7

(NAPSA)—Despite a wealth ofinformation available to help con-sumers find a vehicle, the car shop-ping process can still be intimidat-ing for some—especially women. A r e c e n t s u r v e y f r o m

AutoTrader.com, the Internet’s lead-ing auto classifieds marketplace

and consumer in -formation website,found that about onein four women findsshopping for a vehicle“stressful,” comparedto only 15 percent ofmen. Furthermore,while nearly half ofmen feel “certain and

confident” when visiting car dealer-ships, only one in four women feelsthe same way.According to Courtney Hansen,

host of Spike TV’s “Powerblock”and author of “The Garage Girl’sGuide to Everything You Need toKnow About Your Car,” shoppingfor a car can be a fun and reward-ing experience, regardless of thebuyer’s automotive know-how. “Long gone are the days when

making car purchases is a man’srole. In fact, women influence over80 percent of all automotive sales,”she says. “Doing your homeworkon sites like AutoTrader.com andarming yourself with a few simpletips will help anyone in the marketfor a new car feel more satisfiedwith the purchase in the end.”Developed by Hansen, the new

AutoTrader.com Roadmap to CarShopping Success makes it easyfor women to approach the car-shopping experience with cer-tainty, regardless of how car savvythey are. It also provides themwith tips and insights needed tofind the right vehicle for them. Some of these tips, available at

www.AutoTrader.com/roadmap,include:Researching and Planning• Determine what vehicle fea-

tures—passenger seating, storagecapacity, fuel costs and partreplacement—are essential toyour lifestyle.

• Compare vehicles, researchprices, look at videos and photos,find specials and access local inven-tory on sites like AutoTrader.com.Bring this research to the dealer orseller.

Visiting a Dealership or Private Seller

• Ask questions to show thatyou’re prepared and knowledgeable.• Get up and take a walk if

you ever feel uncomfortable.Test-Driving and Inspection• Bring a friend to the test-

drive and to help you fully exam-ine the body, interior and engine.• Conduct a thorough visual

inspection after the test-drive.Considerations and

Precautions• Get a CARFAX history report

before buying any pre-owned vehi-cle, based on the vehicle’s VehicleIdentification Number. • Review government and insur-

ance company crash test ratings forany vehicle you’re considering.

Negotiating • Go to the dealership armed

with the best interest rate thatyou can locate on your own.• When negotiating a monthly

payment, focus on the actual priceof the car.• Ask the dealer or seller to

explain how the cost breaks downand get it in writing.For more information, visit

www.AutoTrader.com/roadmap.

Navigating The Roadmap To Car Shopping Success

Researching online and goingin prepared can help womenap proach car shopping withcertainty.

CourtneyHansen

Accessorizing Appliances(NAPSA)—A recent study

delved into the consumer mind-set when it comes to their elec-tronics accessories purchasinghabits. According to the Consumer

Electronics Association, nearlyhalf of consumers will replace anaccessory that came with an elec-tronic device. These people saythey will base their decision onquality over cost.The study, called Accessories

Purchasing in the 21st Century,shows that 61 percent of onlineU.S. consumers shopped for acces-sories in the past year and morethan half made a purchase.

The study found a few morefascinating facts and figures:• Enhancing the performance

of a device is the primary reasonbehind most accessory purchases.• Price and convenience were

the top factors for consumers indetermining where to purchasethe product.You can find more information

about the survey and about elec-tronics online at www.CE.org orby calling (866) 858-1555.

Consumer electronics acces-sories are popular with manypeople for themselves and togive as gifts.

(NAPSA)—There’s no need togo buggy worrying about bugs inyour home. A whopping 90 percentof homeowners say they have hadan insect infestation—and you canlearn a lot from the results of arecent survey. When it comes to bed bugs,

respondents agreed New York hasthe worst problem, with Californiaand Florida first and second run-ners-up. Homeowners rankedFlorida as the state with theworst bug infestation problems—including ants, termites and cock-roaches. Louisiana and Texaswere runners-up.Ant infestation was rated the

most common insect annoyance byhomeowners interviewed in theInfogroup/ORC survey sponsoredby BASF Pest Control Solutions.Nearly 60 percent of those ques-tioned said ants were “very likely”or “somewhat likely” to infesttheir homes. In contrast, about aquarter (27 percent) of respon-dents said they were “likely” tosuffer from a termite infestation.Sales of insecticides also vali-

date homeowners’ beliefs aboutthe “overall buggiest states.”Researchers compared the surveyresults with sales of Termidor ter-miticide/insecticide along withsales of over-the-counter productscontaining permethrin, a majoringredient in many insecticidessold at home-improvement andhardware stores. While Florida, Louisiana, Tex -

as and California were consideredthe buggiest states, Georgia, NewYork and Mississippi trailed close

behind. Washington, D.C., SouthDakota, Connecticut and Idahowere rated least buggy.The survey also provided in -

sight on the debate over “doing ityourself” versus calling a profes-sional. Among the 90 percent ofhomeowners who have had a buginfestation, 63 percent tried totreat it themselves and only 23percent called a professional rightaway. Forty percent of those who

tried to treat it themselves had tocall in a professional anyway and86 percent of those who called aprofessional reported success.It’s important to be vigilant.

Some species of ants and termitesare wood-destroying pests. Ter-mites alone cause $5 billion inproperty damage each year. If youthink your house is infested, call apest management professional. For more information, visit

www. t e rm i t e i n s t i t u t e . c om ,www.antinstitute.com or www.bedbuginstitute.com.

Is Your State One Of The Buggiest?

Pest management professionalsare best equipped to recognizebugs and successfully treat ahome infestation.

(NAPSA)—You don’t have to bea pirate to steal away to one of thenation’s most beautiful destina-tions, but knowing more aboutpirates could increase your appre-ciation of all this location has tooffer.North Carolina’s Crystal Coast

is known for its many charms, butlovers of pirate lore and fans ofthe soon-to-be-released “Pirates ofthe Caribbean 4” may be pleasedto learn that in the 1700s it onceplayed host to Blackbeard and hisswashbuckling crew.The family-friendly destination

is also the final resting place forthe Queen Anne’s Revenge. Fromexploring Blackbeard’s ship andvisiting Blackbeard’s HammockHouse, to searching for hiddentreasure at the haunted FortMacon, bustling buccaneers canembark on a journey that retracesthe famous pirate’s nefariousways. Treasure abounds at the Beau-

fort Historic Site, North Carolina’sthird-oldest town and past stomp-ing grounds of Blackbeard, withdouble-decker bus tours of the oldjail, courthouse, apothecary andOld Burying Ground.Horse lovers may appreciate a

visit to Shackleford Banks. Formore than 300 years, wild mus-tangs have roamed the unscathedshoreline after swimming ashorewhen a Spanish pirate ship ex -ploring the New World met atragic fate off North Carolina’sshores. The wild horses have frol-icked on the pristine desertedbeaches and foraged for food withnot a saddle or fence in sight.

Brave buckoes can board akayak tour exploring the world ofeco-diversity and thriving historyof this pirate-drenched destina-tion. They experience the area bydrifting on a guided tour throughwaters previously navigated byinfamous buccaneers.Dangling like a delicate string

of pearls off the coast of NorthCarolina, this favored Atlanticbeach destination of generationsrepresents one of the only remain-ing natural barrier island systemsin the world. Noted as the “Graveyard of the

Atlantic,” it is considered the No. 1dive location in the U.S. With morethan 2,000 shipwrecks lining theocean floor, the coast providesunderwater history and an abun-dance of marine life beauty inwarm, clear Gulf Stream waters.Popular diving spots include a 300-year-old wreck and a German U-boat sunk by local forces in WW II.The area also provides visitors

a chance to dine on “fresh-from-the-docks” seafood caught thesame day in clean coastal waters.For more information, visitwww.crystalcoastnc.org.

A Swashbuckling Vacation Offers Varied Adventures

His Ship Has Come In: North Car-olina’s beautiful Crystal Coastonce played host to the famouspirate Blackbeard and his swash-buckling crew.

(NAPSA)—Because U.S. cat-fish farmers use pure water andwhole-grain feeds, catfish is one ofthe freshest-tasting fish available.For recipes and information fromThe Catfish Institute, visitwww.USCatfish.com.

** ** **Served with pita chips or

baked pita bread and topped withan additional splash of flavorfulolive oil, a hummus dip can be atasty way to kick off your nextgathering. For recipes and cook-ing tips using heart-healthy oliveoil, visit www.aboutoliveoil.org.

** ** **Sweeten up your French toast

with Marzetti Caramel Dip on thebottom of your baking pan. Visithttp://www.marzetti.com/ for morerecipe inspiration.

As early as 4000 B.C., ancient people used crude pens consistingof hollow straws or reeds that supported a short column of liquid.

***Every effort must be made inchildhood to teach the young touse their own minds. For onething is sure: If they don’t makeup their own minds, someonewill do it for them.

—Eleanor Roosevelt ***

***Man, unlike any other thingorganic or inorganic in the uni-verse, grows beyond his work,walks up the stairs of his con-cepts, emerges ahead of hisaccomplishments.

—John Steinbeck ***

***Victory is not won in miles, butin inches. Win a little now, holdyour ground, and later win a lit-tle more.

—Louis L’Amour ***

A baseball has exactly 108stitches.