Vancouver Tours Blog

21 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

Can You Extend the Life and Mileage of Your Car’s Exhaust and Muffler System?

Most auto owners do not give the exhaust system of their vehicle one minute though. That is until they hear a loud boom, exhaust hissing or rattling noises coming quite scarily from the rear of their car or truck. On top of that there are health and safety concerns from exhaust gasses. You can almost bet by the time they get to that point that they are going to be recipients of a large muffler or exhaust system repair bill. Is their any way that most motorists can extend the life and driving span of their exhaust and muffler system or systems?

Basically put your car or truck’s exhaust system includes the exhaust manifold, muffler, connecting pipes and in some cases a resonator. Any automobile made in the last 30 years will definitely have a catalytic converter you can bet. Single exhaust setups use an exhaust manifold of a single exhaust pipe, muffler assembly and tail pipe that extends under of just short of the rear bumper whereas on a dual exhaust system arrangement two exhaust pipes and a muffler assembly are used together with two resonators, two tail pipes. Each assembly is connected to it s own exhaust manifold and carries the exhaust gasses to the rear of the vehicle.

The life of the mufflers and pipes is dependent largely on the type of service in which the vehicle is used. If it is driven mostly in city type stop and go traffic with few trips exceeding five miles, you can bet that the muffler will soon be rusted out, have a shorter life span and that the automobile owner will be making a visit either to his local mechanic at their garage or to his dealership service center. Since installing mufflers and exhaust systems is a specialized job many garages themselves as well as those auto owners often have the work done at shops and garages that specialize in exhaust system and muffler repair and replacement.

The reason for such short muffler life spans is that on short trips the mufflers and pipes will never get warm never mind hot enough to evaporate moisture in the system – that in the end works to rust out any steel metal components of mufflers and exhaust systems. This moisture not only clings to the metal components and is rust causing by it but wore me highly acidic in nature and most corrosive – mixing with the exhaust gas remnants and left over residuals from the internal combustion engine’s combustion process. As a result the pipes and mufflers are soon corroded and have to be replaced.

If the car is driven mostly on long and longer mileage trips, or mainly at good speeds on freeway travel, then conversely the mufflers and the pipes that it is attached to will soon get hot enough to simply evaporate this moisture, similar to how a hot kettle boils off water. Consequently corrosive action (that is rusting and the formation of rust on the metal parts and surfaces of the muffler) will be slowed down and retarded. Consequently your vehicle will have its muffler and exhaust system will last longer and have a longer life span.

Interestingly it seems that Mufflers and pipes used on a single exhaust system, will generally last longer than dual muffler installations because all the hot exhaust gasses are propelled and pass through one single pipe – that is the one solitary muffler. As a result in a single muffler system temperatures generally reach a higher value sooner rather than later. Hence the corrosive moisture has a better chance of being heated up and evaporated into the atmosphere with less of a chance that will linger on metal surfaces and components to do its rusting job.

The general rule of thumb from experienced auto mechanics and automotive dealership service writers is that mufflers and pipes should be replaced before they are rusted completely, for if there are any leaks in the system what so ever, the exhaust which are poisonous and injurious to health will escape into the interior of the vehicle where they can potentially cause the death of the occupants and riders or a serious accident if the driver becomes affected by exhaust gas and gasses.

Source by Shaun Stevens

21 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

TSN – The Toronto Sports Network – Why Canada Needs a National Sports Network

As many know I have been writing a variety of business related articles for some time. This is a departure but I feel compelled to say what Canadians from coast to coast have expressed over the years. As a Speaker I have been fortunate enough to visit each province in Canada at least 50 times and every state in the union as well. Business has been a passion for me but sports has always been a passion as well. Although I love most sports, like most Canadians hockey is in my blood.

I know many markets in the USA have not felt our passion for hockey but it’s a great game that is our national pastime, some say obsession. Canada is a huge country that in relative terms is sparsely populated. In fact one of the largest countries in the world Canada has less than 30 million people. A large percentage of the population is in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Each city has an NHL franchise with fans that have a burning passion for hockey and sports in general.

In Canada the Montreal Canadiens are hockey’s most storied franchise and the most successful hockey franchise in NHL history. The Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups and only trail the New York Yankees in terms of championships. In Canada the next closest to Stanley Cup wins is the Toronto Maple leafs with 11 Stanley Cups. Toronto is Canada’s largest city and the home of TSN. Although this network claims to be The Sports Network many Canadians from coast to coast refer to them as The Toronto Sports Network. Many believe as I do that although they claim to be Canada’s sports network they are really a regional network focused on Toronto and not acting like a truly national sports network.

A couple of years ago I discovered sports boards on the TSN web site. I had never posted before and I soon discovered that trash talking in general was the rule of thumb. It reaches the highest levels of intensity between Canada’s biggest hockey markets Toronto and Montreal. The more time I spent on the web site the more I discovered the truth which is the thrust of this writing. Sports fans from across Canada are subjected to a barrage of articles, interviews and profiles on TSN’S team the Toronto Maple Leafs. Fans are constantly bombarded with interviews and irrelevant articles focused on the Leafs. They write an article when their manager takes a jet ride. They write an article when he sits on a camel. They write articles on his personal life and on and on it goes. Then there are seemingly endless profiles on their players from every imaginable angle while other sports markets in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Montreal are treated like second class citizens. Worst still the Maple Leafs don’t have a competitive team, have missed the playoffs for six years in a row and most recently an ESPN poll rated Toronto the worst sports city in North America.

Posting on these hockey boards opened my eyes to the harsh reality that TSN is a regional network pretending to be otherwise. On each board there are moderators. Their job is to make sure posters don’t get too personal or go too far, unless you’re a Leaf fan that is. I have noticed that Toronto posters seem to be able to break the rules and get away with it but when others do the same they don’t get their posts through. Some Leaf posters refer to Montreal fans cowards, liars, cheaters and sewer rats. I have seen Leaf posters make fun of French Canadians and call them toilet seats. This is not just the case with Montreal for Toronto fans take the same liberties with other Canadian cities as well. Please understand I have nothing against trash talking as long as all the posters have equal opportunity, the kind of equal opportunity a real national sports network should provide. Over the past months I have been verifying this reality with my own posts. A Toronto poster would hurl an insulting post that would make it through and I’d respond with the same post and it would not. Moderators, living in Toronto and working at TSN are obviously Leaf fans and lack any objectivity. This frustrates posters from coast to coast. When you travel as much as I have you hear this from frustrated fans everywhere.

This type of selective bias reached new heights recently. I mentioned earlier Toronto was recently voted the worst sports city in North America. This poll examined 122 sports franchises in North America, the majority of which are in the United States. The reality that Toronto, a Canadian city was voted worst sports city in North America is embarrassing to all Canadian sports enthusiasts. It is also a national sports story that needs to be reported to all Canadians, that’s what a national sports network is supposed to do. TSN did not report the findings of the ESPN poll at all and common sense tells us why. It clearly illustrates where TSN’s priorities are and that is to protect Toronto at all cost showing their true colors and a clear regional bias. Canadians from coast to coast refer to them as the Toronto Sports Network for a reason.

Like many Canadians I’m frustrated and I’ve had enough. I want TSN to know how many Canadians feel like I do. If you send me an e-mail through my web site I will forward all your e-mails to TSN, hopefully that way they’ll get the message. Like many Canadians I have no problem with a regional sports network supporting their local teams. Like many Canadians I have a problem when a network holds themselves out to be a national network when everyone knows they’re a regional network in disguise. We need a truly National Sports Network in Canada. I look forward to your feedback; things won’t change unless we change them.

Source by Allan Baylis

21 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

Relocating To Canada – How To Find A Place To Live

Relocating to a big and popular country like Canada is indeed exciting but when it comes to establishing yourself there firmly, right from the time you have landed, things may seem daunting. One of the most challenging aspects immigrants experience post-immigration is finding a comfortable accommodation. Taking into account this fact, we’ll help you with some good information on how to find a comfortable accommodation in Canada and a few sources that shall help you find a good place to live in Canada. Keep reading!

Finding accommodation in Canada:

More often immigrants plan for a temporary accommodation first, and then transit to a permanent solution, probably when they have settled with a good job and found a place of their preference in Canada. These temporary accommodations could be hotels, monthly rental apartments, hostels, etc. But, a thing to remember here is that most monthly rental apartments of Canada are subjected to 12 month lease periods. For that very reason, Canada has introduced newcomer services for immigrants, which assists immigrants in their settlement and integration process and are completely free to access. Among these many services, one is assistance of finding an accommodation in Canada. Depending on these services will greatly help you as an immigrant to find the best place to live in Canada and at a much speedier pace. When you apply for an accommodation assistance, do consider the following aspects:

  • Desired location in Canada
  • Your budget
  • Ease of commute to your work place (distance and time)
  • Other associated expenses

What is the cost of living in Canada?

The cost of living in Canada merely depends upon the area you choose to live. While reviews say that places like Montreal and Saskatchewan are the most affordable places in Canada, terming them to be incredibly economical, Alberta and Vancouver are expensive cities. But, no matter where you plan to stay, you should be financially prepared as the cost of living in Canada will certainly be a little higher than the cost of living in your home country.

Sources to find a place to live in Canada:

Canada’s Mortgage and Housing Corporation: CMHC is the Government of Canada’s national housing agency and the best resource for you to settle in Canada. This corporation aims to provide products and resources of housing for people looking for accommodation in Canada. Be it a newcomer renting an apartment or a permanent residence planning for a home, this cooperation helps all with resources of their preference.

Housing directories: Depending upon the type of housing you are looking for, temporary or permanent, you can search for accommodations of your choice in the housing directories of Canada.

Classifieds or local newspapers: Often the classified section of local newspapers feature ads which feature the rental- houses of the respective area. Referring such will help you find a good place to live, according to your budget.

Websites: One of the most reputed and highly reviewed website of Canada is Padmapper.com. This website has a map of your chosen area in Canada, and will show you all the housing options available in that particular region. Also, kiji.ca and craigslist.ca are good places which features listings of jobs, services, accommodations etc. available in Canada.

The best way to relocate to Canada is on a PR visa. By relocating to Canada on a PR visa, applicants get to enjoy several benefits from the Canadian government- free education, free medical for entire family etc. Connect to the best visa experts and get a detailed information about the PR benefits and process.

Source by Farheen Banu

21 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

Best Cities For Voice Over Work

Here’s a look at the best cities for various kinds of voice over work:

New York City, NY

New York City is the place to go for the best voice over work for advertisements. With most of the top advertising agencies located in the Big Apple, it makes sense that the biggest voice talents for advertisements are congregated here. While famous voice over actors such as Donald James and Rick Blade are based in New York, advertising agencies have the clout to bring in celebrities for voice over work in advertisements.

Los Angeles, CA

For voice over work in movies, Los Angeles is certainly the best city. As many actors and actresses live and work in Hollywood, people who are looking to hire a particular voice will have to make a trip to Los Angeles. Unless it’s for an animated film, voice over work for movies will usually star the actors. For instance, Ray Liotta who played Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas also provide the voice over in many of the scenes.

Chicago, IL

If you are located in the Midwest and you don’t have the time to go to New York or Los Angeles, Chicago may be the best city for you. Known as the hub of the Midwest and Big Radio City, the Windy City has a long history of great voice talent work. Chicago voice artists such as: Harlan Hogan, Bob Worthington, and Gonzo Schexnayder have provided their services to some of the biggest companies in the country. Chicago also provides good voice training programs so there’s no shortage of new talents.

Vancouver, British Columbia

For some time, Vancouver has established itself as one of the leading animation producers in the western world. From schools to state-of-the-art studios, Vancouver offers great possibilities for present and future animators. Some of the more popular animations including Ed, Edd, and Eddy, and The Prince of Egypt, have come out of Vancouver. With such a thriving scene, it’s no wonder that Vancouver is the best place to find voice over artists for animation. To match the high quality animations, the voice talents must be of high quality to bring out the essence of the stories.

Montreal, Quebec

The best city for gaming voice over work is Montreal, another Canadian city. Very quickly, Montreal has risen to become a major player in the video game industry. There are now more than 50 development companies, 14 software companies, and 18 gaming services companies located in this beautiful city, offering more than 6,000 jobs. Without a doubt, voice over work is integral to the success of a video game and voice talents in Montreal, are specially tailored for gaming.

Source by David Ciccarelli

21 Jun
Vancouver Tours Blog

Top 5 Cleanest Cities in Canada

Canada has a number of world-recognized clean and green cities. Its major cities pride themselves on efficient waste management services, enviro-educational programs and community spirit. The cities offer the green and blue bin solutions to ensure waste is managed. Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are considered the cleanest cities in Canada.

Calgary – The railway of the future. Calgary may be known for its natural resources, but its Light Rail Transportation system sets it apart from its other Canadian cousins. A well-planned, grid-like structure, the system is compact and environmentally friendly.

Though residents are actively encouraged to recycle, Calgary’s innovative waste management program has been implemented to sort biodegradable and recyclable material that people may have missed. Such conscientious action by the council has led to the creation of the Clean Calgary Association, which aims to instill a green ethos in the city’s residents. Interested participants can attend environmental education workshops, which provide excellent networking opportunities to strengthen business and community relationships. Phone 403-230-1443 ext. 222 to register.

What makes Calgary the cleanest city in Canada? Residents are given the impetus to act locally while thinking globally; that is, they are encouraged to spread the eco-message further afield.

Ottawa – A world leader in Spring Cleaning More than 65,000 Ottawa residents joined forces to make Spring Cleaning the Capital 2009 the most successful campaign to-date! Earlier this year community volunteers united to clean up 1,000 of Ottawa’s parks, roadways and green spaces. Participants helped collect almost 112,500kg of waste from these areas, restoring them to near pristine condition. Ottawa council invests $7.9 million each year in cleaning up litter – that’s a lotta cash! Ottawa council also recognizes the importance of keeping cars off the road by encouraging people to skate to work in the winter.

Montreal – A city under clear skies. Recognizing the importance of clear skies, Montreal has implemented a significant smog-reduction program. The program is largely aimed at motorists and encourages them to leave their cars at home, or to make changes to the way they drive in order to positively affect the air environment. They also encourage residents to make their homes energy efficient by reducing the unnecessary use of appliances, using fluorescent lights, and reducing the use of toxic chemicals.

Vancouver – a green leader Vancouver is one of the few Canadian cities without a major freeway running within its CBD. It is famously regarded for its green ethos, as it encourages its roof-top gardens and use of public transport. In February 2009 mayor Gregor Robertson launched rebates on car share initiatives and sustainable commuting in an effort to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world. We salute you Vancouver.

Toronto – Clean Canada in 2010. Recent industrial action has forced Toronto residents to carefully consider their waste management plans. Undeterred by the recent strikes, the city will be in the national spotlight in 2010 when it hosts the Clean Canada expo. The expo will feature a wide variety of exhibitors offering waste and green solutions for businesses and homes.

Toronto encourages its residents to compost, providing them with extensive training in how to effectively reduce household waste. The city also offers the Green and Blue Bin solutions to ensure all waste is effectively managed.

Source by Amy Nutt

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