once-a-year mentality contributes to overindulgence, which eventually leads to weight gain,” Barthmare said. “You can still have a serving of grandma’s stuffing or mom’s apple pie, the stuff you only get once a year, but it’s important to develop a strategy. Filling up on more high fiber, high volume foods earlier in the day will give yourself a better chance of maintaining your weight. Also, then there’s not as much room for the seconds at dessert.”

Another way to avoid overindulgence is to turn the focus of holiday gatherings away from food and to connecting with family and friends. Put more emphasis on finding out what others have been doing, what you have in common and how you can support one another at holiday functions.

“If you’ve been dieting all year long, you’re going to want to cut loose during the holidays and indulge in all your favorite treats,” Barthmare said. “But, this year, try switching the focus. Eat well all year, keep your body moving and make time for connections. Then you can have some guilt free holiday indulgences without sacrificing the goal of maintaining your perfect weight.

Stephen Trenen is trainer in a sport club and he runs his own informative website about Best Diet Plans, check it out to learn more tried-out Diet Plans.

Nuts are tasty, loaded with good fat, protein, fiber, nutrients and phytochemicals that are heart healthy and potentially good for the waistline. Barring allergies, there aren’t many reasons not to include nuts in your diet. Let’s take a look at some interesting studies, tips and tidbits about nuts.

Nuts and the Heart

A study of 31000 Seventh Day Adventists that ate nuts more than 4 times per week were half as likely to die of a heart attack than those who ate nuts less than once a week. The Iowa Women’s Health Study came to a similar conclusion: Women who ate nuts or seeds 4 times per week were 40% less likely to die from heart disease than similar women who didn’t eat nuts. The Nurses’ Health Study showed that those who ate at least 140g/week of nuts were 35% less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than those who ate less than 30g/month. Nuts and Weight

Most studies have shown that adding nuts to the diet does not cause people to gain much weight, if any at all. As an example, researchers gave participants 45-70g of almonds every day (320 calories worth) and gave them no further instructions about food intake. After 6 months, participants gained a very miniscule amount of weight (.2 lbs in women, 1.4 lbs in men). This study was funded by the almond industry.

There aren’t many studies that show nut consumption to help people lose weight, but one study showed that a low calorie diet that included almonds led to greater weight loss than an equal calorie diet that did not include almonds.

The Seventh Day Adventist and Nurses Health Study showed that those who regularly ate nuts weighed less than those who did not.

The Best Nuts

Are some nuts better than others when it comes to health benefits? All nuts contain good fats, fiber and proteins, but different kinds of nuts have different nutrient profiles.

Almonds are richest in vitamin E (35% recommended daily intake) and calcium (8%) per 1 oz. (30g) serving. Brazil nuts are highest in selenium with just 1 supplying a days worth. Cashews are richest in copper and zinc Peanuts (technically a legume) contain the antioxidant resveratrol, and are highest in protein and arginine content Walnuts have the most alpha linolenic acids (plant-based omega-3’s) How much?

Nuts are healthy but are a dense source of calories. 1oz/30g of nuts supply about 170-180 calories. Here is a chart that shows how many nuts are in 30g.

Number of Nuts in 30 grams (1oz)

Almonds: 20-24 Brazil nuts: 6-8 Pecans: 18-20 (halves) Cashews: 16-18 Pine Nuts: 150-157 Pistachios: 45-47 Walnuts: 8-11 Hazelnuts: 18-20

Stephen Trenen is trainer in a sport club and he runs his own informative website about Best Diet Plans, check it out to learn more really working Diet Plans.

Are you tired of working hard without your hard efforts being appreciated or financially merited? Do you dream of owning your own business but don?t know where to begin. Or maybe your not prepared to risk your hard earned savings in a business you have no idea whether it will succeed or not. Have you ever heard of or considered investing in a franchise business? It could be solution which lets you be your own boss by distributing the products or selling the services of another company. You will be the manager of the business under the guidance of the franchise company.

When a parent company decides to expand their business geographically by franchising their business, it is not the same as how a business would traditionally expand. The franchise business does not provide the money to get the new outlet of the business up and running. This is what the franchisee is buying into, they pay the franchisor a fee and when the business is up and running the franchisor continues to take a percentage of the profits from the franchisee (usually in the region of 10%), with both parties taking a share of the business?s success.

There are great advantages to buying a franchise business. Unlike starting from scratch, you get a lot of help starting out. Some franchises offer franchise consultants who will walk you through the process from the very beginning. There is a very low failure rate with franchise businesses. Some franchise names are destined to succeed simply because of the brand name. Franchises can also be extremely profitable for you, and they become profitable very quickly.

As with most things there is a flip-side to buying into a franchise. Where generally speaking franchises are more likely to succeed, there are still no guarantees, especially when the franchise is not a big well known brand. Also where as you might be your own boss in some ways, in others you may not have total control of the decisions because you will have to abide by the rules of the franchise company, even when you don?t agree with them. And let?s not forget there will always be fees to deduct from your profits. But if you do your homework first then and are fully aware of the facts and are comfortable with them then a franchise business still looks an attractive way of having your own business.

Regardless of the business, you should never invest in a business without doing some thorough investigation first. Be certain to use all the resources you have available to you and try to find out how other franchisors within the franchise have faired before you part with you part with your investment.

You must consider the advantages and disadvantages of a particular franchise, and if you?re still happy to proceed then begin to look into the legal aspects of franchise law. You should research all aspects of the prospective franchise that you are considering investing in, where possible ask for advice from impartial persons. Also consider how you will be financing the business and have a business plan in place.

Consider that a major factor in the success of your franchise could be the location of the business. Do a bit of market research on this subject and if the business?s target market is the immediate locality then be sure that you chose the correct area.

Now you know some of the basics of buying a franchise business, perhaps you will decide it is an endeavour you would like to try. If you do your homework and buying a franchise business looks like it would work for you, you should go for it. Once again, it could be the best decision you ever make.

Paul Lennon writes about buy a franchise business and how to franchise your business

As a rule people are alert of how significant it is to have a excellent credit score and a spotless credit report when they go to acquire a loan for a house or an automobile. Lenders place a high value on credit and they can either charge you a higher interest rate or even turn down your application outright based upon these scores and reports.

But there are also some additional and lesser-known benefits to having a excellent score and a clean report. These are things that most people are in all probability not even conscious of.

If you have any credit cards you need to be worried about keeping a good credit score and having a good credit report. Credit card companies will use any justification that they can find to jack up your rates. After you become a cardholder they can monitor your credit and if they see that you have late payments showing, even if you have never been late on a payment owed to them, they can increase your interest rates. Your preliminary rate could double or even triple.

Any imperfection showing on your credit could influence the rates you are paying on your cards. If these troubles are mistaken or inaccurate they can still change your interest rates so it is astute to try to repair any problems that you can.

Your credit score and your credit report can also affect a job search. A potential employer can do a credit inquiry as part of a background check with your okay. It is legal for them not to employ you based on your credit. They must have special permission to access your credit history however.

If you have excellent credit it may mean the distinction between getting hired or not if you are one of a few similarly qualified prospects. If you have bad credit they may not even consider you. In these changing financial times it is key to uphold any benefit you may have in the job market.

The third unforeseen advantage for repairing your credit and making it look as good as possible is that insurance companies can turn you down for coverage if you have bad credit. According to insurance industry research, they have determined that people with bad credit submit 40% of all claims. For that cause if you have bad credit they may regard you to be high risk and they may deny you coverage. Figures show that as many as 90% of all automobile insurance companies use credit reports for an underwriting tool.

While none of these things seem rational or fair the truth is that good credit is more significant than most of us appreciate. If you have good credit do whatever is needed to maintain it and if you don’t you can take steps to improve or repair your credit.

Wondering whether it is possible to get a bad credit refinanced or not? Well, you can most definitely get a bad credit refinanced as there are several people who take to this recourse. Normally, your credit ratings dictate the future prospects of availing a further credit. However, despite the low credit ratings; Bad Credit Refinance is definitely an option available.

The bad credit situation is a result of various factors. One of them is delayed payment of instalments to financial institutions or the lenders. The continuous delay has an effect on your credit score. This lacuna points out to your inability to make regular instalments to the lenders due to certain reasons.

It hints at your diminishing trend of income. The more delay you make in making monthly instalments, your score reaches lower level. There may be an apprehension in the minds of the lenders that you are heading for a bankruptcy.

You may have many reasons for a low credit score. Lenders do give finance to people who have low credit scores. Lenders provide Bad Credit Refinance on very rigid terms which are not similar to a regular Credit Mortgage Refinance deal. The terms of Bad Credit Refinance seem somewhat harsh as the rate of interest is higher. This is sometimes referred to as Pre-Penalty payment and is restricted to a time frame of six months to three years.

From the foregoing, let us assume in conclusion, that Bad Credit Refinance is a definite reality in so far as the poor credit score holders are concerned. This kind of refinancing can also help to consolidate other high interest loans like those of credit cards with an interest quotient of 13 to 35%, with a relatively much lower rate of interest. Bad Credit Refinancing can also give you a higher value of loan than the existing one and the difference which you will get in hand would come in very handy in meeting your miscellaneous urgent needs like children’s school fees, electricity and water bills or even carrying out long over due repairs to your house.

Your house is treated as collateral security in this transaction and in the sad event that you are unable to make timely payments of the instalments or repay the loan amount, (May God forbid) the financiers will appropriate your house against their dues.

There are many online broker companies who will arrange a Bad Credit Finance loan for you. They are extremely adept at getting the loan application approved and ensuring that funds are promptly available.

They know much more than us about the ins and outs of this line and will be able to obtain the loan and place the funds at our disposal much faster. Many instances of Bad Credit Finance have not had happy endings for the borrowers and therefore it is the concerted opinion of many not to go for this option but to wait patiently and obtain a regular loan on softer and customer friendly terms.

Have you ever thought of starting your own business? Maybe you are the type of person who likes to see your hard work rewarded. Have you ever thought about buying a franchise business? Buying a franchise business could be one of the best decisions you ever make. A franchise is a way a company distributes its products through independent, third party operators. The independent operator manages the business, while upholding the standards of the company’s name.

When a parent company decides to expand their business geographically by franchising their business, it is not the same as how a business would traditionally expand. The franchise business does not provide the money to get the new outlet of the business up and running. This is what the franchisee is buying into, they pay the franchisor a fee and when the business is up and running the franchisor continues to take a percentage of the profits from the franchisee (usually in the region of 10%), with both parties taking a share of the business?s success.

Paying to buy into a business and then giving the franchisor a cut of your profits may seem an unattractive prospect, but there are many advantages to be had with becoming a franchise business owner. Firstly you are buying into a business with a successful blueprint. Also you will be provided with help in getting your franchise off the ground with people who have a wealth of experience. Typically it takes time for a new business to start to show a profit and the failure rate of new businesses are not good, but the reverse of franchises could be said. They are more likely to start showing profits early on and the rate of failure is much lower.

Nothing is too good to be true and everything has its negative points, the same is true with buying into a franchise business. You do not have total control over your business as the franchisee will have to follow a set of rules or guidelines made by the franchisor. Also depending upon the brand into which you are buying there are never any certainties your business will succeed. Fees and commissions will always be there, but this is to be accepted as part of running a franchise. Also where you may have received assistance in the early stages of your franchise, this might not the case later on once your business is established. That said a, with careful consideration buying a franchise can still be an appealing way to start a business.

Regardless of the business, you should never invest in a business without doing some thorough investigation first. Be certain to use all the resources you have available to you and try to find out how other franchisors within the franchise have faired before you part with you part with your investment.

You must consider the advantages and disadvantages of a particular franchise, and if you?re still happy to proceed then begin to look into the legal aspects of franchise law. You should research all aspects of the prospective franchise that you are considering investing in, where possible ask for advice from impartial persons. Also consider how you will be financing the business and have a business plan in place.

Consider that a major factor in the success of your franchise could be the location of the business. Do a bit of market research on this subject and if the business?s target market is the immediate locality then be sure that you chose the correct area.

Hopefully you will now know more about how to set about starting your own franchise business, and at least have an idea of where to start. Be 100% sure that becoming a franchisee is for you especially if you are investing your life savings.