Surge Protectors- Why You Should Invest in a Surge Protector for your Computer & Appliances

Protect your appliances and devices from voltage spikes by using high-quality surge protectors. Voltage spikes usually occur when lightning strikes or when there is faulty wiring. They can cause damage to your programmable appliances and equipment and even cause fires. Thats why surge protectors are necessary.

How they work

Surge protectors work by blocking voltage spikes to a less dangerous threshold and preventing damages from happening to your devices. The normal threshold of electricity is 120 volts. Anything higher than that can cause damage to your appliances. Surge protectors prevent that from happening. There is an increasing need for surge protectors because high-powered devices are more sensitive when it comes to voltage spikes.

There are different kinds of surge suppressors: meter, electrical, and plug-in. The meter and electrical surge suppressors protect from outside electrical interference. Meanwhile, a plug in suppressor has a built-in alarm system.

Protect your devices

Different surge protectors are being sold in the market. When shopping for a protector, it is important to look at three things.

First, check the price if it is too cheap, then its probably no good. Do not compromise quality. Most cheap surge protectors do not work they will not protect your devices, and can sometimes even cause bigger damage.

Next, check the protector's Underwriters Laboratories (UL) ratings. UL tests electronic products for its safety. If it doesn't have one, move on to another brand.

Finally, make sure that your protector meets the criteria for UL 1449 the minimum performance standard for protectors.

IMPORTANT SAFETY / SHOPPING INFORMATION

A complete Guide to SURGE PROTECTORS is available in Picky Guide, one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer advice and product information.

Roofing Articles

Finding The Right Computer Scanner Software

Computers are not perfect pieces of equipment. There are a lot of vulnerabilities which people can exploit. This statement becomes quite scary when you take into consideration the fact that a lot of people make use of computers to store personal information. Because of this, you need to have the right security measures in place. The most basic thing you should get is great computer scanner software.

Computer scanner software actually determines whether any threats exist in your system, whether they are viruses, erroneous data, or even Spyware. Now what should you look out for when getting computer scanner software?

Method There are different ways through which different types of computer scanner software protect your system. One of the most common ways is for the program to perform scans at regular intervals of time. These scans are performed in order to detect bits of malicious software which have invaded the system at one point or another. You may have already spotted the problem with this type of computer scanner software: the time difference between the actual invasion of the virus and the scheduled scan could be enough for the virus to do considerable damage.

There are also those types of computer scanner software which basically scan each type of incoming data and prevent suspicious programs from actually penetrating the system. However, this type of computer scanner software can be quite ineffective when rooting out viruses already imbedded in the system.

Updates You have to realize that in order for the computer scanner software you buy to remain effective, it needs to be updated. This is because a lot of hackers are developing brand new viruses and malicious software all the time. A truly good piece of computer scanner software often uses an internet connection to keep itself updated. The question, however, is how often does the computer scanner software get updated?

There are certain types of computer scanner software which update every time you start up your computer. This is actually quite good since you can make sure that the virus database is of the latest configuration before you actually start using the system. Again, however, certain new viruses may be able to penetrate your system and cause damage before the next update allows your computer scanner software to recognize and get rid of them.

There are also certain types of computer scanning software which constantly monitors the internet for updates and actually downloads those updates immediately when they become available. The disadvantage to this, however, is the fact that you need to keep the connection to the internet and your computer open. This can add a huge chink to your electricity and internet bills.

Features You have to find out what sort of features are in the computer scanner software before you buy it. You need to make sure that those features are able to fulfill your needs. You might interpret this as "buy the computer scanner software with the most features" but this is not right. There are certain types of computer scanner software which contain so many features that it actually makes them quite hard to use.

When choosing computer scanner software, you should look for features which will help you increase security but would not burden you with hard tasks and unbelievably complicated processes.

Rajesh Karavadia owns and operates http://www.thescannersoftware.com, this website provides information on fingerprint scanner software and canon scanner drivers

Stair Articles

Stone Fire Pit

There is one thing that can make a very big difference between having something that you use and that can help you from time to time and thee is a completely other thing which can be used from time to time but just having it will make your guests and yourself gaze and admire it, one such thing is a stone fire pit.

A stone fire pit is one of the most impressive things you can have in your garden, or in your outdoor kitchen, this unique idea has not been around for many years, but in the last few years people are more and more interested in having a stone fire pit in their garden or backyard. The stone fire pit looks like it is connected to the past, maybe a few hundreds of years ago almost every family in town had one but today it is truly a unique thing to have.

One of the great things in having a stone fire pit outside is that you will get a lot of freedom in deciding how it is going to look, and its looks is all what it’s about, the stone fire pit will be impressive no matter what why you make it when it is lit and the fire is on, the question is how would you like it to look when its off, and how would you like the stone of the fire pit to relate to your garden and garden features.

The important things to remember when looking for a stone fire pit are that you will need someone who knows how to design those, so that the fire is solid and that there is enough air flow to feed the fire so it is balanced on all sides of the stone structure, that it is safe and that you can approach the fire if you wish, some people like to get close to the fire pit in order to get warm or to fry marshmallows, either way you will need to make sure that the person in charge of building it knows what he is doing.

The basic design of a stone fire pit is almost always the same, and it is a very good opportunity for you to go wild and get whatever you had in mind, the only things you will need to consider are safety and usability of the stone structure, but other than that the stone fire pit is really about having something very impressive in your garden and that it will generate enough heat in the winter to keep you warm while you sit outside.

For those of you who are interested in something even more unique is the option to experiment with different stones and try and get all kinds of stones for the fire pit construction, this may cost a little more but it will guarantee that this will be one stone fire pit people will not forget, nevertheless, even a regular stone fire pit is something to be proud of.

Stone fire pits can be a great alternative to any major fire element in your garden or backyard, learn about Fire Pit at the firepits site http://firepit.zupatips.com

Hangingdrywalltool

Build A Wind Generator

When our family decided that our small solar panel array just wasn't big enough to power our off grid home we had to make some choices on what to do. Learning how to build a wind generator was not at the top of the list at first, but it soon developed into the best option.

We could either diversify our Renewable energy System, a choice between hydro power from our small stream or put up a wind generator. We also had the option to just buy more solar panels. We decided to learn how to build a wind generator and here is why - You may want to build your own wind generator too.

There are times of the year when even a hundred solar panels and 10 times our present battery storage would not run our home. In the fall and winter the sun may not shine for weeks at a time. Thus, no power is produced from the solar panels, no matter how many we would have. We really wanted to smooth out the wrinkles in our charging cycle as well as produce more power for our home, that meant adding more solar panels just wouldnt work for us.

Hydro power is probably the most cost effective option if you have enough running water with an adequate drop to produce power. Water power will produce 24/7 , but we had a problem with this option. From November until April our stream freezes solid and in order to produce power we need running water. Unless we could figure out a way to run ice through the hydro turbine that is.

That left us with the wind generator option. A quick assessment of our site told us we had wind energy potential. Open space and a site that was free of obstructions for over 300 yards. We would only need a 40 foot tower to get up to the good wind.

So, we started shopping for a wind generator. The wind definitely went out of our sales, so to speak, when we started looking at the price of new and used wind generators.

During our search for a wind generator a friend of ours suggested why not build a wind generator. He had done just that recently with some plans he had downloaded from a website called Off Grid Living. We took a look at the nice job he had done on his wind generator and decided to download our own plans.

They cost us $19.95 , but compared to the price in the thousands for a new or used wind generator to meet our needs it was a real bargain. The plans were simple and easy to follow and provided sources for all of the material we would need.

Once we knew where to look, the DC motor used for a generator was quickly located, as well as the free PVC pipe we used for the blades. Our family is quite happy learning how to build a wind generator. It produces about 600 watts of power at 24 volts.

Our family has been living off the grid since last year, and loving every minute of it. You can find some really helpful information at the Off Grid Living website that we found, you could even learn to build your own wind generator - Here is a link to the article on how to http://www.off-grid-living.com/node/80

Ten Steps To Avoid Mold Problems

Artificial Intelligence Surpassing Human IQ Could Come at Anytime Now

Many specialists in the field of Artificial Intelligence argue when is AI going to surpass human intelligence. Indeed, there is now an AI Checker Playing system that can play a perfect game of checkers, we know that IBM built a Chess playing machine that beat a top human chess player, thus some say that AI has already surpassed human intelligence.

Of course those are just games and a human mind is capable of multiple intelligences, so when will an AI machine be as smart as the World's Smartest human? Well, this question has been posed and most AI scientists believe it will come around 2020 or 2030. I completely disagree, why you ask?

Well, you know there sure seem to countless pessimists in the ranks of AI niche scientists, in fact it seems that many humans do not achieve what they seek due to this negative feedback. So we really need Artificial Intelligence to design an artificial intelligent system that can surpass all the humans, who are stuck in linear thought convincing themselves that it cannot be done until a prescribed date.

Who can tell us why everyone is convincing everyone else it cannot be done for 2 decades, why? Just because someone says it cannot be done does not mean it is so. When they say such things it only means that they believe they cannot do it in less time and if they believe that, then they are right, but for others to adopt such a line of reasoning simply does not follow any sort of real logic.

Therefore those who cannot think logically, well why are they in the field of AI which combines various human thought processes with machines of logic? Let's say the upper end human IQ is no more than 210, which really is not that high when you think about it, why couldn't we develop a system that mimics human thought processes using many combinations of strategies, why is everyone so adamant about their specific methods, which often can only attain a certain level presently.

Having had many original thoughts on the subject that I have not seen in any research papers, it appears to me that we are about a "half a break thru" from cracking the whole thing right now, not in 20 years. It could come at any time, the sooner the better.

The entire subject is interesting really. Those who predict such a long-term point of singularity almost seem to be promoting job security. Twenty years is not good enough, that is unacceptable. We should not promote weakness, laziness, defeatism or attempt to convince ourselves we cannot do something until some far off date when half these niche scientists maybe dead by then? It is time to bring Artificial Intelligent to the forefront now, not in 2-decades. Think on it.

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

Building In The Refrigerator

Reduce Your Carbon Emissions

Saving energy is easier than you think!

The average American generates about 19-20 tons of carbon dioxide each year. Simple activities such as watching television, sending an email message, cooking and making a phone call all produce carbon emissions. But there are many simple and inexpensive ways you can reduce your carbon emissions (and your energy costs) beginning today.

According to Evan Mills, a scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Residential energy use generates approximately 21% of total U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions and transportation represents 33%. This means that you and I, through everyday decisions, impact more than 50% of US greenhouse gas emissions.

Simple But Important Ways to Reduce Carbon Emissions
There are many ways to reduce carbon emissions but those listed below will have great impact. And you dont have to do them all at once.

Driving and Transportation
Follow manufacturer recommendations for proper tire inflation and oil change frequently and keep your car tuned. Doing so will significantly improve your fuel mileage and reduce your carbon emissions.
Slowing down helps. "Driving 65 miles per hour versus 75 miles per hour can save you up to 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, even more if you drive an SUV," said Urvashi Rangan, a senior scientist and policy analyst with Consumer Reports. Such a speed reduction improves gas mileage by 15% and the savings go directly to the pocketbook.
Hybrids may not be the answer for everyone. Fuel efficient vehicles in every category can be found in the marketplace today. Choose your car with energy efficiency in mind. By doing so, you can reduce your energy consumption, save money and reduce our reliance on imported oil.
Consider biking and even walking for local trips. When you must drive, plan ahead to minimize your trips. Park centrally to reduce how often you turn the ignition on and off. Investigate carpool and ride-share possibilities.

Home energy Efficiency
Implementing the recommendations of a home-energy audit can improve your home's energy efficiency by as much as 25%. Contact your local utility company and ask about an audit. If you live in Marin or the East Bay, you can investigate free energy audit services provided by Rising Sun energy http://www.risingsunenergy.org/cyes.htm Alternatively, you can consider a do-it yourself home audit by using the tools found at the Home energy Saver Web site, http://hes.lbl.gov/

Typical energy efficiency candidates include heating/air conditioning, hot water heater, window and door sealing, insulation, fireplace and chimney, lighting, programmable thermostats, and laundry and kitchen appliances. CFLs have become mainstream. Incandescent has become a dirty word.

Eating Green
Growing and transporting food accounts for an estimated 17% of the total energy consumption of the US. Foods produced locally simply don't require sophisticated, expensive transportation systems to get to the table. And if chosen with reasonable care, locally produced food is fresher and tastes better. Farmers Markets are an excellent source of locally produced food.

Unplug
5% of US electricity is consumed by electronics products that are turned off, according to the Alliance to Save energy , a Washington, D.C.-based coalition of business and government leaders. At the end of the day, and especially when taking a trip, unplug your appliances including televisions and stereos. Use a power strip, enabling you to plug/unplug a series of devices with a single touch.

Technology
Consider a laptop next time you upgrade your PC. Laptops use considerably less energy than desktops. If you use a desktop, use a flat-panel display which uses much less energy than a CRT. Use remanufactured ink and toner cartridges, think twice about printing, use recycled paper products.

Water
Install low-flow toilets, faucet aerators, showerheads. Take more showers, fewer baths. Turn off the water while brushing teeth and shaving. Install a drip irrigation system and consider cheaper, drought resistant alternatives to lawns. Turf grass is a water guzzler.

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Minimize
Separate your trash and recycle. Buy local - transporting product is expensive and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Avoid products with unnecessary packaging. When you cant avoid, re-use or recycle. Use cloth shopping bags.

Stan Gassman is a co-founder and principal of BSC Sustainability Services, http://www.bscsustainabilityservices.com a consulting company devoted to helping clients increase marketplace value by incorporating sustainability within their culture and operations.

Contact Stan via email, sgassman@bscsustainabilityservices.com

Home Design

Seashore Cities Should Use Deep Sea Cooling Strategies

Should cities near the seashore that have steep drop offs as the land recedes into the sea use deep sea pipes as a cooling strategy for their air-conditioning systems? We know many cities by the sea, such as Los Angeles have to deal with high-energy usage from all the air-conditioning units of citizens, but what if a city used deep sea cooling, can you imagine how much energy they might save?

Many areas use geo-thermal heat or use geothermal to power up steam engines to make electricity. It makes sense to use that in regions with underground heat, to turn it into energy or use it as heat in colder climates. Is this an idea to help curb America from fossil fuels? Well in reality it could only be less than 8% of our energy needs, so it is no real option for the US and our massive usage.

Nevertheless, a seashore city along the Ring of Fire on the Pacific might be able to use both geo-thermal heat for power and deep sea temperatures for cooling. Personally, for the US I am interested in the future of clean coal technologies to reduce the sulfur and CO2 issues, etc. and believe that in the future these strategies will assist us in cleaning the air.

In some areas in our nation, GeoThermal strategies make sense? We do have some geothermal usage here that works quite well as a niche for specific regions, namely Western States near tectonic plates and areas of Earth unrest below the surface. In places like Chile, El Salvador, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, CA, it does make sense for "Some" or a component of the total energy mix.

Shouldn't we also look into deep sea cooling to assist us in our energy mix to reduce our massive usage and needs of our civilization? I hope you will consider this in your Think Tank.

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net . Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

Poor Concrete Stair Finish

Makiwara Training

Shigeru Kimura Sensei 9th Dan Tani-Ha Shitoryu Shukokai had a punch that was like getting hit with a cannonball.

Kimura Sensei had won the All Japan Karate Championship two years in a row. His technique was lightening fast, crisp, and decisive. There was a problem however. Tani Sensei, top student of Mabuni Kenwa and founder of Tani-Ha Shukokai was a firm believer in the age old concept of IKKEN HISSATSU or "One Fist - Certain Death". Kimura Sensei was unsure that the technique he possessed was capable of that in a SHINKEN SHOBU or REAL life and death battle.

He and others of the Shukokai began experimenting with Bogu(Bogu is body armor, similar to Kendo, but modified for Karate). Kimura was dismayed that his punches and kicks lacked TRUE stopping power when applied full force against real resistance. Now Tani Sensei WAS an innovator and had "changed" traditional Shitoryu Karate waza to impart MORE force, speed and power. Tani was the FIRST person to coin the term "double hip" in reference to the torqueing movement used to create greater ballistic force.

Kimura Sensei went FURTHER. He developed other concepts based on modern sports science, training techniques and drills. This continued until his untimely death at age 58.

When Kimura Sensei first arrived in the US and began teaching at Yonezuka Sensei's Dojo circa 1970 he was interviewed by a well known local sportswriter. This gentleman commented in print that Kimura had a punch as HARD if NOT HARDER than any of many PRO-FIGHTERS including HEAVYWEIGHTS that this sportswriter had known throughout the years. HIGH PRAISE INDEED, considering most martial artists would assume that boxers possess the HARDEST blows of any of the combative methods!

The STAPLE of Kimura's Shukokai training was the use of the "punching" block, now known as the "impact" pad.

The original ones we used were simply polyfoam squares cut 14" X 14" stacked 8 to 10 inches thick and wrapped with a Gi belt. Three techniques were drilled CONSTANTLY for HOURS AND HOURS on end. They were the "gyakuzuki" or reverse punch, "maegeri" or front kick, and "mawashigeri" or roundhouse kick. Utilizing the principles of the "double hip twist", "muscular recoil", "the whiplash", "total body lock", and other concepts rooted in modern sports the dynamic speed and tremendous power one could develop made such training far MORE worthwhile than the usual "monkey" drills found in most other Dojos.

The use of punching blocks developed BOTH the hitter's ability to deliver massive shock AND the "hittee's" ability to RECIEVE massive shock. The punching blocks WORK. Since the blocks allow you to really work on penetrating INTO the target you can develop the ability to get excellent "feedback" on just HOW effectively you are striking.

JUST ONE PROBLEM! You NEED a training partner. Your training partner is the one who HOLDS the block and GIVES you VISUAL feedback on the effectiveness of your blows. In time and with proper skill development another "problem" arises. You will, when everything works right, be able to hit SO powerfully that after two or three "gut" blasters your partner will have NO interest in continuing. On a really "good" day you can even do it with ONE shot. One large and powerful individual (about 220lbs.) known for his body toughening and conditioning and a black belt in a system KNOWN for it's conditioning drills, who trained with us LASTED for only THREE punches. On the third reverse punch he dropped the bag and almost tossed his "cookies". He admitted that without the pad the FIRST punch could have "killed" him. Another large and powerful bodybuilder took ONE punch (through TEN inches of dense foam) and turned WHITE, lost his ability to breath and speak and dropped to his knees. When he recovered several minutes later he said he felt as if an electrical shock had "shut down" his HEART! He admitted that for a second he really thought he was going to die. The "puncher" in both these instances was about 150lbs.

So here's my solution to training without a "partner":

Any of you "old timers" remember Frank Smith? During the 1960's Frank Smith WAS the "powerhouse" of American Shotokan Karate. He was a TANK and executed the powerful direct style of Shotokan perfectly. His trademark was the REVERSE PUNCH! He developed his technique on a specially constructed "makiwara". This is what WE will use for our BASE. Here's how we start - One block of wood 6" x 6" x 6" lagged to the floor or wall (stud or concrete) another block attached at the angle of the wall and ceiling. Four eye-hooks, each attached on the SIDES of the blocks. One inch pine board that runs from floor block to ceiling block about 8 feet long and 8 inches wide. TWO bungee cords. One goes from eye-hook to eye-hook on the BOTTOM block securing that end of the board, and one doing the same on the top block.

There is YOUR BASE "makiwara". NOW as your punching improves you can KEEP ADDING BOARDS! And replacing the ones you shatter! NOW here's OUR addition! Get TWO more bungee cords. Get an IMPACT PAD from KAM Industries in NJ. Secure the pad at solar plexus/chest height with the bungees.

There you GO! You can use the Impact Pad and see and feel the developing speed and power WITHOUT a training partner. As your technique develops and gets STRONGER you ADD boards! Overload training for your PUNCH! The only HARD part here is "developing" the RIGHT and proper technique. Kimura Sensei always said that YOU DO NOT "train" or "practice" Karate as much as you STUDY IT. Think about that. Every repetition of EVERY technique is a COMPLETE STUDY of body mechanics, speed, power dynamics, balance and EFFECTIVENESS unto itself.

EACH technique should always TEACH YOU SOMETHING! Kimura Sensei went on to totally re-vamp his "style". This is when Kimura-Ha Shukokai really came into its own. He developed a system based on what he termed "Left Gear". Though I have trained in this method, I am NOT of the "new" school. My Shukokai technique is based on study with the four Sensei primarily: Kimura, Yonezuka, Kidachi and Ishihara. I have trained with Nanbu but this was very limited.

As a point of fact - The LAST black belts promoted at the Cranford JKC by KIMURA SENSEI, KIDACHI SENSEI and YONEZUKA SENSEI in TANI-HA SHITORYU SHUKOKAI were the following: Mr. Anthony LaForte, Mr. Daniel Chin and myself. The black belt certificates issued were from the Hombu Dojo in Japan, signed directly by Chojiro Tani and under the direct auspices of the World Shukokai Karatedo Union. Last comment: Training on a "traditional" makiwara is excellent for developing hand and wrist strength as well as for toughening the fist and hand. The "makiwara" as described above is the BEST way for developing the IKKEN HISSATSU or better yet the "ICHIGEKI-HISSATSU"(one ATTACK - certain death) concept.

The old methods (Okinawan styles) made heavy use of hanging sand bags (probably the Chinese influence) and the makiwara. REAL makiwara training develops some great attributes. The true Okinawan experts use weights suspended from string 8 to 10 inches behind the board and same distance to the wall.

When they strike with "chinkuchi" or "kime" similar to "fa-jing" the energy transfer to the weight THRU the makiwara is EVIDENT. This is responsible for developing the REAL "tsuki" were energy is dumped INTO the target NOT just AT IT. The true "Ryukyu-Ken" or Okinawan fist (also known as Daikento) is misunderstood. The proper alignment is 70-40 or 80-30 on the INDEX KNUCKLE (EXPLAINS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THE MOTOBU-KEN). You can only REALLY train this on a makiwara.

I have several different "types" of makiwara. Some imported from Okinawa. Each has a different "feel". My MAIN one is constructed with thick rough hemp AND topped off with a leather makiwara cover from Shureido. Why? I use the hemp wrap for KNUCKLES and EDGE of HAND. I use the LEATHER pad for "Ipponken" phoenix eye or one knuckle, "Oyayubiken" or thumb knuckle and similar single point weapons.

The base for this one was CUSTOM made at a welding shop. One of the "pai" of Gungfu Wusu that I studied was an offshoot of what could best be described as a combination of bakmei, five-ancestor fist and phoenix-eye. SO................Yep, you guessed it! Big reliance on the INDEX KNUCKLE strike. Conditioning of this weapon for this style was SAND BAG training (AND one knuckle pushups on cinder blocks). This was in essence a heavy bag filled with sand. Pretty brutal to start with, BUT this is what I thought was really GOOD about this as opposed to a "regular" heavy bag:

You could drive into the same spot with CONCENTRATED force over and over. Little if ANY sway or movement and NO worry about spinning canting or whatever that would make you slip off the canvas and rip or scrape something open!

I am ASSUMING we are talking about BAREHANDED striking, NO gloves. When REAL Korean Karate (MooDukKwan) expert Ki Chung Kim was teaching at Yone's Dojo, the heavy bag that was used was ALSO filled with sand! I questioned Mr. Kim on this one day and he gave about the same answers as I posted above.

Sand filled heavy bags develop the drive, penetration and energy dump or "sinking" energy VERY VERY WELL. For my money, I hit EVERYTHING. Each will develop a different and important attribute.

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carls ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct) Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Architectural Roof Fascia

Creating an AI Artificial Intelligent Computerized MindMap

Can we create an AI Artificial Intelligent Computerized MindMap was the topic of the day recently at the Online Think Tank. So, you ask, well can you? Yes, actually it can be done. Of course you would need a client first. So who might that client be? Well after much consideration and several long brainstorming and thinking exercises we determined that the potential customer list would be quite extensive once the unit was built.

Our thoughts that the AI Artificial Intelligent Computerized MindMap could be used by everyone from University Grad students and professors to Advanced researchers working with DARPA or military contractors. I have not bothered to charge for it, I guess that has not been a big goal of mine.

For an AI MindMap Program; State Department, Government Leadership, DHS, US Military, Corporate Table Top Thinker, Robotic Space Applications, Net-centric Robotic Swarm central brain, Family Budget AI machine (integrated into the net-centric house), Logistical Supply Chain Companies, etc.

How about a MindMap simplified process and methodology which could be used by humans? Who would potentially be interested in that? Our thoughts that the potential clients are companies or groups such as; Sylvan Learning Centers, Monsory Schools, Boy Scouts (and Boy Scouts Explorers), Boys and Girls Club, NASA for Kids, Civil Air Patrol Cadets, Private Schools, Home Schooling Co-Ops (for their websites). Also in packaged material including Video, Laminated Diagrams, Board Games to Zaney Brainy Retail Stores.

The facts are that Mind Mapping Methodology and the MindMap philosophies of systems like the Human Knowledge MindMap can be used for nearly every aspect of human life and they certainly make sense for designing, building, implementing and for use in AI Artificial Intelligent Computers Systems. We certainly hope this article has propelled thought in 2007 and will help you in your quest to be the best.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Bathroom Mold Problems

Japanese Developing Sex Robots

What propels human innovation? Well, we know where the funding comes from. We know that funding comes when a Return on Investment is available. What do people spend money on? Well, think of Maslows hierarchy of needs. People want to maintain self preservation, so you will find the greatest technological money flows in those things, which protect the sanctity of life; things such as Health Care and Medical advances, security and military. People also wish respect from their fellow man. They want to look good; thus you will find consumer items such as make-up, clothing, sports cars, etc. Humans also want companionship and entertainment and so we see advances in movie special effects, computer games and now the Japanese are developing human female robots. Today they advertise them as maids, receptionists and servers. But in the true spirit of Kama Sutra, you can bet that those Japanese robotic engineers will soon be designing Blonde Hair Blue Eyed sex robots to serve their will.

These Japanese scientists have unveiled the most human-looking robot to date, well at least in the public domain. Secret research is being done now which looks towards the future to build robots so real they will fool humans, in other words they maybe sitting next to you and you would never even know it. The Japanese scientists call their new robot android Repliee Q1 Expo. She flutters her eyelids in normal human increments, looks like she is breathing and moves her hands just like a human would. This robot has over 42 actuators. But indeed, this is merely the first step in human type robotics.

We all know that the Internet is used most in recreational use for surfing websites, such as pornography, chat, online dating and personal communications of the sort. It should be obvious that the near future of robotic androids will be used for sexual pleasure. Isaac Asimov and others have cited this as the most probable use. Not only have science fiction authors put these futuristic predicts forth but Hollywood has as well in several movies such as A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

Using tactile sensors and the latest Haptics research the Japanese scientists are well on their way to the development of their next marketable technology. The Repliee Q1 Expo has 42 actuators, but some of the MIT robots, will mimic the human nerves in the hand already have 250 sensors. New skin technologies will allow the robots to have real human skin grown in petri dishes and these might also be incorporated in the sexual revolution of robots. Want to learn more about Repliee Q1 Expo;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4714135.stm

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Second Coat Over Drywall Patch

Consumer Electronics - Dazing the Users

Imagine your life without consumer electronics. What if someday you have to do without your DVD player, music players, computers and telephones? Surely, it is very tough to imagine even a single day of our lives without these products. Such is the state of our comfort and dependency, that we cannot rule these consumer electronics out of our lives.

And perhaps, the manufacturing companies are aware of this weakness of ours and they are unceasingly and religiously coming up with more and more innovations in these technological gadgets. The powerful brands like LG, Samsung, Philips, and Sony have revolutionised the electronic markets by producing some of the best products in the field of consumer electronics. The brand value is one of the main concerns for any user when he/she is looking for it as they are trusted and they have formed a niche market of their respective target customers.

A plethora of consumer electronics are available for sale in the markets all around the world. And the good news for all the netizens is that these consumer electronics are easily available on the World Wide Web. With the trend of comparison shopping being prevalent in the arena of Internet marketing, choosing the best wholesale electronics is easier still.

However, there is one point that must be taken care while buying your electronics products. The resale value of these products comes down to negligible when compared with its original cost of purchase. So, one should be careful enough in not shelling out a fortune to buy a electronics product that is too costly and very new in the market. The value of the same product comes down heavily after a certain point of time, and that seems all the more consternating to the user.

So the advice is simple for the budget conscious consumers. There is no need to get swayed by the flashy gadgets that keep on getting introduced in the market. Instead, one should simply keep his mind open and choose a better and slightly older technology than to go for the overpriced and latest gadgetry.

Fletcher Mak is an author, write various articles on different themes to expand information. You can get information about consumer electronics and other price comparison shopping.

View Down Exterior Stairs

Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater - A Technology Defined

In Europe as well as in Japan, natural gas tankless water heaters are common. Twenty five years ago, tankless water heaters appeared in the United States.

Uses:

• Heat the water used for bathing
• Heat the water used for washing clothes.
• Dishwasher boosters
• Booster for a hot water system (wood-fired or solar)
• Heating water for commercial purposes
• Heating water that would be used for manufacturing certain products

Indeed, there are many households and commercial establishments that utilize tankless water heaters. A tankless water heater is available in natural gas. There are other types of a tankless water heater and it is up to you to choose what is best for your whole house needs or commercial needs.

When a hot water valve is opened, the heating device of a natural gas tankless water heater device will be activated by the waters flow. The sizes of these devices vary. There are also many ways to install the device, all depending on how its effects will be maximized.

Installation Ideas:

• Central installation (useful for large gas units that would provide all the heating requirements for the whole house or building)
• Point of use installation (useful for smaller devices that would be used to heat just that particular washing machine, or that particular shower)

Natural gas tankless water heaters have more output of hot water compared to an electric water heaters. However, it cannot be used to supply hot water simultaneously to other devices. It must be operated separately. For example, when heating water for shower purposes, a natural gas water heater would not be able to supply hot water for laundry purposes. If multi-tasking is really required, then multiple devices could be installed in parallel.

One example of a natural gas tankless water heater available in the market is the Bosch Aquastar. Many have found it very useful for their needs. There are however other providers of the water heating device out there. You can find one if you search diligently. There are also a lot of information that can be found in the internet. In looking for a natural gas tankless water heater, put in mind the peak consumption of hot water for the whole house. This will determine what capacity your device should be.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of Tankless Water Heater review. A website providing unbiased reviews and ratings of the top selling brands of tankless waterheater including Bosch, Titan, Rheem, Rinnai and more.

Fixed Glass Octagon Window

The Perfect Balance Of Health And Fun

Swimming pools have been around for much longer than you or me. It can be traced back to the 3rd millennium BC great bath constructed at Mohenjo-Daro civilization which was a part of the Indus Valley civilization located in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Ancient Romans and Greeks also built swimming pools and used them for athletic and military training besides recreational purposes and bathing. The first heated swimming pool was built by Gaius Maecenas of Rome in the first century BC. Gradually over the time bathers became swimmers and bathing pools became swimming pools. So the part that a swimming pool plays in our lives can be traced back to many centuries. Since then civilization has traveled a long way and though swimming pool plays an equally if not more important part in our present day world, life has become much simpler. Now acquiring a swimming pool is just a matter of a phone call.

A swimming pool dealer can easily ensure that you become a proud owner of this luxury called swimming pool with no effort on your part. In many parts of the world owning a private swimming pool is still a matter of luxury and can give you a status symbol if you have a swimming Pool installed in your backyard. Installing a Blue World pool would only involve a phone call to a reputed dealer on your part. The design, style, color and shape of the pool will be customized according to your taste and preference which ensures that the Blue World pool fits in with the dcor of your home. The swimming pool that you get installed in your home could be either an on-ground or in-ground pool. The in-ground pool also known as sunken pool can be of three main types which are vinyl liner, concrete and fiber-glass. On-ground or above ground pool is generally more economic than a sunken pool. It is also more popular in northern countries where ground freezing makes excavation a difficult process and there is also the danger of the pool structure being damaged.

So before you actually get a swimming pool installed you could perhaps consult the pool dealer on the kind of pool that will be most suitable for your home. The family members are sure to be thrilled with the installation of their very own swimming pool and the children also gain instant popularity with their friends for the pool parties that will become a regular feature in your home. A Blue World pool is not only the best way for you and your loved ones to unwind but swimming is also one of the best forms of exercise that gives you a complete workout without you realizing it. So once you have made up your mind to install a swimming pool you can simply go ahead and call a Blue World pool dealer and prepare yourself to have a great time every time with your family and the pool, all from the comfort of your home.

Eric Wills advises people on installing and setting up swimming pools.He has been working in this field for many years. For any information on Blue World Pools,blue world pool dealer, blue world hot tubs and swimming pools financing visit: http://www.blueworldpoolinstallation.com/

Post Beam Soffit

The energy Efficient Home and Why You Should Have One

It makes sense to have an energy efficient home and to use solar power if possible. The Earth only gets about 2 Billionth of the energy of the Sun, but that is enough to divide amongst all the homes on the surface of the planet. It is wise for people to get an energy audit, perhaps some infrared photos to see where they are wasting energy. Solar Chimneys are another good idea.

Most of all people need to get into the habit of efficiency and not wasting anything. We need folks to participate in recycling and solar power in the home. Indeed, those who partake in smarter energy solutions for their home will be thinking about other environmental issues too, which our Online Think Tank was recently reminded of. That is a good call indeed, good point.

Of course with any great energy source there are always drawbacks. For instance we are concerned with the batteries that will be needed for solar cell energy storage and where will all those batteries end up? In the bottom of the ocean, I hope not.

There are many ways we can reduce our pollution signatures, how about: "Ocean Wave energy " and what is your take on Nuclear energy ? Hydro-electric is problematic in some places due to droughts, for instance in Australia.

Perhaps if everyone does their part and we could indeed see some progress and really we have, even corporations and businesses are thinking about energy efficient buildings. There are a lot of interesting "Green Roof Top" initiatives, I believe it will very much help in Urban Heat, rooftops make up a large area in cities. Efficient energy starts at home, so please do your part okay?

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net . Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

Hot Moped Wall View

Save Some Coin! - A Guide to DIY Lawn Care

A great looking lawn and its care is possible for anyone, not just for professionals.

With an awareness of the issues that deal with proper lawn care and health, you can easily take care of your lawn yourself and save a lot of money that you would pay someone else to do the same job.

For those who have the time necessary to work on their lawns, ding it yourself lawn care is not difficult. The following tips will help you to properly take care of your own lawn and keep it healthy and beautiful.

DIY Lawn Tips

Regular mowing is one of the most important lawn maintenance steps. As a natural source of nutrients (in the form of slow-release nitrogen) for the grass, it is important to leave the grass clippings on the lawn after mowing.

Another necessary step in DIY lawn care is watering. Each time you water, you need to apply at least 2.5cm of water. You must make sure to apply the water across the lawn evenly, and you can make sure you are using the correct amount by placing a container on the lawn while watering. When the water level in the container reaches 2.5cm or slightly more, you can stop. Over watering can be just as harmful as under watering. Make sure you stop applying water before over watering occurs, so you can avoid poor growing conditions and potential disease on your lawn.

Fertilizing is the next crucial step in DIY lawn care. Compost will add organic matter to your lawn and is a great natural fertilizer. Besides the organic matter, other major and secondary nutrients supplement your lawn when composting. Overall, the results of composting help to ensure a healthy, growing lawn.

A commonly overlooked process of lawn care is aerating. When you notice that the ground is hard and compacted, if thatch is accumulating, or when you see that water is not soaking into the lawn, it is important to aerate. By aerating, your lawn will benefit from a smoother flow of water, air, fertilizer, and important nutrients from the plant roots.

These DIY lawn care tips will get you started in taking care of your own lawn. They will help you to save money and make sure that you have control over the beauty and health of your own lawn.

Watch out as Thomas Fryd talks about lawn care fertilizer burn. Join Tom as he shares his plant and landscape experience at www.Plant-Care.com where practical professional advice is always online.

Three Foot By One Foot Wood Colum

Positive Effects of Carbon Dioxide for Plant Growth

Many articles have been written about the negative effects of carbon dioxide. Sick Building Syndrome, loss of concentration due to high levels of carbon dioxide, asphyxiation in breweries or wine cellars, all these things spring to mind when we hear the magic phrase carbon dioxide. Yet, perhaps today when Venus passes across the face of the Sun, we should remember that our original atmosphere consisted of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Free oxygen is something that is not really chemically possible. Yet we have it as a result of plant life busily photosynthesising and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen during daylight hours. This is the original use of solar energy!

Plants require carbon dioxide to grow and why not help them by increasing the level of carbon dioxide? Normally, this is something that is undesirable, since carbon dioxide is the original greenhouse gas, as our neighbouring planet Venus can testify. But in a controlled, genuine greenhouse environment, there is no real reason why the level of carbon dioxide should not be enhanced in some way.

Indeed, tests have shown that increasing the level of carbon dioxide in a greenhouse to 550 ppm will accelerate plant growth by 30 - 40 %. The natural level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is around 450 ppm, having increased from about 250 ppm in the last ice-age, so this slight increase may not appear significant at first sight. The point of the matter is that the level of carbon dioxide in the average greenhouse with the ventilation system closed will drop sharply due to uptake by the plants and will lie around 150 - 200 ppm if nothing is done about it. In summer the ventilation system will be open and the fresh air circulation will augment the level to a useful degree. But what about those long, cold, dark northern winters? Most commercial greenhouses will have lighting and heating systems to encourage plant growth, but you still cannot open the ventilation and allow the cold outside air into your heated greenhouse without losing all the early crops. The only real solution is to augment the natural level of carbon dioxide in some way. Where it is used, the general rule of thumb is to augment by about 1000 ppm when the sun is shining (or all the lights are on!) and keep the level around 400 ppm during times of darkness. This will require monitoring, since there are so many variable factors involved and a simple control unit using an infrared sensor will be able to keep the concentration of gas constant at all times.

Rate of consumption varies with crop, light intensity, temperature, stage of crop development and nutrient level. An average consumption level is estimated to be between 0.12 - 0.24 kg/hr/100 m2 of greenhouse floor area. The higher rate reflects the typical usage for sunny days and a fully-grown crop. This equates to roughly 150 litres of carbon dioxide per hour.

There are many processes that naturally and unavoidably produce carbon dioxide: Fermentation and combustion are two classic examples. In temperate zones it is necessary to heat a greenhouse (glasshouse is just another word for the same thing), and this heating will almost always involve the burning of fossil fuels, producing carbon dioxide. This leads to the natural urge to re-circulate the exhaust gas from the heating system into the greenhouse and so achieve a double advantage for the plants. This will require careful monitoring of the flue gas to ensure that there are at the most only traces of carbon monoxide being passed into the greenhouse. This is not only bad for the plants but also potentially lethal to the people working there! Such technology is available with gas monitors that will measure the carbon monoxide concentration continuously and have analogue outputs that can be used to regulate the burners or operate a trip to switch the unit off should problems occur. The combination of breweries with greenhouse systems is also serious business in some areas. Generally, these methods are to be approved and should really be worthy of government support. Not only are they producing crops, they are removing a pollutant that would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere.

Monitoring of the added carbon dioxide is essential, however, since high concnetrations of carbon dioxide can lead to dizziness or even unconciousness of the personnel. Some plants will require higher levels of nutrients to compensate for some of the changes that occur. Particularly tomatoes and violets are sensitive to increased levels of carbon dioxide, hence the need for constant monitoring of the ambient concentration.

Simon Fowler studied Mechanical Enineering at City University in London, UK and now works in Vienna, Austria for madur electronics, a manufacturer of infrared sensors. http://www.madur.com/

Double 2 X 6 Ceiling Beam

Plastic Roofing - Light, Functional And Easy To Install

Plastic has greatly changed the world when it has been introduced as a material for making things. Now you can find a lot of useful objects made out of plastic and they truly come handy for a lot of situations. One industry that has greatly benefited from plastics is the roofing industry with the great value that plastic roofing can provide in terms of function and style.

Light Weight and Low Cost

The use of plastic in roofing has greatly increased over the last few decades because of obvious and considerable benefits when compared to other types of roofing materials such as metal, wood, slate, ceramic, and asphalt. What people like about plastic roofing is their light weight, low cost, durability and ease of installation. Plastic roofs also come in different colors and thus are very much attractive especially for structures that have color motifs.

Ultraviolet Stabilizers

The main disadvantage of plastic roofing is their possible sensitivity to light and heat. Plastic can melt or fade with much exposure to the sun and changing weather, but this problem can be addressed with the thermal and ultraviolet stabilizers that have been added to newer productions of plastic roofs. Extreme weather conditions may take a toll on the usual plastic roofs but with the right mix of chemical components some of plastic roofing material's problems can be minimized.

Plastic Roofing is usually made of polycarbonate, a standard thermoplastic material that is known for its excellent optical, thermal and mechanical features. The roof often comes in polycarbonate panels, sheets or tiles. What is good about the polycarbonate material is its good resistance to stress. It can withstand impact 200 times greater than glass, meaning that it would not be susceptible to damage when stones or hail fall on the roof. The mechanical properties of this type of roofing are also rather resistant to changes in temperature.

To reinforce the advantages of plastic roofing one can add ultraviolet radiation filters during the co-extrusion process of the sheet or the panel. Special additives may be used to prevent excessive interior heating. Cavity structures may also help increase the load capacity and flexibility of plastic roofing.

Lifetime Guarantee

Plastic roofing comes in varying prices and quality depending on the size, composition, thickness, colors, and profiles. The most common plastic roofing profile that people see is the corrugated one, as it has general better structural properties than flat ones. The cheaper plastic roofs are made of PVC while the more expensive and sturdier ones are made of polycarbonate components. The best quality plastic roofs may come with lifetime guarantees.

Installation of plastic roofing is quite easy, which is why it is usually the roofing choice for projects that have limited time frames. For optimal installation ease, manufacturers often recommend installing plastic roofing on a roof with at least 10 degrees of pitching. Anything lesser than that may require extra weatherproofing measures such as adding flashings or sealants.

Cutting the plastic roof panels for resizing should be easily done with a fine toothed saw or a pair of garden scissors. The better the quality of the plastic roof material, the easier it is to cut. Some installers use disk grinders with carborundum blades for more precisions when cutting plastic roofs, although one sheet at a time may be cut to avoid fusion and welding together.

Installation Tips

A good tip for installation is pre-drilling holes on to sheets before they are installed. Holes usually should be from 8mm to 10mm with some 2mm allowance based on the screw shafts to allow contraction and expansion. Holes should be drilled on the higher part of the roof's corrugation. It is usually easier to do the drilling with the sheet on the ground, upside down. A stick with a hole may also be used as a guide for drilling

Screws are used to secure the sheets of plastic roofing. Special screws are made for this purpose and may easily be bought from plastic roof suppliers. The easiest screws to use are those with hexagonal heads. Majority of the sheets or panels should be secured with four corrugation spaces and at every second when there are overlaps, ridging, and gutters.

Plastic roofing is definitely a staple choice in structural coverage. With its great function, light weight, and ease of installation, it is deemed to remain a popular choice of roofing in the appropriate situations.

Ernest Jarquio is a dedicated family man hopelessly addicted to do-it-yourself projects. For more information, visit Flooring2Roof.com/roofing, where he discusses various subjects such as plastic roofing, ABC Roofing and other roofing options.

Home Remodeling

Aircraft Carrier Landing Training and Qualification

Landing a Fighter Plane onto a postage stamp in the middle of the ocean and that is exactly how the worlds best pilots, those in the United States Navy describe landing on an aircraft carrier. It is a dangerous but necessary skill to learn and not as easy as it looks as the pilot negotiates with death and chaos in a controlled crash onto the deck. Until a Navy Pilot has done it for a while their pulse and heart rates are redlined as they maneuvering the plane in attempting to get a hook hanging down off the aircraft to catch one of a few cables strung across the landing area. They come in under near full power, by establishing a sink rate at a high angle of attack and if they miss the arresting cables they are off at full power as they bounce back into the air to try again.

During this dangerous phase of carrier operations it is essential that the pilot muster his wits and use all his skill to get that 60 plus million dollars of taxpayers money on the deck unharmed. The pilot must wear that aircraft like a glove and precision is the key. But to get there requires lots of training and proficiency practice to stay in the groove. It is for this reason that I propose that holographic imagining be used for carrier qualification arresting landing training.

The Holographic image of a like aircraft will be used for the pilots to project the glide paths in front of them as they fly, actually watching their aircraft (full-size) in front of them. All they will have to do is follow the projection and match their aircraft to the angles and speeds of the holographic aircraft ahead. The projection will be set for safest glide path, avoid risk and be the most efficient decent. This will make flying easier and become a great training tool for new Navy Jet Pilots building hours and their skills.

This will insure a proper downwind to base and base to final approach, with perfect angles, no steep banks and help the pilot land at the perfect speed on the aircraft carrier deck. Additionally these Holographic Projections will be recorded and used for training of flight operations personnel and used by Navy flight instructors to watch to make sure the new Jet pilot is coming along fine.

The instructor will be able to reduce the scale of the aircraft to 1:24 or 1:48 scale and show student how they did. This can help in training new transport or fighter pilots in the USAF as well. This can add to the simulator experience.

The Holographic Technology is almost here and such advances in science has the potential of literally solving many safety and efficiency issues in US Naval aviation right here and now in the present period. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Remodeling Your House Ideas

Choosing a Cedar Bird Feeder

There are many types of birdhouses to choose from but Cedar stands out from all the rest. Many times, Cedar birdhouses are handmade or have the appearance of being handmade. They can be used simply to add aesthetics to your garden or porch area, or they can be utilized to actually attract and feed the many birds who will be attracted to it. Cedar birdhouses have a unique odor that attracts many different types of birds. Along with attracting birds however, they also are attract tree animals such as squirrels. The cedar birdhouse has a delightful smell that lasts for years. Choosing a birdhouse made of cedar can prove to be a wonderful experience over the many others available.

A cedar birdhouse can have a long life because of its durability. It seldom needs moved or changed. Because of the size, it is not susceptible to strong winds like other birdhouses. It is also ideal for birds in that it protects them while they are feeding. Many times smaller birds, if they arrive early enough, will attempt to raise their young in this sort of birdhouse. Because it so closely resembles a tree, which they are naturally attracted to, the birds will stay there during their mating season. It is amazing to watch these birds as they live their lives in something that so closely resembles their natural habitat. A cedar birdhouse, although at times more expensive than others, is worth the extra money because of the aesthetic value and durability.

You have a few options if you decide to give a cedar birdhouse a try. You can shop for one at your local home improvement store, they often have a nice selection, especially in the spring and summer months. There are also many online retailers that specialize specifically in birdhouses. This could be a viable option since you do not have to leave your home and doing research on each one would be a breeze. Comparing each kind of birdhouse while shopping off line could prove to be a tedious task. Also, you may decide you want to create your own cedar birdhouse. You can find great building kits on line and off. You can create it just the way you want it. The size and dimensions will be entirely up to you. Whether you buy a birdhouse, make one with your own wood or buying a birdhouse kit, a cedar birdhouse will give you years of enjoyment as you watch the birds go about their daily lives.

David Pierce is owner of Backyard Bird Feeder A website for the bird watching enthusiast.

Home Repair Help

Choosing An Home Improvement Loan

If you have got all the plans approved and have drawn up the approximate costs for your home improvement project, you need to start thinking about how to finance the project. Any minor improvements can be funded by a credit card or savings but a major improvement, like an extension or a loft conversion requires a large chunk of money. There are various ways of getting this money. One such method is the home improvement loan. This article will cover how a home improvement loan works and some things to consider before you go for one.

Getting an home improvement loan depends on the type of modification or renovation you are planning. If, for example your home is an old building it may be eligible for a restoration grant. The same might apply in certain parts of the country where you plan to install solar powered energy panels. Check this out at your local town planning offices first, it could save you money on any other loans you take out.

After that, there are a few other home improvement loan options available.

The simplest is probably a standard unsecured loan. This is just like a personal loan that you take out for other things you need, like a car or white goods. Criteria for this type of loan might include things like your salary, your credit score or your ability to pay the monthly repayment installments.

Other types of loans revolve around securing the debt of the loan around the house that you are renovating. You can renegotiate the mortgage with your current lender. They will probably give you the money at the current rate of the existing mortgage . You will be negotiating altering the term of the loan or the amount for the repayments.

A note on this is that you can often renegotiate the mortgage if you have shopped around before hand and know that you can get a better deal elsewhere in terms of interest rate (or other criteria that you feel are important - a payment holiday for example).

If you have equity in the house you can draw down on this equity to fund the renovation. The equity can be in the form of a lump sum or a line of credit (whereby you can effectively use the equity as a credit card and take out money when you need it).

When going for these types of loans, it helps to know what is involved in the home improvement. Will it be completed in stages ? In this case you probably want a line of credit or a loan where the lender releases the amount in chunks. This will save you money over time as you are not paying interest back on one lump sum that may just be sitting in your account.

You may also choose to refinance your home loan completely if you can find a better rate. This has the advantage that you get a better rate or conditions that will save on monthly repayments and you can draw on the equity in the property.

When taking a loan secured by the property, lenders want to see that the improvements will add more value to the property than the loan itself. They will want to know the new value of the house after the improvement and the cost of doing the improvement. A real estate agent can give you an indication of the added value. In terms of the costs, get a few quotes from builders or a break down on the materials if you are doing the renovation yourself.

Getting money for an home improvement can be funded by refinancing the house that you are improving. Find out more about this type of finance at http://www.homerefinancenloans.com Adrian Whittle writes on ideas for generating finance for home improvement or investment, including second mortgage refinancing.

Stairtreads

Limestone Tiles - An Elegant Floor Of Natural Stone!

In the world of tile one of the latest entrants for new homes and renovations, is Limestone natural stone tile.

Limestone is a beautiful stone, generally available in light browns, beiges and yellow shades. Limestone tile is usually provided with a matt finish, which makes it safer to walk on if there is any liquid spilled. Limestone tile is installed using the same methods as one would use for any other natural stone such as granite or marble and the joints in between tiles should be filled with a grout. To avoid the possibility of permanent staining the limestone tiles should be sealed with a high quality, penetrating, sealer.

Limestone comes in a variety of square and rectangular sizes and is usually 3/16 to a of an inch thick. Limestone is cut using a wet saw with a diamond impregnated blade. It cuts fast and has a relatively smooth cut line which can be easily filed to a very smooth finish.

As with any natural stone, color matching can be a challenge and it is important that you purchase some extra tiles to ensure that the limestone tile was all cut from the same slab of material. The rule of thumb, if you are using a square grid pattern, is a minimum of 10% more than the calculated square footage of the area to be covered. If you are installing a diamond pattern the recommendation is 20% more than the calculated square footage of the area to be covered.

With all the good points about the product, there of course, has to be a negative. Limestone should not be used in kitchens or bathrooms. In many areas, building codes, do not allow the use of limestone in restaurant kitchens. Limestone is a very porous stone that cannot be easily sealed hence, the pores within the stone become a haven for bacteria growth. Not what a home owner wants for his family, or guests in a kitchen or bathroom.

For foyers, dining rooms and hallways limestone provides elegance and richness and blends in nicely with almost any choice of dcor.

For additional information on flooring products for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Water Problem At Stair Landing

Home Solar Power System An Effective Source of Alternative energy

Home solar power systems offer a great way to use an alternative energy source. They provide clean, renewable energy with very little maintenance needed after the initial installation. With a home solar power system, you can significantly lower your utility bill or even receive a credit. Depending on the area you live in, you may even be eligible for a rebate from 20 to even 75% of the cost of a home solar power system.

A home solar power system typically consists of a few photovoltaic panels mounted on your home's rooftop. These panels need to be mounted on an area of the rooftop that receives a lot of direct sunlight throughout the day. The southern facing area is usually preferred spot for the panels and your solar power system dealer should include installation in the package you buy. The photovoltaic panels take in sunlight and convert it into DC power. The power then goes through an inverter to convert it to AC power for use in your home. Extra power is stored in batteries for later use such as night time and cloudy days.

There are many different reasons to use a home solar power system. If you build a house in a remote area, solar power might be your only option until a utility grid reaches it. You might want to have an emergency power supply if you live in an area that is prone to power outages or brownouts. Many people like the fact that they are contributing to a healthier environment with their pollution free solar power.

There are many subsidies and rebates available to you if you decide to use a home solar power system. California will give you a 40% rebate on your total installation purchase and many other states offer a similar incentive program. You also receive credit to your utility account if you generate more power than you use throughout the day. This is called net metering and most utility providers offer this program for home solar power system users. If they don't, they will send you a rebate check once a month for your extra generated power.

When choosing your home solar power system, you will want to check around with various dealers to see what types of panels are available to you. Some panels generate more power than others so you want to make sure you are getting the best deal available. Many solar dealers will offer you great package deals with panels, inverters, and batteries with a very comprehensive maintenance plan. You will usually be able to trade in your old batteries for a discount on new ones when the need arises.

For more information on discount solar panels try visiting http://www.homesolarpowerguide.com a popular solar power website that offers tips, advice and resources including information on combination solar wind power, rv solar power, do it yourself solar power and Kyocera solar panels.

Rusting Stair Bracket

Add Some Razzle Dazzle to Your Home With a Chandelier

Chandeliers evolved from ancient, hanging candleholders. Candles give off an enchanting style of light that everyone enjoys, and so should your chandelier. A chandelier is usually the featured lighting piece in a dining room or entryway, often providing the first impression on your guests. Therefore, be sure to pick a chandelier that draws attention with an attractive glow.

In a world full of Internet shopping, buying a chandelier doesnt have to break the bank. So many sophisticated and stylish chandeliers are available at just the click of a mouse, and for a pretty reasonable price. Before you begin to surf the net and make a purchase, keep in mind some of these designer tips for choosing a chandelier.

Set the Tone
Your chandelier is a focal point that sets the tone of your home. Typically your style and dcor is already prevalent throughout your home, so now you just need to be sure and match your chandelier accordingly. The relationship between your new chandelier and your existing dcor can be beautiful and harmonious, or a complete disaster.

If you typically have a refined, traditional style, an ornate or crystal styled chandelier with multiple tiers will probably be a successful addition to your home. Also look at chandeliers with several arms and exposed bulbs. Exposed bulbs have a majestic, old world style, which will help create a festive and formal glitter throughout the room.

On the other hand, if you typically have a relaxed, casual style, but would like to spice things up, try a chandelier with a fabric shade. Fabric shades can be both casual and formal, so you can choose to dress up a somewhat casual dining room, or maintain your homes comfortable charm.

If you typically have a fun, contemporary style, try a pendant styled chandelier that has lots of color. If you choose the right color, a modern styled chandelier will create just the urban attitude you were looking for.

Scale
Although it is common in todays society to think that bigger is better, the size of your chandelier should be relative to its surroundings for a visually pleasing look. A standard rule of thumb that designers use when choosing a chandelier is to be sure a fixture hanging over a table is at least twelve inches narrower than the table. This rule is important so that your chandelier does not become obtrusive, banging up against houseguests. In an entryway, allocate enough room below the chandelier to allow a safe passage for tall guests.

A chandelier is a truly unique addition to your home. Todays chandeliers are also surprisingly versatile. Dimmers allow you to fine tune the output of the light, while swags, chain-suspended pendants with cords and plugs, offer a movable alternative. With just the flick of a switch, a chandelier has the ability to add a glamorous sparkle or a romantic flare.

For more information about chandeliers, ceiling lights and lighting tips, be sure to visit LampDecor.com

Amber Schott writes for LampDecor.com

Unsafe Stairs

TSUNAMI The Next Big Wave:The Grandaddy of Them All

A few days ago on Melbourne's 60 Minutes, renowned scientist Dr Kerry Sieh predicted the guaranteed next big wave or giant Tsunami will definitely happen, and it will be the Grandaddy of them all.

Indonesia gets the full force this time around ... When?... whether it be in a few months, or in a decade is all Dr Sieh cannot accurately predict at this present moment.

Kerry Sieh, a Geology professor at the California Institute of Technology, knows Indonesia's earthquake zone like the back of his hand ... and he did in fact predict the first earthquake that hit parts of Indonesia on Boxing Day. Now he predicts another Tsunami will hit, and this will be the grandaddy of them all!

From Melbourne MSN Channel 9's Sixty Minutes Richard Carleton explains why the earthquakes and ensuing Tsunami's occur:

RICHARD CARLETON: Dr Sieh's focus is on the faultline, 5000km long, where moving plates of the earth's crust grind against each other. The plate under the Indian Ocean slides beneath Indonesia, much like the disappearing stairs on an escalator. But some sections get stuck and then later snap upwards, releasing gargantuan force.

DR KERRY SIEH: The plates get hung up and they can't slip past each other, so the upper plate gets dragged down as this plate sinks and with it, the islands get dragged down, slowly but surely, and when the earthquake happens, they pop back up and out.

RICHARD CARLETON: And that's what happened last Boxing Day. The quake jolted the mainland so violently that people were thrown to the ground.

What a pointless waste of life! ... Dr Sieh warned the governments concerned ahead of time, he even went down personally and alerted inhabitants of the affected villages in Indonesia to protect themselves against the Tsunami he just knew would happen ... but nobody paid any attention to him ... now when he walks into these same villages, he is welcomed and treated as a hero !

From his 14 satellite research station, high in the mountain tops of the humid Indonesian jungle, Dr Sieh now predicts the next Tsunami will hit:

.. and the precise location .... right opposite the city of Padang in Indonesia ... inhabitants: 1 million people!

Repeat: All he cannot pinpoint is when ... this disaster could be in months, the next decade or in a hundred years!

The city of Padang is base for Australian surfers who go there to surf the waves of the Menwawais ... where some of the best surfing breaks in the world may be found .. as an Australian citizen this is startling news.

Geographically, the city of Padang would have difficulty dealing with a high tide, the devastation caused by the grandaddy of Tsunamis is incomprehensible.

Imagine a mere 15 minute warning before the earthquake ..

... and then the waters of the giant Tsunami gushing down the streets of Padang, just like it did in Banda Acheh washing everything away in its stride ..

... a moving torrent of cars, oil, broken trees and precious human life!

My call to all my fellow Marketers, the Search Engine Optimization community, Retail colleagues and anyone who reads this post: do everything in your power to reach your readers in Indonesia, particularly the city of Padang, they need to take heed and make adequate provision, to stop the pointless human slaughter this time around.

Whether this be in the form of lobbying your local Government bodies, or through local press release, we must help this time, before the devastation of this giant wave; the grandaddy of Tsunami's takes away more precious human life.

But above all do this in a responsible manner .. causing wide spread panic amongst unworldly village inhabitants or your worldwide audience will not help at all.

Melbourne's 60 Minutes at MSN Channel 9 has the whole story including a video of the interview available at their site . The video version is half-way down the page. Due to the ever changing nature of News, I cannot guarantee how long this link will be up.

Whilst this news is hardly topical for an internet marketing and search engine optimization Blog, as a parent the irreversible damage to our environment has me greatly concerned ... please do whatever you can to stop this alarming trend.

Entire article available at: Marketing Defined on the next big Tsunami

Copyright 2005 Marketing Defined. All Rights Reserved.

This article may be reproduced in its entirety, with no alterations. The resource boxes, live URL's and Author Bio must be included.

Roseanne van Langenberg is a Marketing Consultant and Publisher from Melbourne, Australia. Roseanne shares her findings on legitimate back-door search engine optimization and internet marketing techniques, for online blogs, which earned her a No. 1 ranking at the new MSN search engine, at the Marketing Defined seo and internet marketing Blog.

Measure Bottom Stringer

The Basics Of Wicca

First, let me give you my Basics of Wicca write-up, which is my own take on Wicca based on 13 years of practice. It will suggest a couple of truly informative books for you to read. Wicca is a very complex faith, which embraces widely varying practices and many different Traditions. The following, however, is what I consider to be "the basics". Wicca is about 60 years old, with roots in Masonic practices, ceremonial magic, and the Romantic era's ideas of classical religions. Its founder was a British civil servant named Gerald Gardner.

It is in many ways a postmodern faith, embracing religious relativism, and one that resonates powerfully for increasing numbers of people.

The central tenet of the Wicca religion is the Wicca Rede: "If you harm none, do what you will." This is a deceptively simple "commandment" which can take a lifetime to contemplate and to master. Many Wicca's also believe in the Law of Threefold Return, sometimes called the Rule of Three: "Whatever you do, for good or ill, will come back upon you three times over."

Wiccans honor Deity as both male and female, god and goddess or at the very least as goddess. Many Wicca's believe that the universe is the body of god/goddess, and therefore that all things contain divine energy and that the world itself is sacred. Some Wicca's are polytheists, many god /goddesses, others are duo theists, god and goddess, of whom all other gods and goddesses are simply aspects, others are monotheists, god and goddess themselves are simply aspects of an unknowable Source.

Wiccans generally do not believe that god/goddess is separate from the world; therefore, we have no concept of salvation, since god/goddess is present to all and always. Many Wicca's believe that god/goddess is too big to fit inside one religion. All religions/spiritual paths are ways of reaching the same goal, and atheism and agnosticism are honorable perspectives on the mystery of life.

Each Wiccan operates as their own priest/priestess. We do not have a distinction between clergy and laity. Therefore, each Wiccan is responsible for their own personal development and for forging their own relationship with god/goddess. Some Wiccans practice in covens, which are generally initiatory and require a long period of study. Traditionally a year and a day before entering. Others practice in loosely affiliated groups of solitaries, which are Wiccans who practice outside of traditional coven structure. Others simply practice alone.

Wiccans do not usually have churches. We create sacred space as and where needed, by casting "circles" of energy which function as temples. When inside those circles, we invite the spirits of the four Platonic elements air, fire, water, and earth to join us, as well as the goddess and the god or at minimum the Goddess.

Wiccans have celebrations that are timed to both the solar and lunar calendars. The solar festivals held at the solstices, the equinoxes, and four points in between them are called sabbats. The lunar holy days are called esbats, and are held at the full moon each month, and sometimes at the new moon as well.

Many people practice witchcraft, which we see as working with the Divine energy that permeates the world to bring about change. In accordance with the Wicca Rede, the vast majority of Wiccans will not curse or perform magic to bring harm upon anyone else. A relatively objective, non-Wicca set of articles on what Wiccans do and believe:

If you're looking to do some reading, I'd recommend "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham, and "The Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton. The best advice I can give you is to pick up the Cunningham book I mentioned and start living the rites of worship and the sabbats as he outlines them.

His book contains pretty much everything you need to get started. Wicca is not something you do one or two days a week, it is a way of life that keeps you in touch with the Lord and the Lady with every breath you take and every beat of your heart. I truly hope that it turns out to be a wonderful and fulfilling path for you. Many Wiccans have significant problems with them and their teachings.

Be sure that when you do your Wicca you do it for all the right reasons. There are a lot of people out there that don't understand and if they think they understand they take that to the wrong place and then you won't hear from them or anything like that. I am not saying that you need to hide it I am just saying that you should keep things like magic of witchcraft to yourself of to the people that are in your coven.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant at http://www.StoreOfMagic.com/. Store Of Magic is a community of various independent magic merchants from around the world. Each magic merchant represents a unique style of products, all their own. If you have magic to sell -- used items, new items, or even services -- click here to create a Magic Account.

Circularstairs

Reverse Osmosis and Deionized Water Filtration

Lets face it if you are in a business needing de-ionized water or reverse osmosis water you are always concerned about the quality of your water. I know as a mobile detailing business that when we have ultra clean water in our tanks we are a happy camper. We know it will make your job so much easier. We also like the idea and concept of spot free water. Have you ever considered how Reverse Osmosis really works? Let me describe the process from my industries perspective.

In R.O. water pressure forces water through a fine membrane that filters out between 85-95% of the dissolved solids in the water. Water lacking these solids wont water spot a car. Its important to have soft water filter inline the R.O. system prior to R.O. Some systems have a water softener/carbon filter/R.O. system in that order. This saves life on the R.O. membranes. R.O. units are measured in gallons per day (GPD) because there flow is relatively slow. Usually they run twenty-four hours a day and the water is put into a storage tank to be used later. Small R.O. units that cost between $2,500 and $5,000 put out 4 gpm. To go to 10 gpm, the speed at which youd want to fill your tank, the cost of those units starts at $25,000.

Car washes need units that make between 500 to 1000 gallons a day for the rinse cyles. A small unit will work because 4 GPM (gallons per minute) X 60 minutes is 240 gallons. So, in four hours at night when the car wash isnt being used, they will have one thousand plus gallons. The only problem for them is that a thousand gallon tank is five feet wide and eight feet tall.

An R.O. machine works best when its running clean water through it. Otherwise, the membranes let nature take over. Then you have not reverse osmosis but osmosis. Its better to have a small machine running twenty-four hours a day than a big machine running two hours and then shutting off. R.O. membranes should have a constant positive flow through them. Some industry leaders believe twelve to thirteen hours is the maximum you should run an R.O. unit a day. They think the machine will last longer.

Silica, iron, aluminum and bacteria cause irreversible damage to membranes and thats why pre-filters are a must to keep membranes from fouling. Fouling results when particles suspended in the feed water are deposited within the R.O. unit. Fouling reduces permeate flow rate. Bacteria fouling usually doesnt cause the permeate conductivity to increase until your system is extremely plugged. Other particles may cause permeate conductivity to increase.

Most biological and particulate silica foulants can be removed with the proper chemicals. Bio-fouling is a problem. Pre-treatment may have little impact on R.O. unit fouling. Simply killing the bacteria wont work because the same number of fouling particles (living or dead) still enter the R.O. unit. The best way to handle bio-fouling is cleaning the equipment and the upstream pipes and filters. Chlorinated water will be bad and should be un-chlorinated before entering the R.O. unit. Fouling by non-living particles is handled by your pre-filters, or additional sediment filters or cartridge filters with a nominal filtration rating of five microns or less. This can be complicated stuff and you can call your franchsior for a telephone number of a fair and honest local or regional water purification consultant.

Chlorine is the most common agent to chemically attack and destroy the polyamide thin film membranes that are commonly used in car washes. Activated carbon blocks are used generally in filters upstream from R.O. units. Larger units use granulated carbon filters or other methods. Active chlorine consuming sites on the activated carbon material is depleted over time and eventually dechlorination will diminish and finally cease. This will allow chlorine to damage downstream chlorine sensitive membranes in your R.O. unit. Carbon filters must be replaced as frequently as their manufacturers specify.

Most commercial R.O. units are too small to justify installing instrumentation to determine when to clean them. Cleaning periodically can remove most scalants and foulants. If you wait too long permanent damage will be done and proper cures will not work. If you wait until you have low flow problems, the elements may be plugged significantly and chemical cleaning may be ineffective or may take many hours to get the elements back to near original performance.

If you want, you can have the R.O. dealer do periodic cleaning on a service contract. It may be worth your while. Expect to pay between $80 to $160 per quarter. Watch for parts price gouging. Some companies are like sharks. If well taken care of, the membranes will last years. You may want to have a technician also check upstream filters. That way, if anything does go wrong, its their responsibility and you can make them pay. Make sure your contract is tied to their lifetime warrantee. Regular Maintenance Of Reverse Osmosis Units is ultra important and you should change your prefilters often. Water softeners every month, carbon filters quarterly. Be sure to check the pressures weekly and membranes will need changing every so often too. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

A Carpenters Story